Ottawa chips in for indirect costs of research

The opening of UVic’s new Bev Glover Greenhouse Facility wasn’t the only boost given to on-campus research last month. While attending the facility’s official opening, federal Environment Minister David Anderson announced that UVic will also receive more than $4.1 million to help support the indirect costs associated with federally sponsored research.

“This investment in our universities is designed to ensure that they generate the greatest benefits from the federal government’s investment in research,” said Anderson, speaking on behalf of Industry Minister Allan Rock. The funding was delivered as part of Canada’s Innovation Strategy, administered through Industry Canada.

“The environment for research would not exist without the hidden support that helps sustain it,” said UVic President Dr. David Turpin, in response to Anderson’s announcement. He listed indirect costs such as heat and light, assistance with grant applications, administration of funds and purchasing equipment and supplies as examples of necessary supports for research.

The Innovation Strategy was first announced in the December 2001 federal budget to help universities and research-based hospitals strengthen their research programs and attract and retain outstanding researchers.

The distribution of funds to individual universities is based on their past federal research awards from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.