Canada: On March 22, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration unveiled the Canadian budget for fiscal 2017. The budget emphasizes accelerating innovation and scientific/technological development, but basic research funding remained flat. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the three major research councils in the country, did not receive any new funding in the FY17 budget. Instead, applied research was highlighted, such as a CAD $950 million ($712.4 million) fund to be administered over the next five years for innovation “superclusters” led by businesses. Within these superclusters, the government will connect established and startup businesses with academic and research institutions to fast-track economic growth. The areas the superclusters will focus on include stem cell research, quantum information and international research collaborations. Mitacs, a nonprofit linking businesses with academic researchers, received CAD $221 milion ($165.7 million) over the next five years to create 10,000 co-op placements for graduate students at companies in need of R&D. To attract more scholars to the country, an additional 25 new Canada 150 Research Chairs were announced. The Canadian Institute For Advanced Research also received an additional CAD $35 million ($26.2 million) over the next five years, while the National Research Council’s budget of CAD $59.6 million ($44.7 million) was renewed, though flat.

Source: University Affairs