Yes, but I would argue that they need to be agglomerated. We don't need 200 programs, and one program would be far too simplistic. We need perhaps 20 programs where significant dollars would be available and targeted to different areas.
My comments should not be taken as arguing against the need for basic research in the early stages of research. We absolutely need that, but in general in Canada we have put $11.7 billion of new funding into university and basic research. That's excellent for both training people and providing the raw material for commercialization. But unless we provide significant funding, partnering and, as my colleague pointed out, a new paradigm or a new way of actually commercializing technology, we're going to find that the investment in basic research develops virtually nothing in economic benefit to this country.