Evidence of meeting #39 for Public Accounts in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was property.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
If somebody builds a better mousetrap, the value of that patent no longer exists anyway. There's going to be too much competition, etc.
President, National Research Council Canada
That is why, as I mentioned before, every year we have a look at our patent portfolio and we decide to drop some patents because we judge that the cost of maintaining it compared to the cost of licensing it is not in our favour.
Conservative
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Great.
To take up where we left off, I noticed that in answering the question you didn't go into the classrooms or the education system, how we generate a nation of innovators. I wonder if you care to continue that discussion on how we compete more effectively by bringing innovation into part of the national culture and education program.
Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
I'm going to look to Pierre in a second because they have a great program for this, but basically we provide assistance for graduate students to be interns in companies, and that's where they get to marry up their scientific and technical knowledge with the business side. There is a range of programs, but the NRC actually has a fantastic program for that.
Maybe Pierre could say something on it.
President, National Research Council Canada
Briefly, I think Paul is making reference to IRAP. There are two components to that program. One basically addresses the issue that Paul mentioned, providing capacity to bring young scientists into companies. It's called the youth employment program, whereby we fund companies to hire new graduates.
Broadly speaking, though, IRAP is also very good in the sense that it is moving technology companies into being more technology friendly, being more active in the field of science and technology. That's the whole concept of IRAP, providing direct support to companies to build up more advanced technologies and more advanced products.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Which program is that?
President, National Research Council Canada
It's the industrial research assistance program.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
That concludes the first and second rounds of questions. Before I adjourn, I want to ask if any of the witnesses have concluding comments they want to make to the committee.
I'll start with you, Ms. Fraser.
Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
I would just like to thank the committee for their interest in this report.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Does anyone else have closing remarks--Mr. Boothe, Ms. Meredith, Mr. Rosenberg?
Again, on behalf of the committee, I want to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all your work. This is probably not the biggest issue talked about at Tim Hortons, but it's a tremendously important one that will probably become more important in the future.
I want to thank you for your work, Madam Auditor, and the other departments and agencies. Thank you very much.
The meeting is adjourned.