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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 | MEDICAL BRIEFS | PERSONALITIES | How it looks to me.... by Mark Henderson, editor, RE$EARCH MONEY Canada's microelectronics sector has consistently outperformed other sectors of the knowledge-based economy and it's done so without a coherent national strategy. That's about to change if the current push for new funding in the next federal Budget is successful (link to report). Backers of the proposal fear that their late entry into the annual Budget sweepstakes may hinder their chances in February. There's also some confusion surrounding a similar but larger Budget initiative spearheaded by the Canadian Institute of Telecommunications Research. If the proposal isn't developed enough to gain the confidence of our political decision makers, then perhaps it should be sent back to the drawing board for fine tuning. But if its timing is the reason for being turned away, then government should take a serious look at the whole process of picking Budget winners and losers. Funding decisions should be based on merit and not whether it fits into an increasingly pre-determined process that seemingly rewards those with the best connections and slickest campaigns. Microelectronics researchers contend they're treated as a poor relation to their sexier software cousins. In fact, much of Canada's success in telecommunications is founded on hardware expertise. Its continued success should be fostered with more resources for research, infrastructure and strategy.
FEATURE REPORTS...
RESEARCH BRIEFS
Eftia OSS Solutions closes private financing worth US$30 million Eftia OSS Solutions Inc has completed its second round of venture capital financing with a group of investors, netting US$30 million. The financing is led by Apax Partners and Co Ventures Ltd and Spectrum Equity Investors. Also participating in the investment are Argo Global Capital Inc and Insight Capital Partners. Spectrum and Insight participated in Ottawa-based Eftia's first round of financing in October/98. Eftia is a provider of operational support system (OSS) solutions aimed at the huge telecommunications software market. The new funds will be used to develop the company's channel sales program, its professional services division and to make strategic acquisitions. Agro's participation in the financing is particularly important, given its connections with wireless operators ? an emerging market niche for Eftia....
Quebec firms seeking RADARSAT work receive support The federal and Quebec governments are contributing $2.6 million for 14 industrial and research projects aimed at building the province's expertise in the area of remote sensing. The federal contribution was made through the Canadian Space Agency and follows a June/98 agreement under the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the Development of RADARSAT Applications. That pact earmarked $6.2 million for investment in Quebec-based projects involving the use of RADARSAT data. Under the industrial component of the agreement, six Quebec companies will share nearly $2 million: Del Degan Masse et Associes, Geomat International, Hauts-Monts, MIR Teledetection, Tecsult Foresterie and Viasat Geo-Technologie. The projects are worth a total of $3.7 million. The remainder will be distributed among seven university teams for research projects carried out under the Concerted RADARSAT Action Program. The program is managed by the researcher and research assistance fund of Fond FCAR, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology....
CIAR snares five-year grant from Dofasco for superconductivity The Canadian Institute of Advanced Research (CIAR) has received a five-year grant from Dofasco Inc to funds its Superconductivity Program. The program was launched in 1998 and builds on existing strengths in the field at McMaster Univ. Under the leadership of newly appointed director Dr Louis Taillefer, the Superconductivity Program will continue research into searching for new materials that superconduct at room temperature. Superconductors allow electric current to flow freely without dissipating into heat with no energy loss. Their current drawback is the extremely cold temperatures required for superconductivity to occur. Materials must be at least minus 200 degrees Celsius to demonstrate superconductivity....
UBC and Telus ink five-year pact that includes new industrial chair The Univ of British Columbia has entered a five-year strategic alliance with Telus Communications Inc worth $4.1 million to support communications research and provide telecommunications services to the institution. The multifaceted deal will see the creation of a $500,000 Telus Mobility Industrial Research Chair, as well as funding for research in advanced communications technologies, and a fund to support information technology on campus. The agreement will also allow UBC to purchase products on a "best prices, products and practices" basis. In return, UBC staff, faculty and students must use Telus products and services for all telecommunications services not classified as personal. Telus and UBC have enjoyed a long history, which has seen the carrier provide support through endowments, a support fund, student bursaries and $1.25 million for the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts....
MEDICAL BRIEFS
PERSONALITIESDeb deBruijn has been appointed executive director of the Canadian National Site Licensing Project (CNSLP), the $50-million digital libraries project comprising 64 universities that is partially funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The Univ of Ottawa is the lead institution and administrative office for the project and deBruijn will move to Ottawa to take up her new position, effective Jan 17. She is currently manager of the Burnaby-based British Columbia Electronic Library Network.... Sal Visca has been appointed chief technology officer for Infowave Software Inc, a Burnaby-based software developer for wireless and printing computing. Visca comes to Infowave from IBM Canada where he held several senior positions over 12 years. Most recently, he was responsible for establishing IBM's Solutions Development Buiness Unit which develops e-business and e-commerce applications for the banking, airline and government sectors. Under his leadership, the unit grew to more than 200 people.... George Adams has been appointed president/CEO of the Univ of Toronto's Innovations Foundation, the university's technology licensing operation. Other new appointments in the area of technology transfer and commercialization include: Graham Strachan, former president/CEO, Allelix Biopharmaceut-icals Inc, as special advisor for biotechnology to the VP research and interna- tional relations; Adele Newton, business development officer for Bell Canada University Labs; and, Niclas Stiernholm, former business development specialist from Allelix, becomes BDO for life sciences.... Peter Kinash has been appointed CFO of Wi-LAN Inc, a developer of high-speed wireless data communications. Kinash was formerly with KPMG's information, communication and entertainment practice in Calgary. He has specialization in advising high-tech firms in the areas of financing, personnel, securities and accounting and taxation. Kinash replaces Ron Coveney, who is leaving Wi-LAN to pursue other interests....
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