Author: Mark Henderson

Flush from its success in negotiating a new scientific integrity clause in its contract for federal scientists, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) plans to lend support to the US scientific community in an expected battle with the incoming administration of president Donald Trump.

Toronto is home to the second-largest series ‘A’ venture capital investment in the history of biotechnology with the creation of a $300-million start-up to commercialize induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) targeting a range of cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders.

Genome Canada’s most recent Large-Scale Applied Research Project (LSARP) competition sheds light on the evolving focus of the agency’s support of Canada’s traditional industries as genomics extend their reach into the sectors underpinning the bioeconomy.

Supporting office to be housed at ISED

The top-listed priority of Science minister Kirsty Duncan’s mandate letter — to create a Chief Science Officer (CSO) — has taken an important step forward with the official launch of a search for the best candidate.

Canada should focus on prosperity and commerce rather than enhanced R&D performance if it hopes to reverse the slide in its number of globally focused innovative companies, says a new report. The loss of large and medium-sized technology-based firms can be traced to misdirected government policies and a long term shift in the nation’s post-secondary institutions towards pure research, although one of the report’s co-authors says the recent policy emphasis on experiential learning is cause for cautious optimism.

Two Toronto-based entrepreneurs and angel investors have launched what they say is a novel pre-seed fund and accelerator/foundry that matches large company problems with startups that they subsequently invest in.

BDC Capital is rolling out its second venture fund for clean tech and energy following the successful deployment of an initial fund launched in 2011. The BDC Industrial Clean and Energy (ICE) Technology Venture Fund II will provide $135 million to highly scalable, capital-efficient companies in need of late seed, series A and series B financing.

Structured approach to commercialization

A novel pilot program that helps small yet established Ontario- and Quebec-based tech companies move products into development may soon go national. The seminar and workshop-based I2D (Idea to Development) program was developed by Stage-Gate System creator Dr Robert Cooper and launched in 2013 by the Ontario branch of the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP).

The Ontario government has announced two new funding programs to address an early-stage financing gap faced by growing technology companies and government as a first purchaser. Launched last month by the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG), they are part of the new Business Growth Initiative (BGI) unveiled by the province earlier this year.

There’s cautious optimism that Canada’s biggest R&D performers are prepared to boost their spending with new data showing a surprising 6.9% increase in 2015. Canada’s Top 100 corporate R&D performers spent $12.