Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) has long been advocating for the reinforcement of Canada’s health research and innovation ecosystem and is pleased to see the Federal Government’s acknowledgement of this critical need in Budget 2024.
The measures, outlined below, will help research institutions across the country support the next generation of scientists by encouraging graduate and post-graduate students to innovate , pursue breakthroughs in science discovery research, and develop intellectual property – in Canada. This is critical for retaining talent in Canada, enhancing productivity, competitiveness and economic resilience, as well as confronting challenges in health research.
Budget 2024 proposes:
- $1.8 billion over five years, starting in 2024-25, with $748.3 million per year ongoing to SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR.
- $825 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, with $199.8 million per year ongoing to raise master’s and doctoral scholarships to $27,000 and $40,000, respectively, and post-doctoral fellowships to $70,000. The allotment will also help approximately 1,720 more graduate students or fellows each year under a new streamlined talent program.
- Approximately $600 million for major research and science infrastructure investments.
- A new capstone research funding organization, under which the granting agencies will continue to support excellence in investigator-led research, to improve coordination across the federal research funding ecosystem.
- $30 million to support Indigenous researchers and their communities, with $10 million each for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit partners.
- The creation of a new advisory Council on Science and Innovation with leaders from across the academic, industry, and not-for-profit sectors, to help set priorities and increase impacts of these federal investments.
Alongside a number of stakeholders within Canada’s scientific community, CSMB has been drawing attention to the need for enhanced and sustained federal investments in science and discovery research. CSMB has engaged directly with Health Canada ; Finance Canada ; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and parliamentarians on these matters. We are pleased with this acknowledgement from Government of the recommendations we have put forward and we look forward to ongoing fruitful collaboration.
CSMB will continue to be a committed advocate and a collaborative partner in positioning Canada’s science and discovery research ecosystem for success.
We encourage members of our network to join CSMB, and help us drive this important work forward.