Research plays a fundamental role in supporting the health and well-being of Canadians as well as contribute to the economic growth of the country. A strategic research plan would enhance Canada’s ambitions to be a global leader.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
Roseann O’Reilly Runte is president and chief executive officer at the Canada Foundation for Innovation. She is the author of Canadians Who Innovate: The Trailblazers and Ideas that Are Changing the World.
For as long as I can remember, I have heard calls for a strategic research plan for Canada.
Research plays a fundamental role in supporting the health and well-being of our population, the safety and security of communities, and contributes to economic growth. Research underpins our country’s capacity to fulfill Canada’s ambitions to be a global leader.
The question is not whether we should support research. It is essential. The question is rather how we support research.
Establishing priorities
It is not possible to undertake everything at once and we must establish priorities. We can track progress made in recent decades, identify areas of strength and promising growth and review the strategic plans of universities, federal research granting agencies and organizations such as the National Research Council of Canada and Labs Canada.
We may then seek inspiration from the research plans of other nations while building on the resources available in Canada, the expertise of our population and our needs. These considerations can point to areas where Canada can – and must – strive to support our population and enhance our security. For example, we might want to double down on our North and focus on our strengths in fields such as AI, quantum, photonics, precision medicine and advanced manufacturing.
Infrastructure, resources and data
A trio of factors has long provided the foundation for development in many important areas for Canada, and more than ever, we now should concentrate on them.
The first is infrastructure. It underpins our country’s capacity to undertake leading-edge research and enables Canadian researchers to be global leaders in their field. We must invest in a state-of-the-art research environment.
Then there are resources that abound in Canada including arable land, forests, minerals, oil and gas, and oceans and water. They were long the source of our prosperity, and we must invest in their sustainable development.
Above all, Canada should stand out among nations in recognizing its population as its most precious resource, one that must be supported with increased research in health inter alia.
Creativity, knowledge and data are the keys to unleashing the innovations that will shape our future. Data and the ability to analyze will increase in value. Research will increasingly be underpinned by data collection, storage, standardization and applications. Investment must be focused on these areas.
Diplomatic and purposeful service
Looking beyond our borders, we must continue to support our traditional partnerships with the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. With Canada’s new membership in Horizon Europe, we have the opportunity to build bridges with European nations and assist not only in their focus on energy sources such as hydrogen and nuclear power but to look for new initiatives in which we can share.
Science diplomacy plays an increasingly important role in the world today. Looking at the exponential growth plans for research in the Indo-Pacific, we should consider additional collaborations with researchers there and in underexplored areas, including the Global South. New fields of endeavour allow all nations to work together.
Mission-driven research can help address complex issues such as housing which mobilizes multiple disciplines to address social, environmental, architectural, energy and quality-of-life considerations. Should existing buildings be repurposed and geothermal refitted? Shelter is a fundamental human need but the kind of space that builds families and healthy communities is also as important.
Research is a privilege and a responsibility. It has the potential to change our lives and those of our fellow citizens. It is an essential part of a successful economy and contributes to the health and well-being of the population, the environment, the languages and cultures we share, and the kind of communities we create.
It provides solutions to pressing problems and fuels our imaginations. It makes us think beyond our horizons and step out of our habitual paths. It offers people the opportunity to transcend boundaries and humanity, the means to apply rational thought to complex problems and a passion for work that will lead to new discoveries and contribute to a better future.