Expert panel urges coordinated planning for Canada's national research infrastructure
A new report says Canada must better coordinate its large-scale research facilities to align with national priorities and global competitiveness.
OTTAWA — A new expert panel report says Canada is missing an opportunity to draw greater value from the national-scale research infrastructure that supports scientific discovery, innovation and economic competitiveness.
The report from the Council of Canadian Academies, commissioned by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, finds that while Canada has considerable strengths and has made investments across its research ecosystem, more coordinated planning could help the country better align these assets with national priorities.
“National-scale research infrastructure is central to Canada's ability to address national priorities, participate in international collaborations, and remain globally competitive,” said Janet King, chair of the expert panel.
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“An optimized system would help ensure these assets are collectively planned, governed, and evaluated in ways that reflect Canada’s strengths, priorities, and responsibilities.”
The panel found that responsibilities are spread across loosely connected actors, with no clear coordination mechanism or role to align and advance Canada’s participation in international research collaborations.
Many national-scale research infrastructure assets are institutionally owned and governed, despite a mission to advance national research priorities and serve pan-Canadian and international research communities.
The report, titled Enhancing Canada’s National-Scale Research Infrastructure, examines how Canada can optimize its national-scale research infrastructure, including large-scale science facilities, digital platforms, and collaborative networks, to support current and future needs.
It focuses on how Canada can enhance this infrastructure to better support research, innovation, economic competitiveness, and societal well-being.
“Canada's world-leading research facilities and infrastructure have long supported excellence in Canadian research,” said Tijs Creutzberg, president and CEO of the CCA.
“But the research landscape is changing quickly. This report shows how a coordinated approach can maximize impact, build long-term capacity, and position Canada to succeed in today’s knowledge-driven world.”
The report states that more coordinated planning could help the country participate strategically in international collaborations and respond to a rapidly changing global context.
With files from The Globe and Mail