Appendix B. Notes: Quebec Infrastructure Support Program

Have three funding councils which allocate a total of $150 million annually to build and maintain Quebec's research capacity

• FRSQ (Health research)
• FCAR (Engineering Humanities)
• CQRS (Social Sciences)

FRSQ Budget
$64 million (1999); $75-90 million (2000)
Allocation of funds

• Training grants/salaries - 27 %
• Theme based networks - 12 %
• Research Centres - 30 %
• Others - 13 %
• Partnerships - 15 %
• FRSQ overhead - 3 %

FRSQ Infrastructure Support Components

• developing and maintaining research units
• networking to encourage collaborations across research units and institutions
• research space development

Research Unit Support
Currently allocates $28 million annually to support 3 categories of research unit. Goal is to provide the support and evaluation systems to promote excellence and to foster the evolution of research teams into research groups and ultimately into centres. Applications are ongoing. Units must submit a clearly defined 3-5 year plan and are rated for funding depending on the quality of that plan. Those approved for funding must provide an annual financial report and undergo an external review every four years, which determines whether or not funding is renewed.

• Centre: defined as 20 or more equivalent FTE researchers, bringing in external peer reviewed funding of over $2 million annually. Receive an annual infrastructure grant of $725,000 and are also eligible for a development grant of $75,000. Lots of freedom as to how funds are used. Most goes to support common facilities (e.g. animal care), common equipment of less than $40,000, bridge funding for start-up, meetings, invited speakers, etc.
• Research Group: defined as between 7 and 20 investigators, bringing in peer reviewed funding of $1 million annually. Eligible for an annual grant of $300,000.
• Research Teams: defined as less than 7 investigators working in a specified research area. Eligible for a grant of about $100,000 a year for up to ten years. Must have evolved into a research group for support to continue after the initial ten-year period.

• Some transition funding is available to accommodate evolution or devolution of research units.
• There is no provision for increased support for very large centres as compared to units that meet minimum centre criteria (this is an issue that FRSQ is addressing).

Networking Support
Currently allocates $7 million annually to this initiative; planning an increase to $10 - $12 million in the next fiscal year.

Goal is to enhance collaboration across provincial research units and institutions, to build critical mass and to bring together the full range of health research sectors (clinical, basic, health services, population health and community) to address major health issues. Parallels the CIHR structure and approach.

Networks approved for funding receive up to $1 million annually for three years, with considerable freedom as to how the money is used. Cannot be used to fund a specific research project or renovations but can be used to develop a common data base, purchase common equipment or support strategic recruitment that strengthens the network by adding new expertise or filling an area of common need.

Annual financial reports are required. Funding renewal is based on a scientific review at 3-year intervals.

Note: Funded research units are eligible for additional support through participation in networks.

Space Development
New space development is evaluated by FRSQ from a scientific perspective. If the project receives approval for construction from the government, a separate development grant is attached to the budget to support ongoing infrastructure costs (animal facilities, new equipment, new recruitment, etc). These funds are provided by the government as an increment to the FRSQ budget and flow through the FRSQ to the institution.

Benefits of PQ Infrastructure Support Program
With 23 per cent of the population, Quebec qualifies for:

• 33 per cent of MRC competitive funds.
• 46 per cent of the Canadian Pharma R&D investments
• 52 per cent of Canadian biotech investments (1st in Canada; 10th in North America)* 48 per cent of Canadian venture capital.