Author: Mark Henderson

Leveraging a key natural resource

Canadian forestry has emerged as a model for sector-based innovation and could become even more successful if the federal government renews its support for academic-based forestry research and boosts its overall financial contributions.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) has awarded $27.3 million for 10 clean technology projects in British Columbia. The funding is provided through its popular SD Tech Fund and follows related announcements in Quebec and Ontario (R$, February 26/15).

Prompted by budget cuts, efficiency gains

Five years after its formation, Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) is restructuring to further its objective of becoming more industry focused.

Burlington ON-based L-3 WESCAM has received a $75-million repayable federal loan to boost the technological capabilities of its air, land and sea surveillance cameras and sensors. The loan from the Strategic Aerospace Defence Initiative (SADI) will be augmented with $2 million from WESCAM to help train students from universities and colleges.

Quebec and France have agreed to create a bi-national institute aimed at developing large-scale joint projects for research and innovation in the maritime sector. The agreement was signed last week in Paris by French prime minister Manuel Valls and Quebec premier Philippe Couillard who was accompanied by Quebec chief scientist Dr Rémi Quirion.

Province aiming for zero deficit by 2016

Concern is mounting in Quebec’s research community that the current government’s drive to balance its books could result in cuts to research support for students, science culture and the province’s new National Policy for Research and Innovation (PNRI).

In the lead-up to the federal Budget, Mitacs has released the results of a survey of that shows overwhelming support for its Accelerate graduate student internship program and an increase in R&D by current and past industrial partners.

A new report on Ontario’s life sciences (LS) sector says the province risks stalling over a decade of impressive growth unless it adopts a coordinated economic strategy. Produced by Life Sciences Ontario (LSO), the report quantifies the size and impact of the highly fragmented LS sector which includes 5,645 mainly small firms with revenues of $40.

Revolutionary change on a budget

Six years after releasing its last roadmap, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has unveiled an updated version it hopes will move the organization closer to achieving its key objectives despite stagnant levels of federal support.

Toronto is set to become the 20th StartUp Community following a grassroots initiative to join the flagship national program of StartUp Canada. In a meeting earlier this month, backers lined up volunteers prior an official launch of the chapter this May, opening access for entrepreneurs to a host of mentoring, networking, incubation and outreach activities provided by the national organization.