Good afternoon, Madam Chair and distinguished members of the Standing Committee on Science and Research.

Thank you for inviting me to discuss the capstone organization project. It's always a pleasure to support the important work you do.

Let me start by saying that I welcome the modernization of our research funding ecosystem.

Two independent reports in the past seven years—the Naylor report in 2017 and the Bouchard report in 2023—have identified similar ongoing challenges and proposed convergent solutions.

One must therefore acknowledge that for the research enterprise in Canada to continue to prosper and benefit Canadians, business as usual is not an advisable option. Indeed, a lot has changed in past decades in terms of the research questions we need to tackle, the way we carry out research, the tools we use and the collaborators we choose. In spite of much effort, maximizing the benefits of research to society remains an area in need of attention in Canada.

It is therefore timely to examine how our federal funding mechanisms are fit to support research and development in the 21st century. Since my last appearance before this committee, my office has continued to promote science and provide advice to government on important issues affecting the lives of Canadians.

In so doing, we have come to appreciate the many strengths of our present research funding system but have also recognized persistent gaps, particularly when it comes to tackling complex challenges that require multidisciplinary, multi-sector and often international collaborations.

For example, our recently released report on the use of science in emergency management illustrates the vital need for research coordination, both in peacetime and during national emergencies. Preparing for and responding to domestic threats requires a focused and integrated approach to discovery, evidence generation and analysis.

It also requires built-in knowledge translation mechanisms to ensure that research is co-designed for the intended needs and that results inform communities, policy-makers and inventors alike.

The efforts of successive Canadian governments to support basic and applied research are laudable, but the disconnect between research and innovation programs has limited our ability to valorize, develop and commercialize research outputs for socio-economic benefits and gains in Canada.

The capstone organization must, therefore, maintain disciplinary excellence and ensure that fundamental research and talent development continue to thrive in all fields and disciplines. At the same time, it must address existing gaps, especially with respect to intellectual property protection and the support of the early critical stages of innovation.

In other words, it must facilitate the implementation of a research and innovation strategy for Canada and strengthen Canada's position on the world stage by clearly signalling our commitment to a strong and coherent research and innovation regime. To achieve this strategy, the umbrella organization must work collaboratively with other stakeholders to fund and build a world-class, inclusive research, knowledge and innovation system that benefits Canadians.

Its governance and workings must reflect international best practices, including inclusive representation of a broad range of stakeholders such as researchers and research institutions but also end-users, like employers and actors in the innovation ecosystem.

The organization must maintain the agility to responsibly embrace needs and challenges. Its workings must be grounded in evidence and excellence, which includes appropriate peer review, the selection of relevant criteria for the adjudication of funds and the evaluation of program performance in line with objectives.

My office would be happy to work with such an organization.

Thank you.