Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
The Expert Review Panel for the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) Review was given a mandate to conduct a strategic review of the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (MRIS) competitive science and research support programs. This review would not have been possible without the full cooperation from participants from across the province representing the spectrum of stakeholders involved in ORF programs. This included researchers, academic and health care system leaders, industry partners as well as key associations such as Ontario Council on University Research (OCUR), Ontario Council on University Research (CAHO) and Colleges Ontario. The Panel is grateful to these stakeholders for their engagement in the consultation process which comprised a critical foundation to the review.
Support from the Ontario Research Fund Advisory Board (ORFAB) was very helpful to the Panel. Dr. Jack Gauldie, Chair, and Dr. Kim Woodhouse, Vice Chair, gave valuable insights to the ORF programs on behalf of ORFAB including areas for consideration by the Panel to increase the programs’ impacts for the future. In addition, feedback from Dr. Molly Shoichet, Ontario’s Chief Scientist, was appreciated and valued.
Federal partners in the research funding ecosystem are thanked for their contributions to the consultation process. Their participation was important given the federal/provincial co-funding model for several programs and also due to the recent investments made by the Government of Canada in science and research which will shape future co-funding and complementary opportunities. Specifically, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) and Genome Canada (GC) are acknowledged.
The Panel would like to particularly thank the Secretariat which supported this review with tremendous professionalism and dedication. The work was done under tight timelines which required significant focus and coordination. The thorough analysis and consolidation of the consultation feedback, along with the development of several working papers on issues and opportunities for consideration, allowed the Panel to direct their energies and discussions on the assessment of the information and the development of key recommendations. Members of the Secretariat from the MRIS included Greg Wootton, Assistant Deputy Minister, Katherine Kelly Gatten, Director, Kevin Dilamarter, Manager, Mima Vulovic, Manager, David Garkut, Senior Advisor (Statistics), Stephanie Todorovski, Senior Advisor, and Jenna Oldham, Senior Advisor. Barb Brownlee, Senior Policy Advisor, is specifically acknowledged for her leadership and coordination of the Panel’s overall work flow, including agendas, timelines and policy discussions. Finally, Morris Ilyniak, Writer, is thanked for distilling and capturing the Panel’s discussions and recommendations into the various drafts for review as well as the final report. The Panel owes a debt of gratitude to the Secretariat for making the process both enjoyable and rewarding.
Summary of recommendations
Recommendation 1
Maintain Ontario Government’s pivotal role in research support for the academic sector
Recommendation 2
Increase the funding levels of the three programs to keep pace with the cost of doing research and federal research investments
Recommendation 3
Update the Ontario Innovation Agenda, including definitions of primary future focus areas and commitment to supporting early and mid-career researchers
Recommendation 4
Continue to leverage federal co-funding of research projects with an “Ontario First” approach under ORF, using a provincial strategic review process in advance of the federal adjudication where possible as a filter to ensure that the best Ontario proposals are put forward to federal co-funding programs
- ensure there is no duplication of federal adjudication processes for Ontario projects eligible under the Canada Foundation for Innovation and other federal programs
- take steps to make the Ontario First commitment for provincial matching of federally-funded research projects more predictable for potential applicants
Recommendation 5
Consider some strategic changes to ORF-RE without compromising the program’s strong commitment to research excellence
- review the upper limit of ORF-RE funding on a regular basis and raise it as required to keep pace with the increasing cost of research
- communicate to Ontario researchers that ORF-RE is open to all disciplines and types of research that generate societal and economic benefits to Ontario, not just commercial benefits, and that there are options to use matching funding various sources including philanthropy
Recommendation 6
While maintaining research excellence as the first priority for funding, make ORF-RE more accessible and inclusive of a broader spectrum of researchers at different career levels, institutions and disciplines by piloting of a new ORF-RE funding stream with a smaller award and fewer matching requirements
Recommendation 7
Maintain the current success rate of ERA applications, while broadening eligible expenditures
Recommendation 8
Develop and implement a communications plan targeted at raising researchers’ knowledge and awareness of Ontario’s research funding programs
Recommendation 9
Collect information on the diversity of applicants and success rates for statistical purposes only
Recommendation 10
Adopt the federal “Tri-Agency Open Access Policy” on research data and publications
Recommendation 11
Take steps to further support and strengthen peer review panels by continuing to ensure that the peer review panel members possess the expertise necessary to evaluate proposals
Recommendation 12
Streamline, clarify and redesign the application and reporting processes to reduce the administrative burden for researchers, while ensuring, fairness, excellence and accountability
- accelerate implementation of an online application process
- simplify and streamline information about program guidelines and requirements
- continue to implement changes to the application process which reduce the amount of time and effort required for researchers and institutions to complete applications
- if necessary, collect project information on the funding of basic vs. applied research for statistical purposes only
- work with federal government, provincial partners and philanthropic sector to develop a coordinated approach to measuring outcomes and their attribution to contributed effort and resources