C0037-19 - Summative Evaluation of Research Capacity Program

The Research Capacity Program (RCP) was established in 1997 and is the province’s primary mechanism to leverage support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to facilitate a cost-shared approach that maximizes research funding in alignment with Alberta’s priorities. The RCP assists post-secondary institutions to build critical mass in priority research areas and to ensure the province’s competitive advantage is maintained. Attracting and retaining internationally recognized and promising researchers is an essential component in Alberta’s strategy to ensure continuing global competitiveness. The ability to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure is a key competitive advantage as universities recruit and retain top researchers and enhance research excellence. Through the RCP, capacity is enhanced in alignment of Alberta’s goals. The program indirectly impacts advanced knowledge, increased research and development, trainees, industry engagement and company developments.

This request for proposal is soliciting a consulting firm to conduct a summative evaluation of the RCP and provide an evaluation report

The primary purpose of this evaluation is to inform the future direction of the RCP based on past program performance, and national and international best practice. The evaluation will be conducted through an integrated approach that includes a summative evaluation of the RCP over the last 10 years, and an Advisory Panel’s recommendations for the future direction of the RCP.

An Advisory Panel will be formed and managed separately by EDT and composed of national and international experts to provide recommendations for the future direction of the RCP based on expert opinion and the findings from the summative evaluation.

The timeframe to be covered for this evaluation is from 2008 through 2018.

The evaluation will be focused on addressing the following questions:
1. Has the program effectively built capacity in Alberta’s post-secondary institutions?
2. To what extent can impacts be attributed to the program?
3. How have RCP investments impacted Alberta’s interests in economic, environmental, social and health benefits?
4. What are the opportunities for the program to more effectively advance Alberta’s priorities, currently expressed in the Alberta Research and Innovation Framework?