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reports and analyses of the forces driving science and technology investment in Canada
editor: Mark Henderson How it looks to me.... by Mark Henderson FEATURE REPORTS | RESEARCH BRIEFS | PERSONALITIES How it looks to me.... by Mark Henderson, editor, RE$EARCH MONEY Companies in the fuel cell sector have good reason to feel relieved these days, following the long overdue announcement of a national fuel cell research initiative. But those same companies should also be concerned. The level and scope of government-supported activity pales beside that of every other country which has targeted the sector as a promising future economic growth opportunity. The technology's near pollution-free potential only adds to the lustre of developing a thriving fuel cell industry. Yet in the past 20 years, the federal government has spent a little more than $70 million on fuel cell and related R&D, far less than the $120 million the European Community spends in one year, not to mention Japan and the US which spend close to $250 million annually. Inexplicably, an industry-led proposal for the creation of a non-profit organization to promote and demonstrate Canadian technology remains unfunded (link to related item). Canada needs to strike while the iron is hot, and take advantage of its strong financial position by funding projects that will speed the development and acceptance of fuel cells in their applications. Not only is it in the national interest, it will also help Canada meet its international obligations as a signatory to the Kyoto Declaration. A clean fuel source and a new industry, building on great domestic technology. Isn't that worth the attention and funding that Ottawa is best suited to provide?
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FUNDING OF FUEL CELL INITIATIVE LAUDED AS IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TO CREATION OF NEW CANADIAN INDUSTRY | ||
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PROPOSAL FOR FUEL CELLS DEMO AND TEST PROGRAM STILL UNFUNDED | ||
| CHANGES PENDING FOR TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS CANADA AS WTO RULES AGAINST ITS USE IN REGIONAL AIRCRAFT SECTOR | ||
| GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA EXPANDS R&D OPERATIONS IN OSHAWA WITH $20-MILLION DESIGN CENTRE AND 150 NEW JOBS | ||
| CANADIAN INSTITUTES OF HEALTH RESEARCH STILL ON SCHEDULE FOR OFFICIAL LAUNCH BY APRIL 1/2000 | ||
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STATSCAN HOPES FIRST HEALTH R&D SURVEY WILL LEAD TO WIDE RANGING DISCUSSION |
RESEARCH BRIEFS
- GlycoDesign boosts pipeline with Vascular Therapeutics acquisition
- Saskatchewan first beneficiary of new MRC research program
- Microbix licenses rabies vaccine to Ontario government
- Mycota Biosciences created with $3.75 million in venture capital
- Researchers discover gene linked to low levels of "good" cholesterol
- Cisco sets up shop across street from rival Newbridge Networks
- ComDev restructures in bid to return to profitability
- Packaging and assembly group receives Ontario gov't funds
- Questor receives $5 million in TPC/Climate Change funds
- Government export assistance programs rate poorly: SFU study
- New software firm unveils device for summarizing email
- UBC professor to study impact of excessive fishing with $3M grant
- Networks of Centres of Excellence program to get its own director
GlycoDesign boosts pipeline with Vascular Therapeutics acquisition Toronto's GlycoDesign Inc (GDI) has substantially increased its critical mass with the acquisition of Mountain View CA-based Vascular Therapeutics Inc (VTI) in a share deal that will see GDI's product pipeline increase from eight to 11. The two privately held firms are both major recipients of funding from the Canadian Medical Discovery Fund, which has invested $7.75 million and $11.2 million respectively. GDI is developing orally active carbohydrate inhibitors for the treatment of cancers, infectious diseases and inflammation, while VTI is developing glycotherapeutic agents to treat various cardiovascular diseases. Vasoflux, VTI's lead drug compound, was discovered at the Hamilton Civic Hospitals Research Centre (HCHRC), an academic medical centre devoted to thrombosis research. HCHRC director Dr Jack Hirsh, who led the team that discovered Vasoflux, joins the GDI management team as VP cardiovascular research, while Dr Jeffrey Wietz becomes director of thrombosis research. GDI has a long-standing research collaboration with the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, including a chair in glycobiology funded in part by the Ontario R&D Challenge Fund (R$, February 24/99)....
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Saskatchewan first beneficiary of new MRC research program Univ of Saskatchewan researchers are the first recipients of a new health research grant program from the Medical Research Council. The MRC-Saskatchewan shared-cost initiative will see eight projects receive more than $1.5 million in grants. The projects receiving funding range from gene therapy and medical imaging to population health. The grant amounts range from $103,000 to $319,000. The Regional Partnerships Program is a $10-million program created to address the funding imbalance to researchers in the six smaller provinces....
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Microbix licenses rabies vaccine to Ontario government Microbix Biosystems Inc, Toronto, has signed a licence agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for its rabies vaccine which will be developed initially as an oral vaccine for raccoons. Microbix will receive an upfront fee and royalties based on subsequent sales in Canada, the US and Mexico. The product is the only vaccine that is effective in oral baits against the raccoon rabies strain, as well as fox and skunk. The firm is also in discussion with to license rabies vaccines for domestic animals and multi disease states. All are based on Microbix's adenvirus technology platform....
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Mycota Biosciences created with $3.75 million in venture capital A venture capital syndicate has invested $3.75 million to create Mycota Biosciences Inc for the development of treatments against fungus diseases. Innovatech Grand Montréal, T2C2/Bio, GeneChem Technologies Venture Fund LP and Lallemand Inc will invest an initial $2.5 million, with another $1.25 million conditional on certain product milestones. Mycota will be based in Montreal and headed up by Dr Howard Bussey, a specialist in yeast genomics and cell wall studies at McGill Univ. The new anti-fungus medication avoids typical side effects of human consumption such as yeast-type microorganisms, a source of various gynecological and surgical infections....
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Researchers discover gene linked to low levels of "good" cholesterol
Canadian researchers have discovered the gene responsible for genetic diseases that result in low HDL or "good" cholesterol and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, potentially leading to new treatments. The research is the result of collaboration among a large number of public and non-profit research organizations and Xenon Bioresearch Inc. Funding was provided by Xenon, and grants from the Medical Research Council, the Networks of Centres of Excellence program (via the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Xenon's role in the research was to demonstrate its technology platform for genetic discoveries. Half of people with coronary heart disease have low levels of HDL cholesterol and there are currently no effective drug treatments....
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Cisco sets up shop across street from rival Newbridge Networks
Networking giant Cisco Systems Inc is officially opening its new Ottawa Development Centre (ODC) next week, right across the street from its smaller Canadian rival, Newbridge Networks Inc. In what some observers view as a brazen attempt to lure away Newbridge talent, the ODC will house 140 employees focused on R&D of new technologies and equipment for reducing Internet traffic volume. The ODC will report to its US parent and not to Cisco Systems Canada Co, a Toronto-based subsidiary established in 1990....
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ComDev restructures in bid to return to profitability
COM DEV International Ltd is eliminating 15% of its workforce, closing subsidiaries, re-structuring and seeking new financing in a concerted bid to return to profitability. The changes were made by Keith Ainsworth who was appointed CEO in June in addition to his capacity as president. The structuring includes the write-down of product development costs and the closure of its 3dbm Inc facility in Camarillo CA, purchased last year. There will be a $53-million charge against earnings but the changes will generate $8-10 million in annual cost savings. The Cambridge ON-based firm has also appointed John Keating and Peter Scovell to head the space and wireless groups, down from three divisions prior to re-structuring....
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Packaging and assembly group receives Ontario gov't funds
A consortium for conducting collaborative R&D into electronics packaging and assembly technologies has been formed with the assistance of the Ontario R&D Challenge Fund (CF). With a budget of $12 million over five years, the Centre for Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging (CMAP) will initially involve four Ontario universities (Univ of Western Ontario, Univ of Toronto, Carleton Univ and Univ of Waterloo). Industrial members are: Newbridge Networks Corp, Celestica Inc, DY4 Systems Inc, Coretec Inc and Integran. The CF is contributing $3.6 million to CMAP, with $4 million coming from industry, $4 million from the universities and $450,000 from Materials and Manufacturing Ontario. A director's search is underway and additional membership is encouraged. FMI: Steve Bonnell (613)599-3600 x4858....
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Questor receives $5 million in TPC/Climate Change funds
Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) has invested $4.95 million in a $14-million R&D project for developing gas separation technology at Questor Industries Inc, Burnaby BC, one of several fuel cell firms in the province's growing fuel cell sector (see lead story). The Pulsar PSA technology will be able to strip nitrogen and other gases from an air stream, leaving pure oxygen, offering great potential for improving the efficiency of fuel cells. Intended for industrial uses, the system will separate oxygen 200 times faster than traditional systems, resulting in smaller industrial oxygen plants and lower capital and operating costs. Fuel cell applications are being studied, and it is anticipated that application of the Pulsar system will reduce the size and cost of the fuel cell engine while maintaining power output. The TPC funds are provided jointly with the Climate Change Action Fund....
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Government export assistance programs rate poorly: SFU study
Government export assistance programs are failing smaller firms trying to break into global markets, according to a study conducted by two Simon Fraser Univ professors. The study focused on information technology and telecommunications firms with less than 300 hundred employees. It discovered that companies found programs from all levels of government to be mediocre to poor. Services found particularly wanting were marketing opportunities seminars, market analyses and case studies program, which were deemed too general, too generic and too late. Exceptions to the poor ranking include Industry Canada's Strategis web site, overseas trade officers and funding to attend trade shows. SFU business administration professors June Francis and Colleen Collins-Dodd conducted the study with assistance from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Industry Canada....
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New software firm unveils device for summarizing email
AmikaNow!has launched its first generation of email content interpretation tools, allowing users to summarize emails and deliver them to a desktop, pager or wireless phone. The Kanata ON-based firm was spun off from the National Research Council last year. The email filtering device is now in beta trials and will be available in the early fall, via the company's website at www.amikanow.com....
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UBC professor to study impact of excessive fishing with $3M grant
Univ of British Columbia professor Dr Daniel Pauly has received a $3-million grant to study the impact of excessive fishing on North Atlantic marine ecosystems. US-based Pew Charitable Trusts granted the funding for the 24-month pilot project, which will develop and test a method for reconstructing historic catch time series and past ecosystems to serve as a baseline for assessing present ecosystems....
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Networks of Centres of Excellence program to get its own director
The Networks of Centres of Excellence program is seeking a director, the first time the program has had a dedicated administrative leader. The position was created following the recent increase to the NCE budget, allowing several new networks to join the fold. The director will oversee a seven-person team in the NCE's Ottawa offices and is responsible for all aspects of the program. Previously the NCE program shared its administrative head with the strategic projects division of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council....
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PERSONALITIES
Dr Gilbert Normand has been appointed the secretary of state for science, research and development, the 20th person to hold the federal science since post in the past 28 years. Representing the riding of Bellechasse-Etcheminjs- Montmagny-l'Islet, the first term MP moves over from his previous position as secretary of state for Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and Oceans. Normand served as mayor of Montmagny from 1987 to 1993, where he operated a private medical practice for 19 years. After attending college and receiving a BA at LaPocatiére in Quebec City, he studied optometry at the Univ of Montreal and received his medical degree from Laval Univ. Normand replaces Dr Ron Duhamel who assumes the new position of secretary of state, Francophonie, in addition to secretary of state, Western Economic Diversification....
Dr Roman Zastawny has been appointed director of product development for Tm Bioscience Corp, an emerging biotech firm developing proprietary DNA for use in biochips, diagnostics and genome analysis. Zastawny comes to the Toronto-based firm from Allelix Biopharmaceuticals Inc, where he served as senior research scientist and project leader. Tm Bioscience has also made two board appointments. They are: Dr Mark Pearson, VP MDS Inc; Dr Neil Reid, senior VP MDS Sciex, an MDS subsidiary....
Angus Livingstone has been appointed managing director of the Univ of British Columbia's University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO). A UBC alumnus, he joined the Office of Research Services in 1986 and transferred to the UILO where he most recently held the position of associate director. Past responsibilities include management of intellectual property and research affiliations with UBC teaching hospitals, the Networks of Centres of Excellence and other collaborative projects and technologies. Livingston is a member of the Association of University Technology Managers, the BC Biotechnology Association and the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance. He replaces William Palm who left the UILO to enter the private sector as a consultant....
Scott Marshall, formerly in charge of R&D at Newbridge Networks Corp, has been appointed a group VP at rival Cisco Systems Inc, San Jose CA. Marshall will head up the service provider access and aggregation products division, which contains several business units, including a new unit for fixed and mobile wireless. During his 12-year career at Newbridge, Marshall was responsible for R&D as well as data communications product development, and more recently served as executive VP switching products. He moved into the latter position after a major internal reorganization at the Kanata ON-based firm which saw centralized R&D split into three corresponding business units (R$,August 26/98). Marshall has a BSc in electrical engineering from the Univ of Waterloo and began his career with stints at Mitel Corp and Bell-Northern Research....
Stephen Arling has been appointed VP wireless loop business unit at Harris Corp's microwave communications division in Calgary. He replaces Carl Creamer who temporarily assumed the position in addition his duties as VP of the division's systems business unit. Arling will have overall site responsibility, which includes R&D for the wireless business unit and supporting R&D for the broadband wireless access initiative. A 24-year veteran of Harris, Arling holds a BSC in electrical engineering from Ohio State Univ and an exec MBA from the Univ of Florida....
Communications and Information Technology Ontario (CITO) has appointed four new staff members. Nora Middlemiss is director of business development. Prior to joining CITO she worked at the recently privatized ORTECH Corp and has been an industrial technology advisor for the NRC's Industrial Research Assistance Program. Ron Brunet joins CITO to become a business development manager, after a career at the National Research Council where he served as an IP advisor. Jason George joins the Ottawa office for marketing and business development for digital media. Tony Florio joins CITO's Toronto office where he will be the communications manager....
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