Topic: fundamental research

New funding approaches could address gender disparities, peer review bias: Council of Canadian Academies

Creative funding models and other innovative tools could help Canada’s research funding agencies address issues such as gender disparities, peer review bias and inequitable funding for researchers and institutions, says the chair of a new expert panel report by the Council of Canadian Academies. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada commissioned the report as part of NSERC’s planning process for its new long-term strategic plan.

Strategic direction and a re-balancing of research types essential for improving Canada’s innovation performance – McDougall

Canada must re-balance public investments that currently overemphasize fundamental research and provide high-level direction to increase the uptake and application of innovation, including offering experiential learning and professional development for key players in the innovation ecosystem, says a former president of the National Research Council (NRC).

Pressure grows to increase support for fundamental research, tie funding levels to demand

Canada’s support for fundamental research has fallen by a third between 2005 and 2015, but many in the Canadian research community are concerned the federal government doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to take action. The deterioration in federal support — occurring over a period closely corresponding to the decade in which the government of Stephen Harper was in power — witnessed a major swing in funding from fundamental to applied research, with 40% of researchers reporting a similar shift in their focus.