Differences in US and Canadian Research Administration

By SRAI News posted 12-13-2023 01:27 PM

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Differences in US and Canadian Research Administration

Research Administration – North and South of 60. Given the international nature of research, one might think that the field of research administration is internationally coherent, with stated norms and standardization. While many general concepts apply, the jurisdictional differences in how research is funded and conducted influence the focus of national research administration practice.

Given the international nature of research, one might think that the field of research administration is internationally coherent, with stated norms and standardization. While many general concepts apply, the jurisdictional differences in how research is funded and conducted, including sponsor requirements, influence the focus of national research administration practice. In this article we consider the United States and Canada as an example of how these factors affect research administration.

In the U.S., funding for research is primarily supported by Federal sponsors (National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, etc.). These funds originate from tax dollars. President Biden’s budget request for FY2023 included approximately $204.9 billion for R&D, $45.3 billion (28%) above the FY2021 estimated level of $159.6 billion (source = Congressional Research Service). The Department of Defense and the Department of Health & Human Services received 77% of the FY21 funding. There are over 900 grant programs across 26 Federal agencies. Similarly, in Canada, the Federal government supports the majority of sponsored funding, with primary funders being the Tri-Agencies (Canadian Institutes of Health Research [CIHR], the National Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada [NSERC] and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council [SSHRC], as well as the Canada Foundation for Innovation [CFI] which funds research infrastructure. In FY21 research funding totaled $15.9 billion. (Statistics Canada; Higher Education Research & Development).
In terms of research systems, the U.S. provides e-application systems including research.gov, grants.gov, ASSIST, and Proposal Central. Similarly, Canada has its own E-Systems such as Research.net. Both countries encounter issues in securing full funding on the indirect costs of research. The ways they are reimbursed in Canada and the U.S. are different. Canada has a national program for Tri-Agency funding which has a standard rate of reimbursement depending on the size of the institution. Universities receive a block grant which represents their relative share of the national funding pie. Researchers’ salaries are not eligible expenses for funded grants or indirect costs. The United States has a model providing Facilities & Administration (F&A) costs, which is an individual rate per institution usually negotiated with the funders.

In terms of compliance, Canada’s system is generally less complex. For example, in terms of financial compliance, in 2020 the Tri-agencies redesigned their monitoring process to provide greater flexibility. Institutions are now required to demonstrate how their internal policies adhere to national high-level principles. The U.S. meanwhile generally follows Federal guidelines as outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, the NSF Office of Budget Financial Awards Management (BFA), and those of Federal, State, and Local regulations. On the other hand, ethics processes are generally similar between the two countries.

Both countries have increasing requirements for research security and research data management. Canada’s requirements are less stringent and are being implemented at a slower pace. On the other hand, in Canada equity, diversity and inclusion (in both team composition and in research methods) is becoming a general requirement for all research, as is knowledge mobilization. As part of these requirements, the Tri-agencies are implementing an EDI Action Plan as well as DORA (Declaration on Research Assessment). Note that as a result of these new requirements, Canada is seeing an expansion of the Research Administrator roles to more generalists, supplemented by a few specialists. In the U.S., data management policies have recently strengthened, with new requirements for a data management and sharing plan being implemented and required for all proposals.

In Canada, the Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) is a national voice for research administrators. The U.S. offers several organizations including the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). The Society for Research Administrators International (SRAI) provides guidance and community to both nations’ research administrators.

So, are there substantial differences between the two nations? As one might anticipate, each handles research and research administration slightly differently but both align in terms of national support based on public dollars for research, primarily toward the expansion of knowledge in human health. Both nations support research through academic institutions while neither nation fully funds the needs of investigators. And, both nations require province/state/local/private funding to supplement the national level of support.

In terms of engagement and satisfaction with their careers, there is little reported difference according to Gallup. The U.S. and Canada are among the most engaged workers in the world (34% vs. 20% average worldwide). However, 52% reported stress on a daily basis. This differs markedly from the rest of the world (East Asia 32%, Europe 18%). Given the U.S. and Canada are both democracies with common systems, these findings are not unusual.

In all, there are more parallels between the two systems and research administrators than any other nations. While functionally different, it is heartening to learn that research and research administration are strongly supported in North America and shared common bonds facilitate research endeavors. It is a good time to be a research administrator in either Canada or the United States!

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