Overall, Canada is strong in research, generally well-equipped technologically, but lagging in translation of research strength to innovation strength, according to a new study released
today by the Council of Canadian Academies.
The report entitled, The State of Science & Technology in Canada, and prepared at the request of the Government of Canada, explores Canada's strengths in science and technology (S&T) to help set the context for the government's consideration of S&T policy.
"This report presents a comprehensive picture of Canada's strengths in S&T," said Peter Nicholson, President and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies. "The report does not recommend S&T priorities or specific policies. It describes what is and what is developing based on the best objective
evidence in the time available."
The report highlights four principal clusters of prominent Canadian S&T strengths as judged against international standards of excellence:
- the natural resource sector
- information and communications technologies
- health and related life sciences and technologies
- environmental science and technology
The report, commissioned in June 2006, was to investigate and report on:
- the scientific disciplines in which Canada excels in a global context
- the technology applications where Canada excels in a global context
- the S&T infrastructure that currently provides Canada with unique advantages
- the scientific disciplines and technological applications that have the potential to emerge as areas of prominent strength for Canada and generate significant economic of social benefits
The study was overseen by a 10-member expert Committee on the State of Science & Technology in Canada. Given the lack of a simple, one-dimensional measure of a country's S&T strength, the committee used four "lenses" to increase the confidence of its conclusions. These lenses were:
- Opinion Survey: A large-scale, online survey of the opinion of Canadian S&T experts. These informed opinions represent, collectively, a broad and integrated picture.
- Metrics: An analysis of bibliometric data (the quantity and quality of published research in scientific journals) and technometric data (patents granted). This gives a narrower, but more precise, internationally comparable perspective.
- View from Abroad: A summary of reports and comments obtained from foreign sources that complements the self-assessment of the opinion survey.
- Literature: A review of relevant publications, including
internationally comparable indicators of important aspects of S&T strength at the national level.
more...
|
