Federal Programs and Initiatives

Introduction

This reference document is intended to provide supplementary information relating to issues discussed in Section 3 of the Panel's Consultation Paper, which discusses the federal government's role in supporting R&D and related programs.

Supplementary Information

• In comparison with other OECD countries, government support for business R&D in Canada appears heavily weighted toward indirect tax incentives, as opposed to direct support measures. The below graph depicts direct and indirect government support of business R&D (as a percentage of GDP). The OECD defines direct and indirect funding as follows: "Government direct R&D funding includes grants, loans and procurement. Government indirect R&D funding includes tax incentives such as R&D tax credits, R&D allowances, reductions in R&D workers' wage taxes and social security contributions, and accelerated depreciation of R&D capital." Further work is required by the panel to understand the specific programs included in the direct support measures in relation to the panel's mandate of programs.

  Source: OECD (2010), Measuring Innovation: A New Perspective. The reference year is 2007, except where noted otherwise.

• In comparison with other OECD countries, a large proportion of Canadian firms receive public support for innovation. The below graph depicts the number of firms (as a percentage of innovating firms) receiving public support for innovation.

  Source: OECD (2010), Measuring Innovation: A New Perspective. The reference period is 2004-06, except where noted otherwise.

top of page

Illustrative programs and initiatives list

In the consultation paper, the panel has put forward a list of programs that it may review. The list is illustrative in nature and intended for discussion purposes only. Consistent with its mandate, the panel's activities may focus on any and all federal programs that have an impact on business or commercially oriented R&D. As such, during the course of its work, the panel may choose to examine programs that are not listed. It may also choose to exclude from examination some of the programs that are listed. Bearing that in mind, the below on-line version of the list may be updated from time to time as the review progresses.

Ideas and knowledge (including programs and initiatives relating to more than one input to innovation)

1. Atlantic Innovation Fund — ACOA
2. Automotive Innovation Fund — IC
3. Business and Regional Growth Program — CEDQ
4. Business Development Program — ACOA
5. Collaborative Health Research Projects — NSERC
6. Idea to Innovation Program — NSERC
7. Industrial Research Assistance Program — NRC
8. NRC Institutes and Laboratories:
   • Biotechnology Research Institute
   • Canadian Hydraulics Centre
   • Centre for Surface Transportation Technology
   • Industrial Materials Institute
   • Institute for Aerospace Research
   • Institute for Biodiagnostics
   • Institute for Biological Sciences
   • Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology
   • Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation
   • Institute for Information Technology
   • Institute for Marine Biosciences
   • Institute for Microstructural Sciences
   • Institute for Nanotechnology
   • Institute for Ocean Technology
   • Institute for Research in Construction
   • Plant Biotechnology Institute
   • Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences
9. Next Gen Biofuels Fund — SDTC
10. Northern Ontario Development Program — IC/FedNor
11. Proof of Principle Program — CIHR
12. Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program — FIN/CRA
13. Space Technologies Development Program — CSA
14. Southern Ontario Development Program — FedDev ON
15. Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative — IC
16. Technology Development Program — DND
17. Western Diversification Program — WD

Talented, educated and entrepreneurial people

18. Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships — NSERC
19. Industrial R&D Fellowships — NSERC
20. Industrial R&D Internship Program — Tri-Council
21. Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards — NSERC

Capital and financing

22. BDC Venture Capital — BDC

Networks, collaboration and linkages

23. Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program — AAFC
24. Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative — FedDev ON
25. Automotive Partnership Canada — IC portfolio
26. Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence — Tri-Council
27. Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research — Tri-Council
28. Collaborative Research and Development Grants — NSERC
29. College and Community Innovation Program — NSERC
30. Contributions to FPInnovations — NRCan
31. Engage Grants — NSERC
32. Growing Forward — Canadian Agri-Science Clusters — AAFC
33. Growing Forward — Science to Support Commercialization of New Agri-Based Products — AAFC
34. Growing Forward — Supporting the Innovative Capacity of Farmers — AAFC
35. Industrial Research Chairs — NSERC
36. Industry-Partnered Collaborative Research Program — CIHR
37. Interaction Grants — NSERC
38. Networks of Centres of Excellence — Tri-Council
39. SD Tech Fund — SDTC
40. Strategic Network Grants — NSERC
41. Strategic Project Grants — NSERC
42. Strategic Workshops — NSERC
43. Technology Clusters Program — NRC
44. Technology Development Program — FedDev ON

top of page

List of department and agency acronyms