Research, Technology and Innovation

British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund

• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3

Appendix 2 - Process for applications to match Canada Foundation for Innovation awards

This appendix outlines how the BC Knowledge Development Fund links to the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Leading Edge Fund and New Initiatives Fund competitions.

Excellence in research remains the priority for provincial research funding decisions. Where requests for funding exceed available BC Knowledge Development Fund ( BCKDF) funds, decisions will be made on the basis of the soundness of the research proposal (drawing from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) peer review process and then on whether the funding proposals fit within the province’s strategic priority areas. We are prioritizing to make sure B.C. research dollars are supporting B.C. research priorities. This second part of the review will take place after the CFI peer review, which ensures that only research proposals of the highest quality move forward.

The general provincial priorities are agriculture/food, alternative energy/power technology, health/biotechnology, forestry, high tech (including new media, information communication technology, wireless and environmental technologies), indigenous studies, and ocean sciences (including fisheries/aquaculture). These strategic priorities were chosen because of their particular social and economic importance to British Columbia. They also represent the province’s demonstrated strengths and competitive advantages and areas where the province has particular need of research given its economic and social context. The intent is not to restrict other types of research – given sufficient funding, research in other areas will also receive BCKDF funding. In addition, these are intended to be general, not strictly defined priorities. For example, most fields, such as ocean sciences or health research, include social science research.

• The CFI peer review and Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MAC) process will continue to evaluate research proposals based on research excellence, without a screen for the province’s priorities;

• After the MAC evaluation of proposals, the province will:
• identify the projects that best meet its priorities and for which funding can be provided, and
• work with the institutions in finalizing the provincial list of priorities.
  
• BC will send its comments, if any, to CFI for consideration in the Super MAC reviews.
• In the event that the ministry and the institutions cannot reach agreement on which projects should be funded, the ministry may provide comments, if any, separately.
  
• If, after the completed Super MAC review, BC projects recommended for approval exceed the provincial budget:
• the ministry will provide matching funds for its top priority projects, until the amount of funding available is committed; and
• the institutions will develop alternative plans with CFI to determine whether the projects can still proceed.

At this time, the ministry does not intend to prioritize Leaders Opportunity and Canada Research Chair applications.

BCKDF matching funds are subject to budget availability and therefore the ministry wishes to develop an appropriate process that results in a prioritized listing of projects for major competitions.