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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$EARCH MONEY The last time RE$EARCH MONEY wrote about the push to boost the capacity of government laboratories, we were told that its backers were still assessing which would be the best 'wagon' to hitch the initiative to (R$, April 28/99). Five months later, and on the eve of the throne speech, organizers still aren't saying much. But it's getting a lot easier to guess. Of the S&T initiatives best placed to secure funding in the next Budget, two stand out as serving the needs of those who contend that increased science capacity is long overdue. Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research -- both profiled in the last issue of RE$EARCH MONEY -- are excellent examples of the kind of cross-cutting, multidisciplinary programs best suited to the new model emerging for government science. More generically, there are rumblings of more money for biotechnology, although the nasty food fight that's broken out in recent days may have a negative influence (link to item). Put another way, government is likely to respond to the campaign by funding a wide variety of science-based initiatives, to shore up areas of obvious federal responsibility with an emphasis on collaboration. And although science capacity boosters are loathe to admit it, it's ultimately about money, and a lot of it. Government should be prepared to reverse the cuts of the past and heal the wounds that ill-advised cost cutting have inflicted.
FEATURE REPORTS...
RESEARCH BRIEFS
CANARIE launches learning program to enhance education CANARIE Inc has unveiled a new $25-million, four-year fund to encourage projects that reduce the structural impediments to the effective use of advanced networks from education and training. The Learning Program is a cost-shared fund designed to help finance demonstration projects, research test beds, repositories for learning objects and other innovations that will have a widespread impact. The first competition is underway and offers project support of up to $2 million. The program will be directed by a Learning Program committee, chaired by Dr Catherine Henderson, president of the Ontario College of Art and Design.... In other news, CANARIE is encouraging consortia to apply under competitions for the advanced end-to-end applications and the network technology streams of its ANAST funding program. The aim of the advanced network technology stream is to focus on key developments required to support next-generation Internet networks in the areas of transport and middleware services. The advanced end-to-end applications stream will support projects that work on technological and other developments needed to allow Internet distribution of audio, video and other high-performance applications. Consortia submissions that provide all the pieces necessary for building, implementing, evaluating and deploying systems on a national basis will be favoured....
Working Ventures teams with Univ of Waterloo to create fund Working Ventures Canadian Fund has invested in yet another Community Small Business Initiative Fund as part of the Ontario government's efforts to provide local sources of capital to early-stage high technology businesses (R$, February 4/98). Waterloo Ventures will receive an initial $5-million infusion from Working Ventures, in conjunction with the Univ of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier Univ and Conestoga College. The funds are part of the labour-sponsored venture capital firm's $15-million commitment to the program, which allows it to avoid paying a penalty for missing its provincial investment targets. The program also offers incentives for private investors, with a tax credit of 15% up to a maximum of $75,000. Initial investments up to $250,000 are eligible for follow-on investments up to 20% of the fund total....
Ontario dominates ranking of 50 fastest growing Canadian firms The phenomenal growth rate of Sierra Wireless Inc (SWI) has earned it the number one spot on Deloitte & Touche's 1999 Canadian Technology Fast 50 ranking. The Richmond BC-based developer of wireless technologies achieved a five-year growth rate of 7643.7%, outpacing number two-ranked TUCOWS Interactive Ltd of Toronto, which grew 6440% in the same period. The Greater Toronto Area accounted for six of the 10 fastest growing firms, while Waterloo contributed two. Montreal's Cognicase Inc grabbed the number three spot, while NTS Computer Systems Ltd of Vancouver ranked number seven. Ontario was home to an impressive 33 of the top 50 firms listed in the ranking. The ranking firms were asked to identify significant changes to the high sector over the next five years. The top changes were globalization of Canadian companies (29%), consolidation of the Canadian high tech industry (24%), and more web enabling technologies (21%)....
CME Telemetrix makes significant changes in corporate direction CME Telemetrix Inc has restructured its clinical development program, switched its chief scientific officer and signed a non-binding letter of intent with The Photonics Centre at Boston Univ. The changes are part of the Waterloo ON-based company's decision to focus on development of an advanced range non-invasive glucose monitoring product. CME decided to pursue development of the advanced instrument after its FDA advisory team concluded that intermediate approval strategies were not of value. The agreement with The Photonics Centre gives CME access to the US$80-million Boston facility, its staff and equipment. The new Boston-based scientific team will be led by Tom Scecina. He replaces Dr Tom Cadell, who will remain active in the company as a scientific advisor and remains a director of the corporation. Prior to joining CME, Scecina spent 21 years at Chiron Diagnostics, Medfield MA, formerly Ciba Corning Diagnostics....
PERSONALITIESDr Robert McMurtry begins his tenure as a visiting fellow at Health Canada next week to provide advice to the minister, DM and department on science and emerging health issues. The appointment earlier this year of McMurtry as the first GDW Cameron Visiting Fellow marks yet another indication that the department is proactively seeking advice from experts in the health and health care fields to enrich scientific and policy capacity. He will take part, on request, in departmental and international meetings as well as meetings with private sector groups and report directly to the DM. The term of the fellowship is one to two years and appointments are made under the federal government's interchange program. McMurtry is a specialist in orthopaedic surgery and is currently dean of the faculty of medicine and dentistry at the Univ of Western Ontario. He is a member of the Medical Research Council's governing council and sits on the interim governing council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The visiting fellow concept was first hatched at the Finance department in the early 1990s under the direction of David Dodge, who moved to Health Canada last year as DM.... Paul Dufour has been appointed special assistant to Gilbert Normand, the new secretary of state for science research and development, serving as a liaison between Norman and the rest of the department on all science, technology and research issues. Dufour has held a number of senior advisory positions at Industry Canada pertaining to science and technology. Most recently, he was senior advisory to the Advisory Council on Science and Technology and was preparing to serve as secretariat to a new expert panel to examine Canada's role in international science and technology (R$, July 21/99).... Dr Bill Rolston has been appointed VP information technology for Healthnet International Inc, an on-line retailer and provider of information on health and wellness. Prior to the appointment, Rolston was senior systems administrator for FreeRealTime.com, an online financial information service providing real time stock quotes....
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