If I understand the question, it was about what the effects would be if the funding for the student work placement program was not renewed.
There's not a clear talent pipeline between academia and small and medium-sized enterprises. One of the challenges in Canada is that there seems to be a gulf between those two things.
The student work placement program, from a sustainable funding viewpoint, has now been funded for eight years. Eight years ago, BioTalent Canada was one of the initial providers in the program. At the beginning, we had to convince employers of the value of hiring students with no work experience who were coming to them through a federally funded program like the student work placement program. Right now, thanks to organizations like Riipen, BioTalent Canada and the other providers, employers depend on the program for that talent pipeline. Upwards of 200,000 students a year are employed in all industries through this program.
The issue and the problem that we have now with scientific organizations is that they may have a wonderful molecule that could cure a myriad of diseases or a wonderful medical device that could be incredible intellectual property in Canada, but it's sitting on a shelf because there isn't the support within the organization to commercialize it.
This program allows companies to get the only talent that's available to them, fresh talent, because there is a shortage right now in Canada's bioeconomy. We're expecting to be 65,000 workers short by the year 2029. This program fast-tracks students into those innovative positions so that companies can commercialize. Without it, you're going to have many companies and many Canadian innovations and international intellectual property stalled if there isn't sustainable funding for this program.