University research scores again with major new funding initiatives and hikes to GCs

University research was the recipient of massive new funding as the federal government continues to add to the host of programs required for strengthening Canada’s fundamental research platform. Increases to the granting councils were complemented by a permanent program for indirect costs pegged at $225 million a year, and bolstered with a new program that will provide 4,000 graduate scholarships at an annual cost of $125 million within four years.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) received a permanent $55 million in crease to their base budgets, followed by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), which received $15 million.

Although SSHRC did not receive a disproportionate increase to its funding base, it will be the main beneficiary of a new program administered by the granting councils — Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS). SSHRC will get 60% of the new money, which begins at $25 million in FY03-4, rising to $55 million in FY04-5 and topping out at $105 in FY 06-7. That translates into $15 million for SSHRC in FY03-4 and $63 million when fully implemented. NSERC gets 30% of CGS funding and CIHR 10%.

CGS is a merit-based program that awards $17,500 to qualifying master’s level students and $35,000 to PhD students. Rounding out the support package for university research is the decision to make the program supporting the indirect costs of research permanent. Beginning in FY03-4, it will provide $225 million to universities based on the amount of granting council funding they receive. The program will be reviewed in its third year to ensure that it is meeting its objectives, including the contentious issue of commercialization.

“I’m extremely pleased with this Budget. A lot of people talk about the prime minister’s legacy. University research has got to be one of his major legacies, “ says CIHR president Dr Alan Bernstein. “He’s done it out of a deep conviction and set Canada on a course of university-based research for years to come.”

The Budget also made two requests of the granting councils: that they report on how they can improve their “contribution to Canada’s climate change objectives” within existing resource levels, and devote a portion of of their budget increase to northern research.

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