FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-FOOD POLICY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
PART TWO - CHAPTER COMPONENTS OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
SECTION E - SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
32 DEFINITIONS
32.1 In this Section:
"bio-based economy" means an economy derived from applying the advances
in science and innovation to the biology of plants, animals and micro-organisms
to develop new bio- products, and will be based on the production, processing
and marketing of bio-products;
"bio-mass" means all living organisms and their constituent parts;
"bio-process" means any process that uses living organisms or their
constituent parts;
"bio-products" means products from living organisms and their constituent
parts that may replace or augment products derived from non-renewable resources,
and includes, but is not limited to, products such as ethanol, chemicals, lubricants,
pharmaceuticals,
nutraceuticals, clothing, plastics and building materials;
"innovation" means the process of creating, adopting or applying new
methods, ideas or devices;
"priority areas" means the five chapter components of the Framework
Agreement, namely, business risk management, food safety and food quality, environment,
renewal and science and innovation; and
"value chain" means the value creation process that transforms materials
- within the enterprise as well as in the total supply chain - and information
into products that satisfy a customer's needs.
33 COMMON GOALS
33.1 The Parties agree on the following common goals in the development of
science and innovation programs:
Realigning Public Science Resources
33.1.1 realign and increase investments to support science and innovation
in the priority areas, as well as in biomass, bio-product and bio-process
research;
33.1.2 increase the level of investment in innovation in agricultural and
bio-products from non-agricultural sources within Canada and elsewhere;
Co-ordinating Along the Whole Value Chain
33.1.3 expand and strengthen linkages between the agriculture and agri-food
sector and the science and innovation community both within Canada and internationally;
33.1.4 improve technology transfer, coordination, communication and collaboration
across market, policy and scientific disciplines, research organizations and
throughout the value chain;
Creating an Innovation Climate
33.1.5 accelerate the development and adoption of innovations in the agriculture
and agri-food sector while maintaining an effective science-based and transparent
agriculture and agri-food regulatory system;
33.1.6 ensure that the human resources and infrastructure needed for science
and innovation in the agriculture and agri-food sector are available in Canada;
33.1.7 foster a supportive climate for investment, technology transfer and
commercialization in Canada; and
33.1.8 better utilize intellectual property from publicly supported research
to enhance the growth of the agriculture and agri-food sector.
33.2 The Parties will take into account social and ethical considerations
when making decisions in respect of the Common Goals for Science and Innovation.
34 TARGETS AND INDICATORS
34.1 The Parties agree to use indicators to measure the progress in relation
to the Common Goals for Science and Innovation. These indicators shall include,
but are not limited to:
Realigning Public Science Resources
34.1.1 levels of investment by the Parties, academic institutions and industry
in science and innovation in the priority areas and in bio-products;
34.1.2 levels of investment by non-agricultural sources in science and innovation
in the priority areas;
Co-ordinating Along the Whole Value Chain
34.1.3 the number of collaborative arrangements based on science and innovation
across the value chain;
Creating an Innovation Climate
34.1.4 the number of producers that become engaged in value chain activities
beyond production of the raw commodity;
34.1.5 the market share of bio-products produced in Canada;
34.1.6 the impact on rural economic development of investments or economic
activity in bio-products and the priority areas;
34.1.7 the number of publications, licensing agreements and patents awarded
in the agriculture and agri-food sector;
34.1.8 the number of people employed in the bio-based economy;
34.1.9 the number of persons enrolled in post secondary institutions in subjects
related to the bio-based economy;
34.1.10 employers' access to skilled labour in the bio-based economy;
and
34.1.11 the number of new research and innovative projects that are commercialized.
35 IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
Realigning Public Science Resources
35.1 The Parties agree to undertake a benchmark study, by no later than July
2003, on the current levels of investment in science and innovation in relation
to the priority areas and bio-mass, bio-products and bio-processes.
35.2 The Parties agree to use the benchmark study referred to in clause 35.1,
no later than December 2003, to devise and implement an action plan that will
realign public sector investment in agriculture and agri-food research and science
innovation in a manner that is consistent with the Common Goals identified in
the Framework Agreement.
35.3 The Parties will communicate the action plan to the various bodies responsible
for funding scientific research and will encourage greater collaboration among
disciplines so that the Common Goals identified in the Framework Agreement may
be promoted in the science and innovation community.
Co-ordinating Along the Whole Value Chain
35.4 The Parties will encourage public and private sector institutions to
align their science and innovation priorities in a manner consistent with the
Common Goals identified in the Framework Agreement.
35.5 The Parties will jointly develop, by no later than July 2003, a common
information base about selected commodities and the adoption of technology within
the value chain. The information will identify the stakeholders in the value
chain, including government departments.
35.6 The Parties agree to develop a strategy, by no later than December 2003,
to build stronger links throughout the value chain. The tools to be used in
the strategy may include, but are not limited to:
35.6.1 a science/policy/market/innovation summit;
35.6.2 pilot projects with industry and academic and research institutions;
35.6.3 web sites;
35.6.4 research co-ordination; and
35.6.5 life cycle cost analysis on bio-products.
35.7 The strategy referred to in clause 35.6 will be used to:
35.7.1 improve collaboration among and within governments, academic institutions
and industry; and
35.7.2 develop partnerings with non-traditional sectors such as environment
and energy.
The strategy will be implemented by the Parties by no later than March 2004.
Creating an Innovation Climate
35.8 The Parties will facilitate the adoption of new economic opportunities
based on innovative bio-products and knowledge, as well as the development of
opportunities in the priority areas, through initiatives such as:
35.8.1 promoting business climate policies that will encourage access to
capital for research, development and innovation;
35.8.2 promoting the establishment of practices in a manner that will facilitate
success by Canadian enterprises in new and premium markets;
35.8.3 supporting mechanisms and infrastructure, including business-mentoring
techniques, centres for innovation, incubators and physical infrastructure;
and
35.8.4 encouraging the establishment and growth of research facilities
that attract world class scientists and advance innovation in the agriculture
and the agri-food sector.
35.9 The Parties agree to assess, by no later than December 2003, the human
resource and related infrastructure needs of enterprises, institutions and governments
necessary to develop science and innovation in agriculture and agri-food sector.
The Parties will communicate, by no later than May 2004, the results of the
assessment to relevant departments in their respective governments.
35.10 The Parties agree to undertake consultations as needed, by no later
than July 2004, with business, government and academic institutions, to develop
approaches on the management of intellectual property to better serve the agriculture
and agri-food sector.
35.11 The Parties agree to develop, by no later than 2004, a strategy to increase
investment in Canada's agricultural bio-based economy. The Parties agree
to implement the strategy by June 2005.
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