Quebec Budget balances books but contains little for research and innovation

Provincially funded research has escaped the cost cutting measures of the recent Quebec Budget which balanced the books for the first time in several years by reducing expenditures in key areas such as education. Research officials throughout the province were not expecting any increases but recently expressed concern over the government's silence on university-based research and the National Policy for Research and Innovation (PNRI) (R$, March 13/15).

"The three research councils maintained their budget of $175 million for this year while many other areas of education were cut," says Quebec chief scientist Dr Rémi Quirion. "It's good news, very positive … Compared to other provinces, our budget is balanced which opens the opportunity for reinvestments in the research community. A significant percentage should go to research and innovation."

The Budget contains $3.3 million for research in support of the revived maritime strategy, which has a $1.5-billion commitment by 2020 to enhance the economic potential of the St Lawrence region. Last month, Quebec and France agreed to create a bi-national institute aimed at developing large-scale joint projects for research and innovation in the maritime sector (R$, March 13/15).

A commitment of $15.8 million for research and innovation was also included in the Budget but details have yet to be announced.

The Budget also committed to the creation of a task force for the provincial biopharmaceutical sector to develop strategies for reversing the sector's decline in recent years.

Companies wishing to adopt digital technologies to improve productivity will benefit from $3 million to launch the second phase of the PME 2.0 program.

The video gaming industry will have access to a $15-million fund to create jobs, maintain intellectual property and boost income from funded projects.

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