Good evening, Madam Chair and members of the committee. My name is Alejandro Adem. I am the president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, commonly referred to as NSERC.
Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you for a second time. I am pleased to be joined today by Dr. Danika Goosney, NSERC’s vice-president for research grants and scholarships, with whom I will be sharing my time.
I wish to acknowledge that I am living and working on the traditional ancestral land of the Musqueam people.
Talent, from the perspective of a research funder, is the foundation that underpins the health, well-being and economic success of our country.
Researchers trained in the natural sciences and engineering power discovery, drive innovation and found companies that create well-paying jobs.
In order to address major challenges like climate change and to keep pace with technological advances in areas like AI and quantum, Canada must focus its efforts on training, attracting and retaining the best and the brightest.
As someone who studied in the United States and then built a career in Canada, I can attest to the fact that Canada’s strong research ecosystem is a real asset when it comes to attracting talent. However, as other countries double down on their investments in science and research, Canada must keep pace.
We must also remain true to our values, breaking down barriers to ensure that the next generation of talent is inclusive and reflective of the diversity of this country.
We must recognize the role of the research ecosystem when it comes to reconciliation and to creating meaningful, accessible opportunities for indigenous students.
As the current chair of the Canada research coordinating committee, I am pleased to share that we have been working hard to harmonize and streamline our approach to talent development among research funders.
I will now turn the floor over to my colleague Dr. Goosney to share more on the CRCC talent strategy, in addition to providing some reflections on how NSERC supports trainees and how we are tackling challenges within the research ecosystem.