The message was loud and clear – if the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) says yes to a major research proposal, Western will ante up its share of the cost to ensure the project moves ahead.
The university withdrew $6 million earmarked for potential CFI projects from the 2009-10 budget to help offset a budget revenue loss. But officials say the measure is temporary and money will be found to support any successful CFI applications.
CFI projects are often major initiatives with significant profile, with examples including the recently completed Biotron.
Approximately $160 million in proposals from Western researchers are currently in front of CFI seeking approval. Successful requests receive 40 per cent funding from CFI, 40 per cent from the province, with the remaining 20 per cent coming from the university.
The hope is to secure much of the matching university funds through private fundraising. The budget passed by Senate April 17 also allocated $3.5 million in one-time funding.
While there have been some nervous researchers the last few months, Ted Hewitt, Vice-President (Research and International Relations), says the university is committed to promoting and supporting CFI proposals from Western researchers.
“We already said we would, and we will,” says Hewitt, adding the appropriate matching funds will also be made available in coming years, as the funds are needed.
From 1998 through 2007, Western has received just under $138 million in CFI funding, second only to the University of Toronto and seventh in Canada. Results of the next round of CFI funding are expected in June.
While the university is responsible for 20 per cent of the total value of project proposals, Hewitt says a portion is also covered through vendor discounts, in-kind contributions as well as donations from the private sector.
“This (fundraising) is nothing new. We are always fundraising for our research projects,” says Hewitt.
The budget has also set aide a one-time allocation of $700,000 to support a number of research-related initiatives, including research development and commercialization of intellectual property. The source of these funds is income from the university’s royalties and licences.