Consultation on FINE proposal proceeds in parallel with larger innovation agenda

New vision for federal S&T

Senior S&T managers in Ottawa are considering the use of technology foresight to assist in the selection of research networks and to improve the funding chances for their proposed Federal Innovation Networks of Excellence (FINE) program. Loosely modelled on the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program, FINE is being shopped around Ottawa and to universities across the country, and discussions with industry and policy groups are pending. The Assistant DM Committee on Science and Technology is quietly developing a shared vision for the future of federal science and technology and has initiated a process of consultation that parallels the high-profile innovation strategy engagement process now underway (see lead story).

FINE is the latest salvo in a long-standing bid to secure increased funding for science-based departments and agencies (SBDAs) (R$, November 28/01). To help select the best candidates for research networks, FINE’s backers are tapping into the National Research Council (NRC)’s expertise in the field. A national forum will be held in Ottawa in early October to determine the best approach for choosing network research thrusts. It will lead into the innovation’s national summit in November.

Discussions have already taken place with many university VPs of research and deans of agriculture faculties, as well as within the SBDAs and the Council of Science and Technology Advisors. Several areas of research have been identified as likely networks, but difficulty in making the final selections has led the ADMs to seek advice on how technology foresight or other methods can be employed for pinpointing emerging areas.

“It all has to feed into the timing for the national innovation wrap-up meeting,” says Dr Robert Slater, senior science ADM at Environment Canada. “FINE is a mechanism to deal with emerging S&T issues. A more bureaucratic definition is, S&T that is not now supported by the A-based (funding) and relates to things beyond the mandates that the SBDAs already have. ”

Technology foresight has been used in several countries — primarily in Europe — as a priority setting tool to identify emerging technologies required to secure future competitiveness and achieve socio-economic objectives. Although detractors contend that foresight is expensive, time consuming and unwieldy, FINE’s backers say that if technology foresight is adopted, it won’t be as elaborate as the versions used in the UK or the European Union.

“It all depends on the scale, structure and process you follow. The NRC is developing a practical, slimmed down approach. We need a process to identify horizontal research applications for the future but we’ll simplify it and apply it to our own situation. FINE is meant to deal with emerging research issues 10 years out,” says Dr William Doubleday, a special advisor on science and innovation at Environment Canada reporting to Slater. “We’re expecting both a science theme and a technology theme. The SBDAs are suggesting areas which we’ll narrow down and subject to detailed review.”

NRC INPUT

The NRC has been using foresight on an ad hoc basis for about five years and contends it has been instrumental in securing funding for new initiatives such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and other elements of its cluster and regional innovation strategy. Plans are in the works to apply foresight to the area of proteomics, which could evolve into a future research thrust.

A FINE sub committee is meeting every two weeks to examine the evolving foresight model. Jack Smith, a planning and assessment executive with NRC’s corporate services branch, heads up the fledgling NRC technology foresight office and is spearheading the development of a foresight mechanism for FINE.

“It’s hard to garner a strong horizontal thrust and although the NRC works like this already, I don’t know how far the other SBDAs are prepared to go,” says Smith. “But we need balance in S&T and federal investment outside of government has unbalanced the system.”

Smith acknowledges the challenge of applying foresight to a proposal like FINE and is advocating a go-slow approach to ensure that its developed properly.

“Foresight is a black hole of opportunity because it can take you in areas beyond the reach of government. It’s is more of an art, a creative and analytical activity,” he says. “It allows you to learn and gain insight into what might be attractive or urgent areas of investment by informing the knowledge base about how to select critical knowledge areas for the future,” he says.

PARALLEL PROCESS

Although the FINE consultation is not explicitly a part of the larger innovation engagement process, officials insist that the linkages between the SBDAs and other areas of government ensure that the message of increased federal S&T capacity will be heard. The science ADMs contributed to some of the background materials for the public consultation process and there is nothing preventing public S&T from being discussed any of the scheduled events.

“FINE can come up in any sector or regional meeting or the national summit. We’re quite capable of being part of all existing processes,” says Slater. “This is in additional to our conversations with the university sector. We also have to chat with private sector organizations and think tank groups.”

FINE also has the benefit of an unofficial pilot project — the recently launched Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) The $170-million, five-year project is encouraging the formation of federal research clusters that will collaborate with researchers in other sectors in the broad area of counter terrorism. The program — launched in the wake of the September 11th attacks in the US — expects to announce its first projects in September (see page 6).

“We’re hearing a lot from CRTI as we expected to. It’s working quite well and demonstrating that new approaches to federal S&T are here,” says Slater.” It’s helping to mobilize talent and facilities in government in a way that’s effective and efficient.”

Much more should be known both about FINE and CRTI when the SBDAs hold their science forum in October. At that time, FINE’s backers will present and elaborate on their new vision for federal S&T, including the horizontal integration of research programs, related changes in management and progress priority planning and setting.

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