Government Support and Infrastructure: Realizing the value of collaborative work

Main Article Content

Peter Levesque

Abstract

CCommunity-campus research has undergone significant growth over the last two decades. While there has been some support in the form of government programs, significant gaps remain. The identification of collaborative research – what Gibbons et al. (1994) called Mode Two, complementing more traditional Mode One research – necessitates a better understanding of the incentives and infrastructure needed to produce greater value from both modes of research production. This article presents an argument that research is fundamentally three questions: what, so what and now what. It further argues that while the system is good at producing data and information as well as interpretation and analysis, it is not quite so competent when it comes to decisions that produce value beyond products, programs and sometimes, policies. This article introduces concepts related to knowledge mobilization and the need for dedicated incentives and infrastructure to realize the value of collaborative work. It introduces a taxonomy of legal government powers to protect and promote public health that may be adapted to the creation of support for community-campus research. This article suggests that government support for collaborative research must be built from arguments that demonstrate the added value that comes from engaging in these processes. It further argues that this is essentially a political process that must include explicit and open conversations across sectors and stakeholders.

Article Details

Section
Research articles (Refereed)
Author Biography

Peter Levesque, University of Ottawa, Institute of Population Health

Peter Levesque is the Principal Advisor of a Knowledge Mobilization Consultancy practice based in Ottawa. His speciality is leadership for organizational change. He assists in the development of incentives and infrastructure to improve the ability of individuals within organizations to adopt more evidence-informed practice. His clients include international, national, provincial, as well as local issue-focused agencies and organizations. He is a also a researcher in Population Health at the University of Ottawa with a focus on increasing the effectiveness ofintegrated services. From 1998-2005 he served Canadians at the Social Sciences and HumanitiesResearch Council of Canada, with opportunities as the Deputy-Director of Knowledge Products and Mobilization and with the creation of the Community-University Research Alliances program. He served Ontarians as the Knowledge Exchange Specialist for the Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario from 2005-2007. Peter is a dedicated volunteer and has served numerous organizations in Canada and internationally.