Editorial:
Mark Henderson, Editor
The release of the federal Expert Panel examining the feasibility of transferring government labs into the academic or private sectors has been one of the most eagerly anticipated developments for public R&D in years.
Government tags AAFC and NRCan labs for transfer to university sector
Two of five candidates to move forward
The federal government will move forward on only two of the five federal laboratories identified by an Expert Panel as early candidates for collaboration with a range of academic, institutional and industry partners.
TD Bank tagged to manage Ontario venture capital fund targeting early-stage investments
The Ontario Venture Capital Fund (OVCF) has chosen a fund manager and boosted capitalization to $205 million as it prepares to begin making investments later this year. TD Capital Private Equity Investors has been selected to manage the fund of funds and TD Bank has invested $30 million to the existing pool which now includes the Ontario government and five institutional investors.
Report urges NSERC to adopt Conference Model to review Discovery Grant applications
A new report to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) is recommending that the process for evaluating applicants to the Discovery Grants Program (DGP) be overhauled. The proposed changes would provide greater consistency across disciplines and an enhanced ability to properly handle research in emerging areas and areas that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Opinion Leader:
Ron Freedman
Ron Freedman
Planning Through the Rear-View Mirror
By Ron Freedman
Here’s a thought experiment that you might find interesting. Imagine if Canada had to survive in the world of the future without a manufacturing industry or a natural resource industry.
$100 million to launch fund of funds
Alberta takes aim at province’s high-tech sectors with aggressive action plan
Alberta has unveiled an integrated action plan to stimulate technology company creation and commercialization, highlighted by a $100-million contribution to seed a fund of funds through the recently created Alberta Enterprise Corp.
R&D management conference explores new approaches as challenges mount
Technology forecasting, roadmapping and the expansion of open source development beyond its software roots are just some of the leading-edge issues in the evolving field of R&D management that were explored in the first North America edition of The R&D Management Conference.
U of O and NRCan plan joint research facility
The Univ of Ottawa is hoping that a integrated collaborative R&D initiative with Natural Resources Canada’s Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) will help to revive a once-proud Canadian institution and train a new generation of world class geologists.
News Bites
News Briefs
ISTPCanada announces R&D projects with India
Chairs program makes 113 appointments
Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery launched
Climate change dominates G-8 science ministers meeting
NRC and EADS sign five-year aerospace MOU
S&T collaboration in aerospace between the National Research Council (NRC) and the European Union has been increased with a new five-year memorandum of understanding between NRC and European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS). The research and technology development (RTD) MOU will see a broadening of NRC’s collaboration with EADS business units to include Eurocopter, EADS’s Military Transport Aircraft Division as well as Airbus and EADS Innovation Works. EADS has a Canadian subsidiary — EADS Canada Inc — which was established in 1989. It is the sole shareholder of Eurocopter Canada Ltd and a 50% shareholder in Composites Atlantic. It recently acquired Plant CML in Gatineau QC