Media Release

Candidates weigh in on their party's commitment to applied research for small and medium enterprises.

September 16, 2008

Ottawa - Polytechnics Canada asks Canada’s five main political party leaders to comment on their position on funding for applied research. The Competition Policy Review Panel has recently released a report that raises the issue of Canadian research funding in the 21st century. Using the information in the report, Polytechnics Canada posed these two questions to the candidates;

1.) Does your party believe that Canada needs to invest more in applied research to improve Canada’s research competitiveness?

2.) If yes, what does your party propose the federal government do to increase Canada’s investment in applied research.

Candidate responses will be posted on the Polytechnics Canada website on September 29, 2008.

Applied research is a form of advanced academic research that is purpose-driven as opposed to being performed for the sake of advancing pure theory.  The research conducted at Canada’s polytechnics is directed by the need to solve real industry problems in the real business world.
 
According to the Competition Policy Review Report, Canada can no longer afford to stand still and live by the same rules that have driven the post-secondary academic research agenda during the 20th century, and as the report states, "We cannot shy away from making the tough decisions required to enhance productivity today because the benefits will be realized tomorrow."

Supporting applied research achieves two national productivity goals: the transfer of technical and technological knowledge needed in today’s workplace and the removal of barriers preventing small and medium enterprises from reaching their full potential. 

Polytechnics work very closely with Canada’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to accomplish their goals. Under the supervision of their professors, polytechnic students are involved in prototyping, field testing and improvements to the manufacturing process.

This mutually beneficial relationship gives SME’s the added resources needed to become more innovative and more competitive and give polytechnic students a competitive edge in the employment market.

At present, government funding for applied research is comparatively scarce. Polytechnics Canada recommends the new government provide funding for a three-year pilot project to create applied research clusters at Canada’s polytechnic institutions working closely with SME’s to solve industry-identified problems.

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For more information, please visit www.polytechnicscanada.ca or contact:
Sharon E. Maloney, Executive Director
Tel.: 416-949-2588
Email: semaloney@polytechnicscanada.ca

Polytechnics Canada is an alliance of seven large, internationally recognized post-secondary institutions - BCIT, SAIT Polytechnic, Conestoga College, George Brown College, Humber College, Sheridan Institute and Seneca College - committed to producing career-ready graduates which combine critical thinking with theoretical understanding and practical competence. The seven members are located in regions that drive the Canadian economy: The lower Fraser Valley, the Calgary/Tar Sands corridor, the Golden Horseshoe and the Kitchener/Guelph/Waterloo high-tech triangle.