Madam Chair, vice-chairs, members of the committee and fellow witnesses, thank you for the invitation to appear today.
I'm Rob Annan, president and CEO of Genome Canada.
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to your study on the governance and accountability of federal science policy and institutions.
Let me start by saying that Canada's research and researchers are absolutely world class and something we should be proud of. However, given the scale and urgency of Canada's current challenges, world-class research alone isn't enough. We need to maximize the impact of that research. That is where I'll focus my remarks today.
Genome Canada is an independent, national and mission-driven research organization dedicated to advancing genomics research and adoption in Canada. We work to push the frontiers of biotech and life sciences, focusing on technology adoption and commercialization by Canadian companies, doctors, farmers and other users. We are built on a unique federated model, with six regional genome centres across Canada, and with funding from both federal and provincial governments, as well as industry, foundations and non-profits. We have a truly team Canada approach.
Since our founding in 2000, we have worked with hundreds of Canadian companies, helped spin out 135 new companies from our research projects and supported the creation of more than 500 patents, licences and inventions. Today, Canada is third in the world in the creation of genomics-related IP, and we continue to advance commercialization and adoption through the Canadian genomics strategy. We know what it takes to turn research into impact.
That's why we believe strongly that this study matters. Canada has world-class researchers, strong institutions and major areas of scientific strength, but system challenges mean we are not realizing our full potential. Our research initiatives are too often subscale, unsustained and fragmented. They do not sufficiently link to adoption and commercialization. That gap matters because it affects innovation, commercialization and our economic security.
From where we sit, the core issue is not simply whether the system needs more oversight. It is the larger governance question of how the pieces fit together and whether the system is organized and optimized to meet Canada's biggest needs.
I'll make four practical points to address these issues.
First, Canada needs to define a national science, technology and innovation strategy. Most advanced economies support economic growth with clear, explicit science and technology strategies that define long-term objectives and identify key national priorities. Without a clear strategy, institutions compete or work at cross-purposes. Strategic leadership gets everyone on the same page, allowing the system to self-organize, and gives institutions the clarity needed for execution, performance measurement and continuous improvement.
Second, Canada needs stronger capacity to do mission-driven research. The most important problems we face do not fit neatly inside one discipline, one institution or one funding stream. Addressing them requires clear objectives, cross-sector collaboration and sustained effort over time. Five years ago, we at Genome Canada adopted an explicitly mission-oriented, challenge-driven approach and have found that this orientation aligns partners, reduces fragmentation and connects research investments to tangible outcomes.
Third, Canada needs better coordination across the system. Today, no one has clear authority to align priorities and resolve trade-offs across granting councils, departments, third party organizations and others. Other countries have addressed this with central science offices, capstone bodies or mission-led coordination models. The structure can vary, but the function is essential. Someone must be responsible for making the system work as a system.
Finally, Canada needs stronger pathways from research to impact. World-class research on its own is not enough. Knowledge translation and mobilization need deliberate, sustained support. Genome Canada does this kind of work: ensuring that research shortens the diagnostic odyssey for kids with rare disease, improving nickel recovery from tailings with non-toxic approaches or improving breeding outcomes for crops and livestock in our food systems. There's a crucial and consistent gap between discovery and application. We need novel thinking and significant attention paid to fill that gap.
If I were to leave the committee with one central point, it would be this: Canada has extraordinary assets, and we shouldn't neglect them. Research excellence is the foundation for everything else. We're really good at this. What we lack is alignment, coordination and delivery at scale. This is the governance challenge we must face, and Genome Canada will be happy to support this work.
Thank you. I wish the committee the best of luck on this study.
I look forward to your questions.