Science and Research Committee on Nov. 26th, 2024

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Thank you.

I'm going to continue with Dr. Adem. We talked about how it's a given that basic curiosity-driven research is important. When I talk to researchers and mention this capstone idea, they say, “Well, I hope that is protected.” They want to make sure the funding levels they have now are protected.

It comes back to this idea, then, of mission-driven projects. Will they, in the future, gradually eat away at the research funding envelope that the federal government provides, or will they be an additive thing? If I'm a researcher who decides to jump on some mission, will I be applying to the usual envelope, or is this something that has to be worked out?

[Dr. Alejandro Adem]

I, myself, as a scientist.... Of course, the first thing I looked into was the assurance that the discovery research will remain where it is and continue to thrive and to have successful examples, such as that of Professor Hinton, who publicly thanked NSERC for the support when his work was very theoretical.

We give fairly small grants. If people really want to mobilize their knowledge, then they're encouraged to go into partnerships—for example, with industry—through the alliance program that we have to apply to CIHR, to SSHRC, and to these interdisciplinary programs. I think it's a real opportunity for our researchers in natural sciences and engineering, indeed across the three disciplines, to unleash their talents in this new, modern, mission-driven...so I don't think we should be afraid of that term. It's not like a military mission. It's a mission to do something for society, to help Canadians.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

I'm not so much afraid of the mission idea—

[Dr. Alejandro Adem]

The name can be intimidating.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

It's the funding. If the advisory council says—

[Dr. Alejandro Adem]

We have to demonstrate the impact, and we see it in all the councils around the world. They have to demonstrate impact to continue to be able to support the blue skies research. It's a circulation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Valerie Bradford]

Thank you, that's our time.

I want to thank all of our witnesses, and I want to thank all of the spectators we had in the gallery today. It was so refreshing to see all our student researchers and the interest that you have in this very important capstone study and the testimony of our witnesses today. Thank you for joining us.

To our witnesses, if you have anything further to add, you may submit something further to the clerk.

Thank you very much. Is it the will of the committee to adjourn?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Valerie Bradford]

The meeting is adjourned.