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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 push and pull on basic research has reached a point where something's got to give. Now that innovation and technology have caught the attention of government and the financial community, the demand for commercially promising research has skyrocketed. Venture capital and the old-line banks are creating products and hiring experts to prospect for high-tech gold, while universities are ensuring that the interface between academia and business is productive. Why, then, are people such as the MRC's Dr Henry Friesen and NSERC's Dr Tom Brzustowski, so worried? And why are they crossing the country, informing audiences that Canada's research base is shrinking. To borrow a phrase from Dr Richard Murphy of the Montreal Neurological Institute, Canada's golden goose is being starved. The fault for such an alarming state of affairs is government -- of all stripes -- who sanctimoniously praise Canada's research effort while quietly tightening the funding screws. The situation is bleak across all research disciplines, and government -- particularly at the federal level -- has an obligation to act. Timing is everything, and the upcoming federal Budget seems to afford the best opportunity to address the dilemma with a strong policy statement and cold, hard cash. Anything less is an insult to Canada's research community and places the nation at a global disadvantage from which it may never recover.
FEATURE REPORTS...
RESEARCH BRIEFS
NorTel seeking to acquire broadband wireless firm BNI Northern Telecom Ltd has made a $586-million offer to purchase all shares of Winnipeg-based Broadband Networks Inc (BNI), a developer of fixed broadband wireless communications networks. If completed, the deal will provide NorTel with the last component in a complete end-to-end broadband network solution. BNI made news last year when Newbridge Networks Corp and Siemens AG purchased significant minority stakes in the firm. Those shares must also be tendered for the NorTel purchase to go ahead, with a deadline of January 5. For details, request the November 10/97 issue of affiliate publication, Report on Wireless, by contacting Subscriber Services at (613)728-4621....
CRC unveils new distributed broadband wireless testbed The Communications Research Centre has officially unveiled a Distributed Broadband Wireless Testbed at its facilities in Nepean ON. Developed in collaboration with the Ottawa-Carleton Research Institute, WIC Connexus and Harris Farinon Canada, the testbed permits R&D for wireless transmission of voice, data and video communications. The testbed is a direct offshoot in collaborative R&D work between CRC, WIC Connexus and Harris Farinon (R$, September 24/97). OCRI will connect to the testbed through Newbridge Network Corp-supplied equipment. For details, request the November 10/97 issue of affiliate publication Report on Wireless, by contacting Subscriber Services at (613)728-4621....
Hyal and NSERC fund breast cancer research initiative Hyal Pharmaceutical Corp and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) have contributed $1.5 million towards a research project at McMaster Univ using hyaluronic acid and magnetic resonance imaging for the early detection of breast cancer. Hyal is providing $1 million to the research project headed by Dr Francoise Winnik, with NSERC contributing $490,000. Winnik will collaborate with researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children and Univ of Toronto/Toronto Hospital....
S&T Growth Fund invests in BC's Paradata Systems The Canadian Science and Technology Growth Fund Inc has invested $700,000 in Paradata Systems Inc, Squamish BC, a software systems developer for the distribution of geospatial information databases. Paradata received previous financial assistance from the BC Advanced Systems Institute and has a strategic alliance with Space Imaging EOSAT, a supplier of space imagery, aerial photography and mapping services. The investment is in the form of convertible debentures and common share purchase warrants....
CMDF establishes prize in honour of Friesen and Rygiel The Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund (CMDF) has established at Friesen-Rygiel Prize for outstanding discovery in the area of human health by a Canadian academic institution leading to commercial discovery. The prize -- named in hour of Medical Research Council president Dr Henry Friesen and MDS Capital Corp president Ed Rygiel -- offers a $10,000 prize to the winning scientist or group of scientists. The discovery must have been made within the past 10 years, be a critical part of a platform, and a majority-owned Canadian enterprise must have been formed as a result. Deadline for nominations is February 28. The prize, which also consists of certificates of honour to the relevant tech transfer and company, will be announced at the 2nd annual CMDF scientific symposium. FMI: CMDF (519)858-1582....
SPS receives $2.8 million from new venture firm and RBCC Sales Productivity Systems Inc (SPS) has received $2.3 million from XDL Ventures, a venture capital firm founded by former executives of the Delrina Corp. The Royal Bank Capital Corp has invested an addition $500,000. Toronto-based SPS has a staff of 15 (12 R&D) and develops sales force automation software for enterprise sales and market. Its flagship product uses proprietary software to integrate regional and national sales and marketing with head offices. XDL Ventures invests in firms involved in or positioned to benefit from growth in the Internet....
TPC makes investment in developer of aluminum coatings Technology Partnerships Canada has invested $450,000 in Whitby ON-based Cametoid Technologies Inc (CATI), for the development of modified aluminum coatings for aerospace applications such as the protection of gas turbine engines. The coatings will be effective against hot corrosion by altering the application process and introducing an additional metal element. CATI is a sister firm to Cametoid Ltd, also of Whitby....
Univ of Ottawa to develop new skate design for Nike The Univ of Ottawa has struck a three-year, $600,000 R&D deal with Nike to develop designs for next-generation hockey skates. The project, which will use a Pedar insole pressure distribution system, involves researchers in the fields of human kinetics, biomechanics and mechanical engineering and is led by Dr Mario Lamontagne....
PERSONALITIES
Margot Montgomery has been appointed VP of the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), replacing David Ellis who is retiring but remains as a special advisor until March. Montgomery was previously DG of the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) which, together with IRAP, serves as a support institute for the recently re-organized Research and Innovation Program of the National Research Council (R$, April 30/97). While heading CISTI, she developed a strong client focus and expanded its business focus with value-added services directed towards the business community. Bernard Dumouchel becomes CISTI's acting DG pending recruitment of a permanent replacement....GenSci Regeneration Sciences Inc (formerly Biocell Medical Corp) has made a number of senior appointments as the firm completes its amalgamation with Osteopharm Ltd (R$, February 19/97). Dr Colin Bier has been appointed senior VP pre-clinical and clinical development. Bier is managing and scientific director of bioconsulting firm, ABA BioResearch Inc and will assist GenSci in working towards its FDA submission for an investigational new drug. He received his PhD in experimental pathology from Colorado State Univ. Also appointed is Dr Richard Coulson as director of R&D. Previously an associate professor in pharmacology at SUNY HSC, Syracuse NY, Coulson brings expertise in several areas including tissue regeneration, cell proliferation and differentiation and cell apoptosis. He received his PhD in biochemistry at Univ of King's College Medical School. The firm also named David Campagnari as director of operations.... Alta Rex Corp and its president/CEO Dr Antoine Noujaim have received awards from the Alberta S&T Leadership Awards Foundaiton. Noujaim was honoured for his corporate leadership, while the firm was recognized for industrial innovation for its development of a therapeutic vaccine for prostate cancer.... The Medical Research Council (MRC) has been replenishing its senior administrative ranks in the face of several departures earlier this year. Carol Clemenhagen has been appointed executive director, replacing Ian Shugart who resigned to take the position of visiting ADM with Health Canada's Health Protection Branch. Clemenhagen joined MRC in April/96 as its secretary to council/director, president's office. Prior to joining MRC, she spent six years as president of the Canadian Hospital Association. Overall, she has more than 20 years of health policy, research and management experience.... Dr Mark Bisby has been appointed director research programs, effective November 1/97, replacing Dr Claude Roy who served for one year on an interim basis. Bisby will be responsible for administering the granting agency's scientific assessment of health research and training programs. The position will be fulltime for the first time in several years. Bisby comes to the MRC from Queen's Univ where he was a professor and head of the Department of Physiology. His expertise lies in the field of neuroscience, focusing on regeneration problems of the nervous system after injury, and pain syndromes caused by nerve damage. Bisby has served on several scientific review panels for the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and the Rick Hansen Man-in-Motion Legacy Foundation.... Dr Robert Dugal has been appointed director of the MRC/PMAC Health Program. Dugal joins the program from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada (PMAC) where he served as director of university and scientific affairs for three years. He replaces Dr Garry Ross, who left last summer to take a position with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc, Dorval PQ.... Faye Kert has been appointed deputy director of communications, moving over from chief of public relations at Health Canada. She replaces Neil Morris, who retired....
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