Innovation Canada: A Call to Action

Program EffectivenessFigure 5.2 Reasons for Not Participating in R&D Programs“Are any of the reasons listed below among the reasons your firmhas never used or participated in federal programs that support businessor commercially oriented R&D?” [Addressed to R&D-performing firmsreporting that they never accessed a federal progam]Firm is not aware of federal R&D support programs52%Application process too burdensomeFirm is not eligible under federal programsEligible costs under programs not aligned with firm’s needs12%19%35%Have not looked into it yetDo not wish for government interferenceFirm’s application for funding was not successfulSuperior provincial programIs not worth them looking into itLack of information/clarificationIssues with start-up costsNo need, no reason for itTaken care of through contract/clientLack of government support/expertiseDid not know/no response4%4%3%3%3%3%3%2%2%1%3%0 20 40 60n = 331PercentSource: Results from a survey of firms conducted for the Panel by EKOS Research Associates Inc., 2011.IRAP. More than seven in ten were satisfied withthe overall quality of program delivery and theform of support. Roughly two-thirds were alsosatisfied with the conditions on eligibility,eligible expenses and length of time betweendecision and receipt of funds. At the bottomof the list, although still garnering majoritysatisfaction ratings, were the reportingrequirements, the length of time betweenapplication and decision, and theappropriateness of the selection process.Following from the overview of the 60 programsin Chapter 3, the discussion of existing programeffectiveness evaluation “infrastructure” andthe survey of stakeholder views regarding theeffectiveness of programs, the Panel believesthat change is required to improve theeffectiveness and impact of federal programs insupport of business innovation in Canada.Specifically, the rest of this chapter sets out acomprehensive and transformative agenda ofrecommendations that will, over time, greatly5-7