1. Funding Science & Supporting Innovation: An Introduction to IDRC
David O’Brien, PhD
International Development Research Centre
IANAS: Science Funding Landscape
Guatemala City, July 26-28, 2009
Scope:
IDRC’s Mandate and Goals
Overview of Program Areas
How we fund science & support innovation
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2. What is IDRC Mandate: The Act instructed IDRC: Governance:
“to initiate, encourage, support and conduct research into the problems of the developing regions of the world and into the means for applying and adapting scientific, technical and other knowledge to the economic and social advancement of those regions”
The Act instructed IDRC:
(a) to enlist the talents of natural and social scientists and technologists;
(b) to assist the developing regions build their research capabilities and the innovative skills;
(c) to encourage the coordination of research; and
(d) to foster cooperation in research between the developed and developing regions for their mutual benefit.
Governance:
An independent, government funded Crown corporation
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3. Actors: Canadian SBDA Canada Note changes:
Namely dissolution of the National Science Advisor and creation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council reporting to Minister of Industry
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4. Some Numbers ~450 staff members worldwide
~1 000 research activities are currently active
Total 2007/08 revenues: CDN $182 million, of which 82% are appropriations from the Parliament of Canada
2008/09 budgeted program allocations: CDN$170 million
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6. IDRC Offices Ottawa Cairo New Delhi Dakar Singapore Nairobi Montevideo
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7. The Program Areas Environment and Natural Resource Management
Information and Communication Technologies for Development
Social and Economic Policy
Innovation, Policy and Science
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8. Program Features Problem or Issue-oriented
No pre-determined funding approach
Local to global in scope
Policy and/or technology impact
Ongoing evaluation and project learning
Canadian linkages when relevant
Partners with research funders when advantageous
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9. The Program Areas Environment and Natural Resource Management
Program units
Climate Change Adaptation in Africa
Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health
Environmental Economics
Rural Poverty and Environment
Urban Poverty and Environment
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10. The Program Areas
Information and Communication Technologies for Development
Program units
Connectivity and Equity in the Americas
Acacia: Communities and the Information Society in Africa
Pan Asia Networking
telecentre.org
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11. The Program Areas Social and Economic Policy Program units
Globalization, Growth and Poverty
Peace, Conflict and Development
Research for Health Equity
Global Health Research Initiative
Governance, Equity and Health
Research for International Tobacco Control
Think Tank Initiative
Women’s Rights and Citizenship
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12. The Program Areas Innovation, Policy and Science Program units:
IDRC Challenge Fund
Innovation, Technology and Society
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13. Sagasti (2004): Correlation between National S&T Capacity and Development
Sagasti, Francisco (2004), Knowledge and Innovation for Development: The Sisyphus Challenge of the 21st Century. Edward Elgar Publishing
Susan E. Cozzens, Kamau Bobb, and Isabel Bortagaray, (2002). “Evaluating the Distributional Consequences of Science and Technology Policies and Programs,” Research Evaluation, 11 (August): ,
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14. Supporting the Innovation System: Organizations and Actors
Science and Technology Policy Reviews
Academies of Science
Science Communication
Research Funding Councils
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15. Conclusion: Funding Science / Supporting Innovation
IDRC relies on partners to design, fund and implement supportive
Research policies
Innovation policies
Human resource policies
IDRC can complement these efforts by:
Funding research including research on science, technology and innovation
Supporting science, technology and innovation capacities
Promoting linkages between knowledge, technology and production within and across countries
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16. Thank you Federico Burone, Regional Director David O’Brien
Centro Internacional de Investigaciones para el Desarrollo - IDRC
Oficina Regional para América Latina y el Caribe Avenida Brasil Montevideo, Uruguay Tel:  (598-2) Fax: (598-2)
David O’Brien
Innovation, Policy and Science
150 Kent St.
Ottawa, Canada
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