Madam Chair, thank you for the invitation today.
As you mentioned, I'm the assistant deputy minister for the science and research sector at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. It's a pleasure to appear before the committee on this important topic that you are discussing.
I would like to provide a brief overview of the role of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, or ISED, in supporting Canadian science and research, explain how it delivers on this role and then outline some of the key opportunities on the horizon.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry is mandated to guide strategic investments in science and research as well as to support the government's science and technology policy agenda. ISED supports this mandate in a number of ways.
First, we work with the granting councils, NSERC, SSHRC and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, to help ensure that granting council programs align with the government’s policy objectives.
In 2021‑22, they are providing approximately $2.4 billion to support university and college research and training. Funding assists more than 33,000 academic researchers; approximately 40,000 students, post-doctoral fellows and trainees; and thousands of non‑academic collaborators.
Second, ISED provides funding through contribution agreements with third party organizations involved in funding and conducting research and training, and in the promotion of science. These organizations are a key part of Canada’s science and research ecosystem, and range from world-leading basic research institutions such as the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, to Let’s Talk Science, which works with colleges and universities to provide STEM outreach to youth.
Finally, the department plays a convenor role by bringing together different parts of the research ecosystem. This includes engaging with colleges and universities to identify challenges and opportunities; enhancing connections between the research community and downstream commercial opportunities, including through ISED's innovation programming; working with provincial and international S and T partners to identify opportunities to enhance our mutual research, training and downstream economic outcomes; and working with the federal community of science-based departments and agencies on horizontal science and innovation priorities and to connect government and academic science efforts.
Alongside a range of investments the government has made in the last several years to enhance support for science and research, strides have also been made to advance equity, diversity and inclusion. Evidence shows that a more diverse research community is a more creative and innovative one, as it brings a broader range of experience and insights to the table. Actions taken within the ISED portfolio include the dimensions charter, which encourages organizations to take actions to foster a more diverse research environment.
In addition to supporting a strong base of investigator-led research, it is important to ensure that we can capitalize on areas of Canadian opportunity that emerge from our research strengths. As you likely know, thanks to past investments in research, Canada is already at the forefront of some key emerging technologies, such as quantum AI and genomics, and is viewed as a global leader in these areas.
There is an ongoing effort to secure a strong talent base and maintain a globally competitive position in AI through the pan-Canadian AI strategy. The second phase of this strategy, announced in the 2021 budget, focuses on commercialization and adoption, attracting and retaining top academic talent, and enhancing computing capacity and the development of standards that support the implementation of socially responsible AI.
Budget 2021 also announced funding for a national quantum strategy and a pan‑Canadian genomics strategy to support research, talent and commercialization in these areas, to build on our globally competitive positions and create long‑term economic benefits for Canada.
Finally, science will be essential to tackling some of the major horizontal issues facing Canada and the world, such as climate change, sustainable growth and lagging competitiveness. Given this, Canada’s approach to supporting science and research will need to continue to be globally competitive, and a well-connected, agile and interdisciplinary research ecosystem will be all the more important. The work of this committee will be a valuable input into this effort, and I look forward to your deliberations.
Thank you, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to provide this overview. I would be pleased to answer questions.