Editorial:
Sebastian Leck
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne finally received his mandate letter last month — and with it came a very long list of to-do items, writes Sebastian Leck, the managing editor of Research Money.
Could small modular reactors help to achieve Canada’s net-zero emissions goals?
Proponents say small modular nuclear reactors will be needed for Canada to meet its climate goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. But opponents argue that spending public money on the nuclear technology doesn’t make economic or environmental sense, and they’re calling on the federal government to immediately cease all such investment.
Hybrid geothermal and natural gas power project launches in Alberta
Electricity from Canada’s first co-produced geothermal and natural gas power project from a legacy oilfield in northwestern Alberta should be available to the provincial grid in the second quarter of this year, says its chief executive.
In advance of Budget 2022, Ottawa announces New Frontiers awards and slew of other research investments
A much-anticipated federal funding program has invested $144 million over six years in seven Canadian-led research projects intended to solve major global health, environmental and societal challenges.
Canada lacks critical data needed to mitigate extreme weather events, says Council of Canadian Academies report
Canada lacks critical data and the coordinated system needed to prepare for and mitigate extreme weather disasters, including reducing or avoiding costly damages, according to a Council of Canadian Academies report prepared for Public Safety Canada.
More interdisciplinary training in science, engineering and business could boost innovation
Providing more interdisciplinary academic programs and training in science, engineering and business to students in post-secondary institutions could break disciplinary silos and boost Canada’s lagging innovation, says Dr. Alexandre Navarre, PhD, associate researcher at École de technologie supérieure in Montreal and past director of technology transfer units at McGill University and Western University.
New advanced research agency high on federal innovation minister’s lengthy to do list
Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne is facing a very busy year, with a mandate letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that includes more than 30 assigned tasks. They include establishing a new advanced research projects agency, launching a Canadian critical minerals strategy and a national quantum strategy and creating a global centre of excellence for eliminating methane gas emissions.
A cybersecurity talent shortage will make protecting critical assets more difficult, researchers say
Canada’s cybersecurity talent shortage is making it more difficult to protect critical assets as large organizations and infrastructure become more vulnerable to online attacks, according to leading researchers in the area.
Research Money Books of 2021: What we've been reading this year
As we enter into the holidays, we’ll all hopefully get more time to relax and, perhaps, crack open a book. Here’s some of the Research Money team’s top reading picks for 2021.
Lack of understanding of scale-ups is hindering growth, says Brookfield and Munk School report
A lack of understanding of scale-ups and how they operate is preventing governments from developing policies that support their growth, according to a report from the Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The Short Report – Dec. 22, 2021: Trudeau releases mandate letters, a promising brain diseases partnership, a national survey of young people’s attitudes towards science, and more
A new Quebec neuroscience partnership may advance drug discovery for brain diseases through AI and Open Science; a CFI national survey shows most young adults have confidence in science; Dr. Leah Cowen has been named the University of Toronto’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, and more.
Opinion Leader:
Eric Newell and Perry Kinkaide
Canada needs a climate strategy that leverages wealth of hydrocarbons to transition to low-carbon energy systems
Canada needs to broaden its climate strategy and streamline energy decision making, to leverage the nation’s wealth of hydrocarbons to help transition to low-carbon energy systems, Eric Newell, Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Alberta and former CEO at Syncrude Canada, and Perry Kinkaide of Kinkaide Enterprises, say in an op-ed.
New federal Earth Observation strategy prioritizes open data
Canada’s new strategy for satellite Earth Observation (satellite EO) aims to ensure government, researchers and industry have the data they need to monitor the health of the planet and respond to climate change and security threats. There was no new funding attached to the strategy, but it supports Canada’s vision for space, which prioritizes harnessing space science and technology to solve important challenges on Earth.
The Short Report – Jan. 26, 2022: Public health research capacity expanded, massive free science database launched, funding for spinal cord injury research, and more
Public health research capacity expanded, massive free science database launched, funding for spinal cord injury research, and more.
"Innovation without IP is philanthropy”: Superclusters must protect Canadian IP, say experts
Canada’s superclusters need rigorous intellectual property strategies to protect Canadian SMEs’ IP and ensure it stays in Canada to benefit the national economy, say top IP specialists.
B.C. tech association calls for province to move towards tech and away from resource economy
The B.C. Tech Association is calling for the provincial government to provide more technology investment as natural resources become less important to the province’s economy.
The Short Report: Jan. 19, 2022: $550M in federal research investments, a review of Canada’s energy policies, COVID-19’s impacts on children, and more
Ottawa announces over $550 million in federal research investments, the International Energy Agency reviews Canada’s energy policies, an international study details COVID-19’s impacts on children, MDA wins a second contract for a 2023 moon mission, and more.
A philanthropy-backed experiment in fast, flexible funding for COVID-19 delivered results
The pandemic provoked a bold experiment in research funding that put money into the hands of two dozen Canadian COVID-19 researchers in record time. Known as Fast Grants, the philanthropy-backed initiative has changed how COVID-19 is detected, tracked and treated and inspired others to rethink how science is funded, especially during emergencies.
More integrated relationship between post-secondary institutions and industry can boost Canada’s lagging productivity
A more integrated relationship with stronger partnerships between post-secondary institutions and industry can provide students with more work-relevant training, while rapidly upskilling and reskilling the current workforce to boost Canada’s lagging productivity, Laura Jo Gunter, president and CEO at the Northern Institute of Technology, says in an op-ed.
2021: The Year in Canadian Science and Innovation
As 2021 draws to a close, we offer a compendium of key developments in Canada’s innovation ecosystem from the past twelve months.
Alberta's major universities hit pause on new research initiatives with China
Alberta’s four major universities have put a hold on developing new research initiatives and renewing existing research agreements with entities in China, as directed by the provincial government. All four universities also have submitted reports to Alberta Advanced Education detailing all agreements, research relationships, institutional relations and joint ventures under way with entities connected to the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party.
Canada has huge opportunity to innovate emissions-free products from the oil sands
Climate change gives Canada’s innovation ecosystem a huge opportunity, supported by a change in innovation policies, to create new greenhouse gas emissions-free products from the oil sands, Bert van den Berg, an Ottawa-based innovation policy consultant and former program leader with NSERC, says in an op-ed.