Person: Mona Nemer

The Short Report – May 29, 2019: CRCC progress report, poultry research, bio-refinery

The Canada Research Coordinating Committee has released its first progress report, highlighting accomplishments to date on five priority areas: interdisciplinary, international, high-risk/high-rewards, rapid response research; key emerging research areas; equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI); Indigenous research; and, the needs of early career researchers (ECR). Activities over the coming year include: calls for applications under the…

Agrafioti and Bengio to chair new Advisory Council on AI

Innovation minister Navdeep Bains has launched the Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence to advise government on how to build Canada’s AI strengths, create economic growth and ensure AI advancements reflect Canadian values such as human rights, transparency and openness. The new council will establish a working group on commercializing value from Canadian-owned AI and data…

North American INGSA chapter in the works

Canada is working to establish a North American chapter of the International Network of Government Science Advisors (INGSA), according to Quebec chief scientist Dr Rémi Quirion. In his latest message to the scientific community, Quirion said discussions on the new chapter continued during a G7 research summit on arctic research and the sustainability of northern…

Canadian Space Agency first to appoint an external science advisor

Dr Sarah Gallagher has been appointed the first science advisor of the Canadian Space Agency – the first in a proposed network of external science advisors to key departments and agencies across the federal government. The two-year appointment will see Gallagher – an associate professor of physics and astronomy at Western Univ – report directly to CSA president Sylvain Laporte and establish a close working relationship with Dr Mona Nemer, Canada’s chief science advisor and the architect of the external advisory network.

New coordinating committee established to align granting councils and CFI

Ottawa has announced a new coordinating body that aligns the three federal granting agencies—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)—and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

Editorial – 30-10

Is Canada finally getting its innovation house in order? Two recent developments offer encouraging signs that federal (and provincial) policy is beginning to address past shortcomings at both ends of the innovation spectrum, acknowledging the importance of fundamental research and ensuring that rapidly expanding tech firms grow while remaining in Canada.