RESEARCH ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT New Partnerships for Ag Research in AAFC PRES TETRAPARTITE 2008 Bordeaux, France Dr. Christiane Deslauriers A/Director General Bioproducts and Bioprocesses

2 Agricultural research in Canada has long enjoyed a close association with industry In 1886, the 'Dominion Agricultural Service' set up its five original Research Farms in agricultural communities; more were added as the industry needs grew Eventually, Research Centres underwent regular review by Advisory Committees consisting of research and extension collaborators and clients in industry In 1932, the CASC system was established to provide regular industry advice on research priorities

3 AAFC's role eventually shifted from leadership to collaboration A national consultation in 1992 engaged industry, provinces and academia in discussion on the future direction of the Research Branch The result was a recommendation to change our perception of industry from client to collaborator This led to the creation of the Matching Investment Initiative (MII) to support research cost-shared with industry

4 MII helped reorient 20% of AAFC R&D to address industry priorities through collaboration From 1994 to 2002, MII: Funded 3000 projects involving 1400 industry groups Leveraged $235 million AAFC direct cash investment with matching industry cash and in-kind Has generated net economic benefits estimated at $2.2 billion, approximately 10 times the AAFC direct cash investment

5 MII accelerated technology transfer and increased government / industry collaboration About 1/3 of projects contributed to the development of new or improved products or processes Another 1/3 contributed to cost savings or increased sales revenue for industry MII contributed to an increase in R&D activity on the part of industry over that period and to much of the 20% increase in AAFC research collaboration with industry

6 Other approaches were developed concurrently With universities –AAFC researchers imbedded in university departments –AAFC Research Centres on University campuses Provincial and market services housed within Research Centres St Hyacinthe Centre designed and built for industrial collaboration –Industrial program –Industrial incubator

7 We are piloting Research Clusters for more complete integration of multidisciplinary research Where complex problems extended beyond one organization's reach, AAFC contributed to the construction, fitting up, staffing and operation of collaborative R&D clusters: –The Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (Winnipeg) with St-Boniface General Hospital and University of Manitoba –The Centre for Bioresources and Health (Charlottetown) with the National Research Council Canada's Institute for Nutrisciences and Health and the University of Prince Edward Island Each party brings different expertise, mandate and client base in addition to staff, equipment, and funding. Research objectives and work plans are developed jointly.

8 But new funding models are needed for research along the entire value chain The Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program (ABIP) is providing: New funds For substantial multidisciplinary, multipartner networks To undertake research, development and commercialization of non-traditional products from agricultural feedstocks Eligible recipients include: – AAFC and other government departments – Universities and other public research institutes – The private sector The goal is to produce tangible outcomes within the period of the program

9 ABIP will support 15 networks Working on: Crop-based platforms (4) Animal product-based platform (1) Health and wellness (5) Bio-based materials including energy (4) and composites (1) With funding between $ 1M and $ 23M per network, a total over $100M, over the next three years.

10 ABIP / FP7 "twinning" extended collaboration to the international level Principal Investigators / Network Leaders from each Program met in February to exchange information All projects identified at least one 'twinning' opportunity –Some one-on-one bilateral –Some multilateral (more than one partner) A small amount of funding in each program was earmarked for exchange of personnel, protocols or material between Canada and the European Commission (EC)

11 We continue to develop and modify this model A further opportunity to exchange with the European Commission (EC) on food-related programs has been identified Officials from Canada and EC will meet in June in view of investigators’ meeting in the fall

12 Development of innovative models of research delivery is ongoing Bringing together different resources, mandates and client bases to address complex issues –AAFC / NRC National Bioproducts Program Further clustering opportunities are being considered across the federal government with universities and the private sector –CRC / GCRC / CIGI in Winnipeg