That's right. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ladies and gentlemen, members of the committee, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, I want to thank you for inviting us to appear before your committee.
On September 16, at the opening of a world-class research facility in Saskatchewan, the Prime Minister said the following: “Our government will continue to support science, technology and innovation—key drivers of economic productivity, competitiveness and growth”.
I'm here with my colleagues from the federal research granting agencies to tell you how we will continue to support this agenda by enabling discovery research and making connections between academia and the private, the public, and the non-profit sectors. This is crucial to building innovative communities and driving the Canadian economy. We understand that governments everywhere are facing difficult decisions because of ongoing uncertainty in economies and markets around the world. At the same time, we are in the midst of a global innovation race, a race that Canada cannot afford to lose.
Some countries are increasing their investments in research and innovation. They know that achieving a good balance between the immediate priority of expenditure control and the long-term objectives for stimulating innovation is important. That balance will enable them to emerge out of the economic downturn stronger and be better prepared, economically, to move forward. In fact, the report published earlier this week by the task force whose mandate is to examine federal support for R & D stresses the importance of improving Canada's innovative capacity.
Since the brain drain of the 1990s, Canada has made solid choices in building its knowledge assets. Sustained investments by the Government of Canada have created a vibrant ecosystem in this country. There have been new investments in unique research initiatives, including the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research, the business-led Networks of Centres of Excellence, the Canada Excellence Research Chairs, the Vanier scholarships, and the Banting post-doctoral fellowships. Today these investments are paying off. We're now attracting and retaining top researchers from around the world and are giving them the tools they need to think big.
Only a few days ago, a respected global university survey ranked nine of Canada's universities in the top 200 in the world. Combine this with the fact that Canada is the lowest business tax jurisdiction in the G-7 and it seems clear that the time is right for Canada to capitalize on its investments and become a global leader in innovation.
CFI, NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR have played a crucial role in cultivating winning conditions for ongoing social and economic progress.
Together, we facilitate the creation of research partnerships and the sharing of knowledge between universities, colleges and the private sector. Those initiatives help foster a culture of social and commercial innovation. Through our programs, we support cooperation between those who advance knowledge and those who turn that knowledge into benefits for Canadians.
Take the strategy for patient-oriented research, for instance, which seeks to improve both health outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of health services. The outcomes of one of its projects—the Alberta hip and knee replacement project—have been adopted in provinces across the country and will save the national health care system more than $225 million a year by ensuring patients have faster access to surgery, less pain, and little decrease in quality of life.
Our support of innovative technology from concept to prototype to market readiness is particularly impressive. Look at Future Vehicle Technologies, of Maple Ridge, B.C. Last year the company partnered with Simon Fraser University to explore ways to cool the battery in its high-performance electric sports car. This $25,000 NSERC engage grant has turned into a $1.4-million collaboration under the Government of Canada's automotive partnership program to design a system that recycles waste battery heat for use in other applications.
As you know, innovation takes many forms. SSHRC provides funding for the Queen's University project that boosts rural economies and creates new jobs. That program enables researchers, students and community organizations to meet significant challenges, such as attracting immigrants to rural regions and promoting the communities as tourist destinations.
Canada's enviable research environment is based on measures introduced over several years, and on the strong signals that have been sent to the research community and the private sector here and abroad that Canada means business when it comes to research and innovation.
With budget 2012, the Government of Canada has an opportunity to address the country's fiscal challenges. Canada's research community understands this need, and it firmly believes that only through knowledge, research, and innovation can we ensure a brighter future for Canadians.
Thank you.