Since the federal Conservatives took office in 2006, they have made it clear that collaboration between federally-funded scientists and the private sector is their best answer to strengthening Canada’s position in the world of science, targeting new investments in science and tech­no­logy towards economic re­turns and those that align with the govern­ment’s priority research areas.

For instance, the newly-introduced Canada First Research Excellence Fund targets only a few predetermined sectors, and funding will be allocated to research areas that create long-term economic advantages for Canada. But is this want Canadians want? Do they want the federal government to aim research outcomes, and only if researchers can recruit private sector co-funders?

A new poll suggests fewer Canadians are feeling positive about the focus on specialized areas of re­search.

The poll conducted for CAUT found 33 per cent of people agreed that the government “should invest in research only when it leads to the development of new products and services.” The majority — 51% — disagreed with the statement, while the remainder neither agreed nor disagreed, in a poll of 2,000 adults conducted by Nielsen.

The poll figures also indicate opposition was highest among people who have gone to graduate school and those with higher household incomes.

“The survey yielded some surprising results considering basic research is not an easy sell that can be readily linked to job creation and economic growth,” said David Robinson, executive director of CAUT. “But Canadians seem to understand its value and feel the government’s approach to science research should go beyond prioritizing the involvement of private businesses and prioritizing economic returns.”