Canadian Foundation for Innovation Receives “Outstanding” Evaluation

Submitted by empirica on 19 August, 2010 - 14:54
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Country: 
Canada

Ottawa, 18 August 2010. In a recent evaluation, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) received a very positive result. The programme was assessed as “outstanding” and as having made a significant contribution to Canada. An independent international review panel reached similar conclusions including the view that this programme is the best of its kind worldwide and worthy of emulation.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has committed $5.3 billion in support of 6,800 projects at 130 research institutions in 65 municipalities across Canada.

The CFI normally funds up to 40 percent of a project’s infrastructure costs which are invested in partnership with eligible institutions and their funding partners from the public, private, and voluntary sectors who provide the remainder.

Some CFI features are unique; others, while not unique in and of themselves, are unique in their combination:

  • The CFI requires each institution to have an institutional Strategic Research Plan (SRP) that sets priorities based on its strategic vision for the future.
  • Awards are made to eligible institutions, not individual researchers or Project Leaders.
  • The CFI funds most types of research infrastructure and implementation costs, not just “equipment”. Projects of all sizes are eligible, and infrastructure from all research disciplines is supported.
  • The Infrastructure Operating Fund supports a portion of operations and maintenance of the infrastructure anticipated for as long as the infrastructure is still being used for research purposes during. However, the amount of funding provided by the CFI is limited and the institutions are expected by the CFI to find this support from other sources once CFI funding has expired.

In 2009, KPMG conducted an overall performance evaluation and value-for-money audit of the CFI and an international panel of seven experts in global research and research funding reviewed the findings and produced an independent report.

The audit concluded:

  • Strategic planning with other research institutions and other funding organizations has improved notably and is now rated as moderate to good.
  • The CFI support has transformed the quality of Canadian research infrastructure. About two-thirds of PLs and PUs rate their infrastructure’s technical capability as excellent or world-class, and about half rate its operational capability this highly.
  • The quality and quantity of Canadian research are both up substantially in 2009 as compared to 1990.
  • There has been a very strong impact of the CFI infrastructure on the institutional training environment, from fair to good prior to CFI to excellent now.
  • The CFI projects are key resources in fostering academic collaboration and networking.
  • Two-thirds of both PLs/PUs and Department Heads have actively explored practical applications of their research.

In sum, the evaluation of the CFI and its impacts was overwhelmingly positive. Although some minor operational refinements are suggested, the CFI’s model and program delivery are both outstanding, and the CFI remains a critical foundation for Canadian research.

The internationally renowned panel of experts who reviewed the CFI audit, states that the CFI is the most successful research funding organization of its kind in the world and worthy of emulation.

 

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Correspondent: 
Allan Martel Consulting
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