If I can add to that, the linkage that you highlighted is a key one in terms of translating investments in basic and applied research into the commercial world. Since 2006 the government provided more than $13 billion in new resources for basic and applied research across the spectrum, and for other key elements that are important in that translation, specifically talent development and research infrastructure questions such as the digital research infrastructure Krista highlighted.
On an annual basis, the spending is $10.9 billion, including research performed in-house and also $3.4 billion on foregone revenues in terms of the SR and ED tax credits.
To focus a little more on the roles of the granting agencies, for instance, in the area of disruptive technology, it is important to focus not only on basic research but also on applied research to increase the economic impact of the research they support, including for disruptive technologies. They've been increasingly putting an emphasis on partnerships and how they structure their granting programs between the post-secondary researchers and the companies. It is very important and they do continue the emphasis on basic research because that's an important source of future disruptive technologies. It is also an important area for training the next generation.
If I can do a parentheses in the recent announcement of the Thirty Meter Telescope, that's an area where one can classify it as basic research, but it's an important training ground for big data, which has an application way beyond astronomy to a number of disruptive technologies. That's an example of talent.
Touching a little on the question of connectedness, which has been raised now in a few areas, the granting councils also have a number of programs that focus on multidisciplinary and multisectoral partnerships. There's the business-led networks of centres of excellence program and the centres of excellence for commercialization and research program.
The other area I would touch upon is the National Research Council, which has a number of disruptive technology research programs and a strong emphasis on partnering with business. I can delve into that further if you'd like.