A few thoughts on the need for a well-funded university research system in Canada. I am passionate about making this case. I said a few weeks back that chasing benchmarks and international comparators is not working. So how do we reimagine our advocacy?

Students, trainees & research professionals are the lifeblood (see Mark Lautens's compelling op-ed piece). Ben Bergen is emphatic on the mass confusion that exists between research, industry, jobs & innovation strategies. I concur that we have blurred these in our own advocacy.

Ben Bergen recently spoke about a Canadian prosperity strategy. That is where we need to aim, because it unifies all of the 'strategies' listed above. So how do we re-imagine our research advocacy? 1. Prosperity is achieved through people who focus on what they do best.

2. A solid national research ecosystem is one of the essential 'glues' that holds/strengthens society. 3. Research has long been (currently is) the best platform for diplomacy. Diplomacy through collaborative international research remains unparalleled. Go visit ANY research lab.

4. Let's define WHAT Canada needs, what our university sector needs. Not how much is missing compared to others. A system can ALWAYS be better funded...but to what end? Where do we contribute to Canada's long-term prosperity? But remembering to 'stay in our lane'.

5. Four levels to consider: individual, team, institutional, global. Focus funding on outcomes, not on disciplines or programs. As Alex Usher recently stated on a podcast, let students decide what kind of degrees they want, not on the discipline or faculty.

6. Let inventors invent & innovators innovate. Don't confuse the 2 (as Breznitz Dan keeps telling us). I know this is weird coming from me, who has innovation in their job title...not everyone we work with will become an innovator or entrepreneur, but some will. And be impactful.