Evaluation of Industry Canada's Contribution to the Canada Foundation for Innovation

Eligible Canadian institutions apply for support through a CFI fund, and all proposals are assessed on three main criteria: the quality of the research and need for infrastructure; the project’s contribution to strengthening the capacity for innovation; and the potential benefits of the research to Canada. [...] PPRs are annual progress reports that collect data on the implementation, operation and maintenance of the funded infrastructure, as well as the results and funded projects and their linkages to the attraction and retention of researchers, the development of highly-qualified personnel, the formation of research partnerships and collaborations, and knowledge and technology transfer. [...] More specifically, it gives the Minister the responsibility to strengthen the national economy, foster and promote science and technology in Canada and to encourage the fullest and most efficient and effective development and use of science and technology. [...] Audit and Evaluation Branch 12 Evaluation of Industry Canada’s Contribution to the Canada Foundation for Innovation May 2015 “various players in the results chains leading to ultimate outcomes, the lengthy time period to move from investment in research, to discovery and then to innovation and commercialization, as well as the difficulties in gathering data, all add to the complexities, and associ [...] The importance of this outcome and the contribution made by the 23 The third-party evaluation also notes that collaboration with the private sector depends on the institution and its approach and culture vis-à-vis working with the private sector.