The purpose of this document is threefold:
- To provide an update on SSHRC's investments related to management, business and finance;
- To provide information on funding opportunities within the areas of management, business and finance this fiscal year, including priority themes;
- To invite the social sciences and humanities research community to participate in the consultation process related to future orientations and development of programs for fall 2009 onwards.
Background and Context
In March 2007, the Government of Canada announced that it would provide the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) $11 million annually to support additional research in management, business and finance. This new funding provides a significant opportunity for the research community, its partners and other stakeholders.
Following this announcement, SSHRC immediately began to outline a general goal and strategy for investment in the short term for discussion with Standing Committees and Council, Industry Canada, it's sister councils (NSERC and CIHR) and an ad hoc advisory committee of experts in these fields. SSHRC launched a special call for proposals in 2007 targeted at management, business and finance as a short term measure using existing funding mechanisms pending the development of a longer term investment strategy. More than $31 million was invested and 233 grants, ranging from 1 to 7 years, were awarded through the Management, Business and Finance suite for Year 1. In addition, the special call encouraged collaboration between the social sciences and humanities community and researchers from natural sciences and engineering and the life and health sciences, by opening up the funding opportunity to multidisciplinary teams on the condition that the principal investigator was from the social sciences and humanities.
Within the same year, SSHRC engaged in consultations with the research community as well as several stakeholders in order to develop a longer term strategy to support research, training and knowledge mobilization in management, business and finance. SSHRC consulted with peer review committees involved in the adjudication of the management, business and finance special call suite, the Canadian Federation of Business School Deans, and representatives of the private and public sectors as well as non-governmental organizations. An internal review on the scope of management, business and finance research funded by SSHRC over the past 15 years was conducted. SSHRC, with the support of Industry Canada, was also able to secure an independent assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of management, business and finance research and training in Canada, which is in the process of being conducted by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). The results of this extensive independent assessment will be available in early 2009 and will help further develop the longer term investment strategy for these funds. The Management, Business and Finance strategy will be reviewed in the next year to truly reflect the CCA study, the findings of SSHRC's consultation and the forum's main conclusions (see New Funding Opportunities for 2008).
The Strategy for 2008-09
The overall goal of the investment strategy identified in the summer of 2007 is to contribute towards innovative management, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development practices in Canada through internationally recognized research and training. Following our initial round of consultations, this goal still stands. This goal will be achieved through appropriately placed investments to strengthen Canada's research environment in the fields of management, business and finance by supporting research and research training, including research partnerships made up of university-based researchers and representatives of public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
SSHRC's Management, Business and Finance Investment Strategy was developed taking into consideration the principles of the Government of Canada's Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, published on May 17, 2007, namely:
- Promoting world class excellence;
- Focusing on priorities;
- Encouraging partnerships; and
- Enhancing accountability.
Three "advantages" are outlined in the S&T Strategy, all of which relate directly to central concerns of the humanities and social sciences, particularly in the areas of management, business and finance. These advantages are an entrepreneurial advantage that translates knowledge into practical applications; a knowledge advantage that generates new ideas and builds research excellence; and a people advantage that increases and retains the highly skilled individuals that Canada needs to thrive in the new global economy.
SSHRC's Strategic Objectives for Management, Business and Finance
SSHRC's funding opportunities offered in the areas of Management, Business and Finance are developed to meet at least one or more of the following objectives. This list of objectives was first developed in the summer of 2007 and revised and refined following our consultations over the past year:
- Build long-term capacity and expertise in the areas of Management, Business and Finance in Canada by supporting researchers, notably new scholars.
- Increase connections and inter-disciplinary research collaborations to produce research addressing complex and pressing issues in the area of management, business and finance.
- Mobilize new and existing knowledge in the area of Management, Business and Finance between academe, tri-councils, government, private sector, and not for profits.
- Leverage research investments in Management, Business and Finance through partnerships.
Priority Themes for 2008-09
Our consultations have indicated the need to focus investments thematically on productivity and competitiveness in general and, as much as possible, the four research priority areas identified by the S & T strategy, namely:
- Information and communication technologies;
- Environmental science and technologies;
- Natural resources and energy;
- Health and related life sciences and technologies
A preliminary list of priority themes is indicated below. The results of the independent Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) assessment, as well as other consultations and environmental scans, will further guide SSHRC's planning in this area. Once a list of priority topics is finalised, preference will be given to excellent quality research that fits within these topics for calls for proposals beginning in 2009.
- Fiscal and monetary policy;
- Taxation;
- Innovation, productivity and related research and development (R&D);
- Competitiveness and corporate governance;
- International finance, trade, investment, foreign relations and development policy;
- Multilateral, regional and bilateral commercial relationships within and beyond North America;
- Workforce and labour laws;
- Canadian manufacturing and exporting;
- Resource industries;
- Entrepreneurship.
New Funding Opportunities for 2008
- To increase connections and inter-disciplinary research collaboration and knowledge mobilization, there will be support for Public Outreach grants. Details of this funding opportunity and the related application form will be available in August 2008. (Total program budget approximately $1 million)
- To mobilize knowledge and build interdisciplinary and intersectoral connections, SSHRC will also issue a special call for proposals to organise a national multisectoral and multidisciplinary research forum to showcase "state of the art" management, business and finance research. Application details will be available in August 2008. We would appreciate short expressions of interest from members of the community who have the capacity to undertake this type of initiative. (Maximum budget $400,000)
Possible Funding Opportunities for 2009 Onward for Discussion/Feedback
SSHRC is engaged in an on-going consultation process to develop the longer term Management, Business and Finance Investment Strategy. We encourage the social sciences and humanities community to participate in the Council of Canadian Academies assessment of strengths and weaknesses with respect to management, business and finance research and training in Canada.
The following is an indication of the types of investment mechanisms that have been suggested to SSHRC for 2009 onwards:
- SSHRC received suggestions to invest in research centres in the areas of management, business and finance. Several models exist for such funding programs, including those of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in the UK, the Australian model and those operated in Germany.
- Investment in research Chairs related to management, business and finance
- Collective access to the most highly used management, business and finance surveys/data sources
- Enhanced SSHRC collaboration with the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for related management, business and finance research infrastructure.
We are exploring potential programming along these lines and would appreciate feedback regarding these possibilities. As these ideas develop, further information will be posted on our website. We would also welcome other suggestions. Comments should be sent before September 30, 2008.
For questions or comments, please contact:
Éric Bastien
Senior Program Officer
Strategic Programs and Joint Initiatives Division
eric.bastien@sshrc.ca
613-992-3407
Updated: 7/29/2008 3:28:49 PM
