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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 It's a simple question with no easy answer. What motivates governments that avoid acting on crucial funding decisions for S&T initiatives whose benefits are beyond question? Time and again, we've seen politicians remain silent while strategic initiatives whither due to fiscal neglect. Only after the damage is done, do policy makers wake up and respond. A recent example is the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence program. Repeated warnings about the consequences of inaction have been ignored. The recent competition results (link to item) reveal a shocking lack of funding that has left many worthy proposals in limbo. The upcoming Budget may answer the funding call, but the momentum behind the unfunded networks has been lessened and possibly lost Ontario's biotech strategy is another case in point (link to item). With the change of government in 1995, a comprehensive strategy for the province was shelved. The Harris regime has done nothing to assist the biotech sector, while other jurisdictions develop critical mass. The decision to move quickly on a strategy -- any strategy -- is belatedly welcome. For the full benefits of Canadian scientific know-how and expertise to be felt, governments must be proactive and learn to heed good advice in a timely manner; to show that they've learned these lessons that hold so much for our future well-being.
FEATURE REPORTS...
RESEARCH BRIEFS
Life Imaging Systems receives $8million in financing Life Imaging Systems Inc (LIS) has received $8 million in financing from a consortium of investors to finalize its technology platform and boost marketing sales/efforts for its medical imaging software. Sofinov has provided $3 million, followed by investments from existing shareholders including MDS. MIS' medical imaging applications is considered an effective, low-cost alternative to nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, with its ability to reconstitute a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional one. The London ON-based firm is seeking a slice of the global ultrasound market, which is projected to grow to $1.2 billion by 2003....
Hemosol reports heavy quarterly losses as cash reserves shrink Hemosol Inc has registered a nine-month loss of $11.4 million but anticipates its $8 million in cash reserves will allow the Toronto-based to complete Phase II trials and initiative Phase III trials for Hemolink, its first generation blood substitute product. Hemosol faces stiff competition from at least two other firms, but still has the chance to reach the market ahead of its rivals. In July, it managed to stave off cash depletion when it completed a rights offering to shareholders to raise $7.1 million....
Apotex subsidiary completes first phase of $29-million expansion Brantford Chemicals Inc has opened the first phase of a $29-million expansion to its facility for pharmaceutical fine chemical R&D. A member of the Apotex Group of companies, the Brantford ON-based firm supplies active pharmaceutical ingredients to its parent and other firms. The expansion -- to be complete by 2000 -- will add research laboratories and development and analytical services, and is expected to add 70 positions to its current staff roster of 124....
TPC invests in water recycling project for oil sands extraction Technology Partnerships Canada has invested $1.3 million in Northstar Energy Corp (NEC), for a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system for water recycling technology in Fort McMurray. NEC is the majority shareholder and operator of the Underground Test Facility (UTF), an oil sands project established 10 years ago by the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority. Located on one of the largest heavy oil reservoirs in northern Alberta, UTF will utilize the benefits of the SAGD system to extract the oil which is too deep for surface mining....
PERSONALITIESBrian Jervis has been appointed executive VP of Newbridge Networks Corp's global switching products group, one of three new units created last summer that has dramatically altered its R&D operations. Jervis comes to Kanata ON-based Newbridge from Northern Telecom Ltd, where he worked for more than 20 years, most recently as VP and GM of multimedia networking. He replaces Scott Marshall, an 11-year veteran who has left the firm.... Paul Lypaczewski has been appointed president/CEO of TrueSpectra Inc, a developer of image server applications that improve visual communication and marketing on the Internet. Lypaczewski comes to TrueSpectra with more than 10 years in the graphics industry, including seven years with Alia Wavefront/Silicon Graphics Inc. Lypaczewski helped build up Alias' high-end graphics business, attracting SGI which purchased the Montreal-based firm in 1995. His most recent position before departing was GM of the industrial design division. Lypaczewski holds a Bachelor of Engineering from McGill Univ.... Dr Ian Smith has been appointed chair of the Manitoba Health Research Council (MHRC), of which he has been a member since 1995. An adjunct professor in the Univ of Manitoba's chemistry, physics and anatomy departments, Smith has considerable expertise in technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, which are used in the early detection of cancer. MHRC was formed in 1981 to support basic and clinical health research activity in the province. Last FY, it provided $2.3 million in operating grants and personnel awards.... Emery LaBlanc has been appointed to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. LeBlanc is executive VP alumina and primary metal for Alcan Aluminium Ltd, and the company's past VP research, technology and environment. He holds an engineering degree from the Univ of New Brunswick.... Dr David Strong has been appointed to the National Research Council's governing council. Strong is president and vice-chancellor of the Univ of Victoria.... The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has added four new members to its board of directors, providing a stronger focus on public policy and graduate study.... Therese Arseneau is an associate professor in the political science department at St Mary's Univ and executive director of the Gorsebrook Research Institute. A expert on public policy and constitutional matters, Arseneau received a BA in political science from St Francis Xavier Univ, and an MPhil and DPhil from Oxford Univ.... John de la Mothe is an associate professor of science and government at the Univ of Ottawa's faculty of administration and holds a teaching position at Yale Univ. With a background in the petrochemical and shipping industries, de la Mothe holds a BA in english and physics, and a PhD in science, technology and public policy from Concordia Univ. Additional degrees include an MA in history and sociology (also from Concordia) and an MSc in S&T policy and economics of industrial innovation from Sussex Univ. He also acts as an advisor to Industry Canada, other government agencies and departments, and various international bodies.... Dominique Lizotte is a specialist in Quebec's legal culture and is preparing a doctor's thesis at Laval Univ on public trusteeship in Quebec. An acting lawyer since 1988, Lizotte also holds degrees from McGill Univ, Robert Schumann Univ and the International Faculty of Comparative Law.... Shirley Neuman is the Univ of British Columbia's dean of arts and a professor of english. An expert in British, Canadian and America literature, she holds a PhD in English from the Univ of Alberta. At UBC she has promoted interdisciplinary collaboration and curriculum reform....
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