Daring to innovate: Quebec launches five-year strategy for research and innovation

Analysis by Paul Dufour

Quebec has come a long way in strengthening its knowledge capacity since the early days of the Quiet Revolution. The notion of investing in S&T for its economic, social and cultural development has always been central to its policy platforms irrespective of political party. The May 11 release of the 126-page Quebec Research and Innovation Strategy (SQRI) by Quebec premier  Philippe Couillard  signals a major shift by the province to aim much higher and up the province’s innovation game.

Quebec is already leading across the country in its GERD/GDP ratio at 2.30%. To up its game further, the new five-year strategy (2017-2022) focuses on three key elements — developing talent and inspiring the next generation; increasing the research and innovation capacity in all sectors; and amplifying the transfer of knowledge and its commercialization. The SQRI builds on the Quebec government’s March 28 budget and supplements some of its STI initiatives (see chart).

Entitled Oser Innover (Daring to Innovate), SQRI invests $585 million in new funding and spells out inspirational targets for the plan. The premier suggests that by 2022, the strategy will position Quebec as one of the top 10 leaders within the OECD in research and innovation. Quebec also aims by 2030 to have one of the world’s most innovative societies when it comes to producing talent, ideas and creative solutions in the face of grand local and global challenges.

Another leitmotif of the strategy is its call to coordination and coherence. Much is made of the work done to integrate the various government agencies and ministries within the plan; an annex in the report outlines the many instances of these various strategies.

Within Quebec, the central plank is a strong science and innovation culture — one that encourages a capacity within citizens to base decisions on knowledge, evidence and science; instills a passion for science at all levels; and encourages the development of talent within society (just over 20% of Quebec students graduate in the sciences and engineering; among the lowest in Canada).

Other key components

To boost the profile of science within schools, the Ambassadors for Science program will see CEGEP and university students conduct science experiments and assist teachers at primary and secondary schools. A prototype apprenticeship program will be launched to support new ideas developed by young people in key sectors.

Support for Quebec’s well-developed science outreach organizations via NovaScience will continue to encourage interest in science and recognition of excellence will also be enhanced. Through the Quebec plan, efforts are also underway to provide guidance for high school students, particularly young women, seeking or wanting to learn more about careers in science and technology. Internships for science and engineering students in business innovation are outlined with $50 million allocated through existing programs such as Mitacs and the first research employment program under QuebecInnove for college and university students to gain experience in business.

Quebec’s innovation ecosystem of research organizations and institutes will get a $300-million boost over five years, including platforms that underpin these research entities. These investments follow other recent announcements, including $117 million for a new provincial life sciences strategy and $40 million for Genome Quebec‘s precision medicine competition. Another $490 million over five years is directed at matching funds for Canada Foundation for Innovation-supported projects, as well as other federal programs that require co-funding. In addition, Quebec’s research granting councils will receive a collective increase of $180 million over five years.

The SQRI also lays out several measures to address perennial low business investment in R&D – over and above Quebec’s generous R&D tax credits. Its new portal, QuebecInnove, brings together the key players in innovation (start-ups, risk capital, granting councils, financial, intellectual property, other tax incentives, SME support, etc.).

Superclusters are also targeted — one in artificial intelligence will receive $100 million while another in Smart Manufacturing 2.0 (SM2) will net $13 million. StartUp Quebec receives just over $6 million to support its international linkages and develop university incubators and accelerators. Further support for StartUp Jeunesse (youth) will help groom budding entrepreneurs in secondary schools and in universities, including a science-based innovation contest.

Innovation hubs will benefit from new money to strengthen their development in selected regions of Quebec. The province’s well-established small business and innovation research organization, CRIQ, will be reinforced with investments and intelligent (smart) transportation in various regions and cities.

The report also takes several steps to ensure its plan is implemented. An inter-ministerial committee for research and innovation will work with Quebec’s chief scientist and research councils to ensure there is ongoing consultation on the strategy’s actions. A call to use evidence in informing decision-making is emphasized. As well, the SQRI will establish a PublicLab to develop an innovation platform within the government — akin to the What Works centres in the UK that support bold ideas to improve innovation within the public service. Open government and open science are also underscored with the increased use of digital materials and investments to enhance the digital shift for businesses. The SQRI builds on extensive public input and the strong tradition of encouraging a science and innovation culture. In releasing this ambitious approach, Quebec dares others to follow.

Paul Dufour is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa’s Institute for Science, Society and Policy