Dr. Chad Gaffield, CEO, U15 Canada quoted in the ‘Times Higher Education’, article by Patrick Jack | August 4, 2023
Group of leading universities warn lack of funding risks causing a ‘debilitating brain drain’
The Canadian government must make major investments to stop the “hollowing out” of the country’s research ecosystem, a group of leading universities has warned.
U15 Canada, a collective of research-intensive institutions, has put forward a series of “bold” recommendations to combat growing global challenges ahead of the Trudeau administration revealing its latest budget.
In a submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance’s pre-budget consultations, the group warned that stagnating funding and mounting international competition were leaving Canada behind.
“U15 Canada’s submission points to a hollowing out of Canada’s research ecosystem and warns that without ambitious action, Canada risks a debilitating brain drain,” it said.
“As peer countries make significant new investments in science and research, Canada must keep pace in the global race for talented individuals who advance knowledge and contribute across all sectors to help make a better future.”
Meanwhile, the report said global challenges – including extreme weather events and digital transformations such as AI – were increasing the pressure to innovate across all sectors in Canada.
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/urgent-investment-needed-save-canadas-research-system