Organization: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Dr Bettina Hamelin

Dr Bettina Hamelin has been appointed president and CEO of Ontario Genomics, replacing Dr Mark Poznansky who is leaving after nearly seven years in the positions. Hamelin will be responsible for overseeing and directing the agency’s genomics technology pipeline which to date has assisted 16 genomics firms to the “investor ready” stage of development and…

NSERC field robotics network pitches for extended funding

The NSERC Canadian Field Robotics Network (NCFRN) put on an impressive display of robots and drones last week in Ottawa as the national network readies its pitch for renewed and increased federal funding. NCFRN, one of 16 active NSERC Strategic Networks, is currently in its final year of a five-year $5 million award. Demonstrations representing the work of 180 researchers from eight universities and 12 industrial and government partners coincided with the network’s annual meeting where high-level discussions took place on how to secure an even larger injection of funding from the federal government…

Basic science needs better oversight and coordination, and more money: Expert panel

R$ talks to David Naylor

A federally commissioned blue-chip panel calling for greater coherence and financial support for fundamental research has made a series of 35 recommendations, including a $1.3-billion increase in the budgets of the three granting councils, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and related entities over the next four years.

IMII supports deep aquifer research at U of S

The International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) is investing $325,000 in the Univ of Saskatchewan to launch a project examining deep groundwater systems (aquifers) to achieve sustainable resource development in the mining and other extraction sectors. The project has submitted an application to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to secure matching funds. To be…

NSERC awards $48M for Strategic Partnerships Grants

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council has announced $48 million in awards to 76 research teams through its latest Strategic Partnerships Grants competition. The awards include $10 million to support two networks — the new Ryerson Univ– based NSERC Energy Storage Technology Network and phase II of the NSERC Canadian Healthy Oceans Network, a…

Canada, EU collaborate on aerospace research projects

Three Canada-Europe collaborative aerospace research projects have been launched following extensive dialogue among 30 partners evenly split between the two jurisdictions. Funding of the Canadian component of the projects is being provided by the Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council with the European Commission…

Alberta-Ontario innovation program enhanced

The Alberta-Ontario Innovation Program (AOP) is being re-vamped to allow companies to use both cash and in-kind to match public contributions. The Ontario Centres of Excellence and Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures introduced the flexible funding model allowing in-kind contributions for matching OCE and AITF funding which ranges between $100,000 and $250,000 per project. Projects can also…

NSERC awards $28 million in CREATE grants

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council is providing graduate and post-doctoral training grants of $1.65 million to 17 research teams through its Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program. The $28 million in awards range from materials for enhanced energy technologies at the Univ of Victoria and advanced network systems for intelligent transportation at…

NSERC Discovery Frontiers short list announced

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) has released a short list of six proposals for its Discovery Frontiers competition. The fund provides $1 million annually over four years to successful applicants. Projects submitting full proposals are: New Materials for Clean Energy and Enhanced Energy Efficiency from Heavy Oil and Oil Sands Reservoirs (Univ…

NSERC and Manitoba Hydro fund three research teams

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Manitoba Hydro and the Univ of Manitoba have announced $13 million in cash and in-kind for three research teams in the province. NSERC is providing $6.25 million augmented by $4.27 million from Manitoba Hydro and $2.5 million from the Univ of Manitoba. A project led by Dr.…