Organization: Government of Canada

The Short Report – March 24, 2021: Genome Canada creates data portal to address COVID-19 variants, Suncor invests US$25M in carbon capture tech, a national agriculture network, and more.

Genome Canada launches a SARS-CoV-2 data portal to consolidate variants of concern data in one place, Calgary’s Suncor Energy invests in carbon capture technology to offset GHG emissions, Government of Canada invests $185 million in an agricultural program to share best practices for storing carbon, and more.

Canada needs a targeted industrial strategy to improve innovation performance, experts say

Canada’s continued poor performance in innovation and business productivity is due to a failure to link publicly funded research and innovation programs to an industrial strategy based on the country’s strengths, say innovation experts. Meanwhile, studies by University of Toronto researchers show the federal innovation agenda has negatively impacted funding for basic, investigator-driven research but hasn’t addressed the underlying problem of industrial innovation in Canada.

The Short Report – March 17, 2021: Canadian government invests heavily to bolster biomanufacturing, D-Wave Systems gets funding for quantum tech, Canada’s largest study on aging gets a top-up, and more

The Government of Canada seeks to bolster Canada’s biomanufacturing capacity, D-Wave receives $40 million to accelerate Canada’s quantum technology development, the federal government invests in Canada’s longest-ever study on aging, Quebec’s Lion Electric gets ready to break ground on a new battery manufacturing plant, and more.

Canada can be a leader in plant-based foods if we take a coordinated approach

Canada is well-positioned to become a leader in meeting the growing global demand for plant-based foods and ingredients, but needs a coordinated effort to increase ingredient processing and food manufacturing in the country, Bill Grueul, CEO of the Protein Industries Canada supercluster, says in an op-ed.

Oil and gas innovation network has yet to spend $80 million of federal funding for cleaner technologies

A pan-Canadian oil and natural gas innovation network has yet to spend the bulk of $100 million of federal funding on commercializing new, cleaner technologies, two years after Ottawa announced the funding and seven months after a contribution agreement was signed. The Clean Resource Innovation Network, which aims to produce the world’s cleanest hydrocarbons, plans to announce details of its planned three technology competitions by end of March 2021.

The Short Report – Feb 24, 2021: A level-four disease containment facility at U of Saskatchewan, NSERC provides $118 million for research partnerships, CIHR’s plan for the next decade, and more

Saskatchewan funds an upgrade of a University of Saskatchewan centre to work with deadly diseases, Vancouver Shipyards begins construction of an ocean vessel to study the impact of climate change, Canadian Institutes of Health Research release a long-awaited plan for the next decade, and more.

Calgary vaccine developer reaches deal with Manitoba government after hearing no response from Ottawa

Providence Therapeutics, a Calgary biotechnology company in human trials with its COVID-19 vaccine, struck a supply deal with the Government of Manitoba after sending the federal government a proposal and receiving no response. In a video, Providence founder and CEO Brad Sorenson criticized Ottawa’s “apathetic response” as “unacceptable” and he implored the government to take initiative to establish a secure domestic vaccine supply.

Opinion: Government investment in clean electricity must include nuclear to achieve economic and climate goals

Government investment and policy in clean electricity must include nuclear power to achieve Canada’s economic and climate goals, John Gorman, president and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association, says in an editorial. His recommendations include: a pan-Canadian electrification strategy; continued government support for the nuclear sector; regulatory support for Canada’s uranium industry; and official government categorization of nuclear as a clean technology.

The Short Report – Feb 17, 2021: NSERC supports Huawei research collaboration, ALS research gets a boost, Ottawa invests in SMEs transitioning to clean tech, and more.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council collaborates with the Canadian arm of Huawei Technologies, Canadian and international teams receive funding to accelerate ALS research, SDTC supports SMEs across Canada in their adoption of clean technology, an unexpected donation spurs Northern Ontario School of Medicine to address health inequities in marginalized populations, and more.