Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies An Overview

Transcription

Fonds de recherche
du Québec –
Nature et technologies
An Overview
the chief scientist of québec
Rémi Quirion is the Chief Scientist of Québec. His position at the
interface of the three research funds enables him to build connections
and implement changes that will boost knowledge production and
innovation within Québec’s research system and, ultimately, extend
its influence on national and international levels.
The mandate of the Chief Scientist of Québec is as follows:

To advise the Ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la
Recherche et de la Science on matters pertaining to the
development of research and science in Québec;
To foster the excellence, position and influence of Québec
research in Canada and internationally, and ensure its
commercialization;
To chair the boards of directors of each of the three Québec
research funds, and coordinate issues of common concern and
the development of cross-sectoral research;
To administer the human, material, financial and information
resources of the three funds, and ensure the consolidation and
integration of their administrative activities.
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scientific director
Maryse Lassonde is the Scientific Director of the Fonds de recherche
du Québec – Nature et technologies.
As Scientific Director, Dr. Lassonde has the following mandate:

the fonds de recherche du québec
To advise the Chief Scientist on matters pertaining to the
orientations, objectives, priorities, strategies and action plans
of the FRQNT;
To oversee the implementation of the orientations, policies and
development strategies of the FRQNT;
To play a leadership role in the development of partnerships
and alliances with the research community and government, as
well as with public and private sectors at provincial, national
and international levels in all domains covered by the FRQNT.
– nature et technologies
an overview
the mission of the frqnt
The functions of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies are as follows:

to promote and provide financial support for research in the fields of
natural sciences, mathematics and engineering;
to promote and provide financial support for knowledge mobilization
in fields of research relating to natural sciences, mathematics and
engineering;
to promote and provide financial support for the training of researchers through achievement scholarship programs for master’s and
doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows, scholarships for re-entering the research community and grant programs to release college
researchers from their teaching duties;
to create any necessary partnerships with universities, colleges,
industry, government departments and public and private agencies
and organizations.
its vision
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Cutting-edge research to reinforce Québec’s position as a leader in the fields of natural sciences and
engineering.
its values
Innovation, rigour, integrity, transparency
an overview
background information
In 2010, Québec spent close to 8 billion dollars on intramural research and development (GERD), representing 2.41% of Québec’s
GDP, compared with 1.70% across Canada as a whole. The chart
below illustrates the distribution of GERD expenditure by funding
sector in Québec.
GERD FUNDING, 2010
15% HIGHER EDUCATION
6.3% FOREIGN
3% NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS
23% GOVERNMENT
52.7% COMPANIES
Source: Institut de la statistique du Québec, 2013
Québec researchers earned 25.2% ($256 M) of NSERC funding in
2011-2012. This percentage is increasing, and is currently at its
highest level in 10 years. However, Québec’s share of scholarshipsis
lower than Quebec’s demographic weight in Canada (23.1%).
QUÉBEC SHARE OF NSERC FUNDING (%)
BETWEEN 2002-2003 AND 2011-2012
2002
2003
2003
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
2010
2010
2011
2011
2012
Grants
24.2
24.8
24.9
25.1
24.8
23.1
24.4
24.6
25.6
25.7
Awards and
Scholarships
21.4
21.2
21.1
21.7
21.7
21.0
20.1
19.7
20.1
21.1
Total
23.8
24.3
24.4
24.6
24.4
22.8
23.8
23.9
24.9
25.2
Source : NSERC Awards search engine, november 2012
an overview
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the frqnt and its 2014-2017 strategic orientations
As part of its 2014-2017 Strategic Plan, the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies is
pursuing six broad strategic orientations:
Position natural sciences and engineering research as a lever for
the socioeconomic development of Québec
The FRQNT intends to highlight the key role played by natural sciences and
engineering research in the development of the knowledge society and
economy, continue to offer relevant and effective programs, contribute to
the development of a culture of ethics and ensure scientific integrity.
Start engaging Québec and foreign students in research at the college level
The FRQNT aims to support the introduction of students—especially women—
to research at the college and bachelor’s levels, enhance the development
of a versatile and highly-qualified new generation of researchers, increase
support for research internships in practice settings, and encourage student
mobility and the attraction of the best foreign students.
Increase basic research in cutting-edge and emerging fields
The FRQNT wishes to increase its support for university researchers, strengthen team research, consolidate Québec’s research hubs, and optimize the
use of research platforms and equipment.
Accelerate the sharing of knowledge between research and user communities
The FRQNT aims to facilitate research that meets the needs of partners in
areas of strategic importance for Québec, support the development of the
research and innovation capacities of colleges and college centres for technology transfer, and act as a catalyst for the establishment of collaborations
between researchers in different settings and the users of research.
an overview
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the frqnt and its 2014-2017 strategic orientations
(continued)
Increase support for intersectoral and international research
The FRQNT intends to foster and provide funding for intersectoral research
initiatives, especially those relating to ethics, and enhance national and
international collaboration.
Improve the efficiency and performance of the organization
The FRQNT wishes to improve the quality and user-friendliness of the services
it provides to the scientific community, its public and private partners and
society, within an open government framework. It intends to promote workplace wellness and collegiality between the different teams of the Fonds de
recherche du Québec, and wishes to oversee the implementation of best
practices in governance, sound management of public funds and resource
optimization in accordance with the principles of integrity.
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an overview
reasearch areas of the frqnt
Le Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies covers 10 fields of research.

ENERGY
Energy production, conversion and use, energy transport

ENVIRONMENT
Water, air, land, pollutants, ecology and environmental quality,
management and protection

MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION
Manufacturing processes, industrial processes, design, infrastructure

MATERIALS
Basic, functional and smart materials, nanotechnology

NATURE AND INTERACTIO N OF MATTER
Particles and radiation, atoms and molecules, states of matter, Earth,
planets and universe

LIVING ORGANISMS
Living beings, sub-cellular, cellular, genomics and proteomics,
microbiology, biological organization and function, psychology –
biological aspects

NATURAL RESOURCES
Agriculture, forests and vegetation, mines, inland water and oceans

ABSTRACT STRUCTURES
Computer theory, mathematics, statistics and probability, mathematical
and computer tools

TECHNIQUES, MESUREMENT AND SYSTEMS
Characterization tools, waves, electrical and electronic systems,
mechanical systems, transportation systems

INFORMATIO N AND COMM UNICATIO NS TECHNOLOGIES
Communication, information, artificial intelligence
an overview
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grants and scholarships
In 2013-2014, the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies awarded :

more than 11.6 million dollars to 1,544 Master’s and doctoral
students and postdoctoral fellows, and to 84 new researchers
in Québec universities;
almost 12.7 million dollars to 256 team research projects
bringing together 811 researchers;
almost 16.1 million dollars to 38 strategic clusters;
more than 6.5 million dollars to 9 innovation networks, 61
college researchers, 239 Industrial Innovation scholarships,
514 FRQNT-MITACS internships and 13 Targeted Research
Partnership projects.
The FRQNT awards 61% of its total budget to students (in the form
of direct and indirect support).
RESEARCH FUNDING: A GLOBAL PORTRAIT
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* Total budget: $53.4 M — FRQNT Annual Management Report 2013-2014
COMMERCIALIZATION AND INNOVATION
$6.7M — 12.5%
OTHER
$0.2M — 0.4%
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SCIENTIFIC
CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE
$16.1 M — 30.1%
THE NEW GENERATION
$17.7 M — 33.2%
INNOVATIVE TEAM
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
$12.7 M — 23.8%
an overview
research partnerships
Research partnerships with the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies occur
primarily within the framework of the Partnerships for Innovation program. The objective of this
fourpronged program is to improve the innovation capability of Québec companies in priority sectors
by banking on partnerships between universities, companies, government research centres and
college technology transfer centres.
These partnerships include the following:

The Industrial Innovation Scholarship Program, a partnership with the
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC),
has supported on-the-job training of 352 master’s and PhD students since
2008 through scholarships offered in partnership with companies. At the
end of the award period, 43% of recipients had received a job offer from
the host company. In addition, the Mitacs-Accelerate Québec Program,
in partnership with the Fonds de recherche du Québec, has allowed 225
different companies to offer 1,390 four-month research internships to
graduate students since 2010;
The Partnered Research Program on Forest Environment and Management,
a partnership with the Ministère des Ressources naturelles, has provided
support for 115 research projects since 2001, for almost $22,500,000;
The Partnered Research Program on innovation in Dairy Production
and Processing, a partnership with the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des
Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation and Novalait and, for certain programs,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, has supported 65 research projects
since 1996, for more than $14,000,000;
The Research Program on the Reduction and Sequestration of Greenhouse
Gases, a partnership between the Ministère de l’Enseignement
supérieur, de la Recherche, de la Science et de la Technologie, the Fonds
de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies and the Fonds de
recherche du Québec – Société et culture, with the collaboration of the
Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement, de la Faune
et des Parcs, the Ministère des Ressources naturelles, the Bureau de
l’efficacité et de l’innovation énergétiques and the Ministère des Affaires
municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, has supported
28 research projects since 2010, for a total of $6,462,759;
Since 2010, the Support for Innovation Networks Program has funded
10 networks in the following domains: health technologies, geospatial
intelligence, road safety, mineral exploration, intensive silviculture,
groundwater, grain production and sustainable horticulture, in
partnership with potential research users.
an overview
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impacts on society
Natural sciences and engineering research provides a better understanding of the world in which
we live, clarifies decision-making and public policy, improves practices and interventions; in short,
it fosters innovation for the common good. Here is a look at some of positive research impacts of
natural sciences and engineering research.
Tracking mercury in the Canadian North: It is an unfortunate fact that
climate warming could lead to an increase in mercury levels in the Arctic.
Université de Montréal biology research professor Marc Amyot investigated the conditions that could cause this phenomenon. His work has shown
that new aquatic systems created from melting permafrost become strong
sites for the transformation of inorganic mercury into a toxic mercury compound, methylmercury. This has helped to identify certain areas that have
become more vulnerable to environmental contamination as a result of climate change. The models used to evaluate the impact of climate change
took into account the importance of the chemical reactions that take place
when mercury comes into contact with different surfaces (soil, snow, aerosols, etc.). Dr. Amyot’s findings have been the subject of several publications and have been used to inform new environmental public policy. One
of the researchers involved in the project took part in the activities of the
Canadian delegation to the UN during the development of an international
treaty on mercury.
Quand When wind and ice team up: The ice storm of January 1998 deprived millions of Quebecers of electricity and cost Hydro-Québec two billion dollars in damages to overhead transmission lines. Ghyslaine McClure,
research professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics at McGill University, is working on a computational model to better
evaluate the combined effects of wind and atmospheric ice formation on
this type of cable. Dr. McClure’s approach provides a better understanding
of certain physical phenomena that are difficult to observe under natural
conditions. Her results will help to ensure better mechanical robustness
of overhead high tension wires in ice and wind. In the field of aeronautics,
these findings will help to establish stricter certification standards for flight
in icing conditions, thereby improving passenger safety. In addition, they
will shorten the time required to certify aircraft, thus accelerating their
market launch and improving the competitiveness of Canadian manufacturers.
an overview
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Pour Getting medicine to its destination: Drug delivery systems act
something like delivery trucks for molecules. But they are not always efficient enough to ensure that the patient receives a sufficient dose over an
extended period of time. To address this problem, Julian Zhu, chemistry
research professor at Université de Montréal, turned to bile acids, which
are synthesized naturally in the liver. We all possess between three and
five grams of these chemicals, which help us to digest substances that are
insoluble in water, such as fats. Their biological origin favours their use in
biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Dr. Zhu used them to make
micelles, which can serve as a delivery system for water-insoluble drugs.
These drugs are distributed throughout the body of the patient at a low
rate, making it necessary to take them in very high doses, which cause side
effects and increase the cost of treatment. Dr. Zhu’s work could overcome
this obstacle; in fact, his solution is in the process of being patented..
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Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies
140, Grande Allée St. East, suite 450
Québec City (Québec) G1R 5M8
Rémi Quirion
Chief Scientist
Fonds de recherche du Québec
Telephone: 514-873-2114 | [email protected]
Maryse Lassonde
Scientific Director
Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies
Telephone: 418 643-3230 | [email protected]
Benoit Sévigny
Director of Communications and Knowledge Mobilization
Fonds de recherche du Québec
Telephone: 514-864-1619 | [email protected]
an overview