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ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Indirect Costs program helps Canada's universities and colleges by supporting a portion of the hidden, or "indirect" costs of administering and managing top-notch research activities.

Indirect costs include everything from upgrading library computer systems and renovating laboratories to helping universities promote their research programs to the public.

Every year the federal government funds specific research projects through its three granting agencies:

• the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR),
• the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and
• the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Through the Indirect Costs program, the federal government protects this research investment by helping universities ensure federally-funded projects are carried out in world-class facilities with the best equipment and administrative support available.

Budget

The Indirect Costs program has an annual budget of $300 million, and serves more than 140 postsecondary institutions across the country.

This program is an extension of a one-time indirect costs payment totalling $200 million made by the government to 79 degree-granting institutions in 2001-02.

Governance

A steering committee, made up of the presidents of the three federal granting agencies and the deputy minister of Industry Canada (or designated replacement), oversees management of the program.

The secretariat of the Canada Research Chairs Program, which is housed at SSHRC, administers the Indirect Costs program, including:

• determining the eligibility of Canadian postsecondary institutions;
• administering the financial and reporting aspects of the program;
• conducting performance measurement, evaluation and audits; and
• reporting on the program to the minister of industry, Treasury Board Secretariat and, ultimately, Parliament.