Research overview and proposed budget

116 Pages·1994·11.6 MB·English

by  Alberta. Technology and Research Advisory Committee

bi j. K5~y
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Research Overview
and Proposed Budget
1993 - 1994
Technology and Research
Advisory Committee
Summary and analyses of the proposed
1993/94 Alberta Government research and
technology program and budget
.
Contents
1 . Preface 1
2. Executive Summary 2
3. Recommendations 3
4. Highlights of 1993-94 Research Plans 5
5. Recommendations from 1992/93 Research Overview 6
6. Introduction 10
7. Findings 11
8. 1993/94 Research Programs — b y Department and Agency 17
8.1 Alberta Advanced Education 17
8.2 Alberta Family Life and Substance Abuse Foundation 20
8.3 Alberta Agriculture 22
8.4 The Alberta Agricultural Research Institute 31
8.5 Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) 40
8.6 Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority 43
8.7 Alberta Research Council 48
8.8 Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism. 55
8.9 Alberta Economic Development and Trade 58
8.10 Alberta Energy 61
8.11 Alberta Environment 69
8.12 Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife 81
8.13 Alberta Health 85
8.14 Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (AOHS) 90
8.15 Alberta Technology, Research and Telecommunications (TRT) 93
8.16 Alberta Transportation and Utilities 98
Appendix 1 — P articipants in The Research Overview Study 104
Appendix 2 — P rogress on Implementation of Recommendations
of Research Co-ordination Report 105
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016
https://archive.org/details/researchoverview1993albe
1. Preface
Science and technology are essential This report describes the Alberta Government
components of the activities of the
research investment in the major "funding"
Government of Alberta. The involvement of
and "performing" departments and agencies.
government in the research process is It also highlights some of the past achieve-
imperative if t he longer term goals of society ments and expected impact of these
investments.
are to be met Federal government industry
and the universities also participate in the
It is clear that new policy decisions are
funding and performing of scientific research
required to ensure that Alberta is able to meet
and development in Alberta. Industrial research
the technology intensive global competition
often does not extend beyond the interest of
of the 1990s and beyond. The complexity of
specific companies. University research on the
these technology and economic challenges
other hand is often determined by the
requires more highly integrated and longer
intellectual curiosity of the researcher. It i s
term planning than has occurred in the past.
focused on the advancement of knowledge and
Departments and agencies require more
the training of graduate students. Government
flexibility in the management of their
performed research takes the middle ground
resources to enable them to maximize their
between these two "extremes." It i s g enerally efforts. They must be encouraged to share
applied research directed towards achieving
resources and to network both within the
the strategic goals of individual departments
government structure and with the Federal
and agencies. Government also funds research
government industry and universities. To do
in industry and universities in furtherance of
these effectively will require modification of
these same goals.
existing administration and budgetary
All three research activities are vital. The
procedures.
applied research performed by industry and
the targeted research funded and performed
by government often depend on the base of
knowledge developed by the university
research.
2. Executive Summary
This report presents an overview and 3. When government departments and
analysis of the total Alberta Government agencies invest in joint S&T activities with
1993-94 proposed research program and industry, they have been successful in
budget prior to the budget review cycle. The negotiating additional investment from
1993-94 research programs for 16 depart- industry and the federal government at
ments and agencies are presented with leverage of three to one and higher.
examples of accomplishments and impacts Government funds are also leveraged in
on the economic and social development of funding university research. The level is
more difficult to document but it is
the province.
estimated that it also is approximately
1. The Alberta Government investment in
two to three times the government
science and technology (S&T) activities, investment.
which includes research and development
(R&D) and related scientific activities 4. The departments and agencies of the
(RSA), in 1982 dollars has decreased at Alberta Government, in carrying out their
almost a uniform rate from $256 million in S&T plans, need improved recapitalization,
1984 to $155 million in 1992. human resource development strategies
and a g reater flexibility in managing their
2. The proposed S&T investment for 1993-94 funds to achieve their plans.
is $ 241.31 million (in 1992 dollars), an
increase of approximately 5% from 1992-
93. The proposed R&D investment of
$143.65 million is also an increase of
about 5% from 1992-93, but falls far short
of the 15% annual increase required by
each of the provincial and federal
governments and industry if R&D
investment in Alberta is to achieve a l evel
of 2.5% of GDP in the next decade. To
bring the industry and federal investment
up to the level of the leaders in Canada
(Ontario and Quebec) and the world
(Japan, Germany etc.), a l ong term
science and technology plan and strategy
must be developed for the province.
3. Recommendations
The following recommendations are in Recommendation 2
addition to those presented previously in the
Each Alberta department and agency
1992/93 Research Overview.
should develop long-term R&D plans with
long and short term strategies for imple-
Recommendation 1
mentation and including the expected
The Alberta Government should develop a impact of the activities. Approvals for
long term science and technology (S&T) these plans should be sought through
plan with strategies for implementation Request for Decision (RFD).
which clearly establish the priorities for 2.1 An ongoing review of all government
its departments and agencies.
R&D programs should be undertaken
1.1 The S&T plan developed with input from including an analysis of how effective the
industry, the health sector, relevant research funding has been including a
statement of the economic and social
community groups and the Premier's
Council on Science and Technology must impact and the changes that can be made
be an integral part of the economic and to improve effectiveness.
social plan of the Province and connected
2.2 All new research and development
to Toward 2000 Together.
programs should contain an economic,
1.2 Within the context of a p rovincial S&T environmental and social benefit/impact
plan, an implementation strategy should statement. Each program, grant etc.,
be developed to guide appropriately should indicate how and who will
balanced investments in basic research, implement the science or technology
applied research and technology which will be developed.
development and training.
2.3 The budget of multi-year programs
1.3 Within the context of a p rovincial S&T plan should be committed for the term of a
an implementation strategy should be program to allow departments and
developed for the dual technology focus agencies to have more flexibility to
which was set out as recommendation 1.3
develop co-operative research ventures
of the 1992/93 Research Overview. with other organizations, and better plan
and manage their financial, human and
capital resources.
Recommendation 3 Recommendation 4
Departments and agencies which Departments and agencies should
perform and fund research should be develop plans to ensure and maintain a
given the ability to manage their funds high level of human resource capability
over periods longer than one year by and facilities to achieve their mission
having approved rolling three to five and goals.
year plans, with the requirement to carry 4.1 Departments and agencies should
forward surpluses and deficits into the develop plans for appropriate hiring and
following year.
training practices to ensure their human
resources reflect future needs of the
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supplies and services and capital.
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Depart ments a nd agencies w ith
4. Highlights of 1993-94 Research Plans
Alberta Government departments and agencies improved environmentally acceptable
are proposing a science and technology budget processes for utilizing Alberta coals for
of $241.31 million for 1993/94. The following power generation
highlights illustrate the breadth of this portfolio
new environmentally acceptable
of programs:
technologies to harness our renewable
new programs for treatment of substance energy sources
abuse
new guidelines for safe exposure to
new varieties of horticulture and specialty hydrogen sulphide
crops suitable to the agro-climatic regions environmentally friendly biological
of Alberta
control of weeds
improved livestock nutrition, health,
more efficient effluent treatment
breeding and management procedures
processes of both kraft and chemithermo-
improved food processing to add value to mechanical pulping mills
Alberta -produced commodities
better yields and products from Alberta
new treatment of diseases and health sawmills
problems of Albertans
improved health care
new processes to improve the recovery of
reduction of chemical and biological
bitumen and heavy oil from deposits in
hazards to workers
Alberta
development of new wireless technologies
improved processing of new materials
for use in telecommunications
into consumer products
improved roadway planning to provide
new displays of archaeological and
systematic selection of highway routes, to
paleontological discoveries
maximize design benefits at a reduced cost
improved waste management, waste
minimization, and recycling
5. Recommendations from
1992/93 Research Overview
3
.The recommendations in the Research
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which elicited considerable response from industry to develop and install new
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below). and Telecommunications commissioned
an overview of industrial research in the
2. In order to achieve the business and
province to evaluate the level of research
economic competitiveness identified by
investment in various sectors and the
the Toward 2000 Together process, it is
perceived impediments to research
important that the level of investment in
investment by industry (L. Bolger,
research and development in the province
be brought to the level of the leading "Alberta Industry R&D Overview," to be
released December 1992).
countries in the world. Total investment in
R&D by industry and the two orders of Provincial support in various areas will
government now is at 0.9% of gross continue to be required, particularly in
provincial product. This year the infrastructure and the developing
Provincial Government investment technology sectors (see recommendation
dropped almost 10%. To achieve (within 3.3 below).
the next ten years) a l evel of 2.5% of GDP,
which is the average of the eight leading
countries with which we compete in
international markets, will require each of
the governments and industry to increase
their investment 10% to 15% annually (see
recommendation 2 b elow).