Article Type: Generic

A new Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) report has confirmed what some economists have been saying for years: don’t blame the country’s poor innovation and productivity record on a shortage of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills.

By Debbie Lawes

Canada is the world’s third largest exporter of wheat but its future competitiveness is at risk without a national effort to coordinate research efforts, attract world-leading scientists and increase both private and public investments in R&D, particularly longer term discovery research.

Canadian industrial R&D is on track to produce another gloomy year as Statistics Canada data show a projected 2.6% year-over-year decline in 2015. Industry is slated to perform just $15.5 billion this year, down from $15.

Toronto consulting firm, The Impact Group, announced today that the group is splitting its four constituent companies into independent entities to maximize their respective brands. Co-founders Jeffrey Crelinsten and Ron Freedman will each take the helm at two of the four companies, which will operate independently going forward.

The federal Budget’s lengthy list of science, technology and innovation (STI) initiatives obscures a lack of short-term financing as the government focuses on balancing its annual deficit and gears up for a fall election.

The first comprehensive evaluation of the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program recommends that it be continued for another five years to attract more international research talent to the country, support the government’s objective of achieving global excellence in research and assist universities in building research capacity in the priority areas outlined in the federal S&T Strategy.

By Debbie Lawes

Canada is the world’s third largest exporter of wheat but its future competitiveness is at risk without a national effort to coordinate research efforts, attract world-leading scientists and increase both private and public investments in R&D, particularly longer term discovery research.

The federal budget’s $1.33-billion allocation to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) represents the single largest disbursement in the organization’s 18-year-old history. Beginning in FY17-18 and spread over six years, the funding goes a long way to capitalizing many of the CFI’s existing funds while allowing ample time to consult, plan and hold future competitions.

Canadian industrial R&D is on track to produce another gloomy year as Statistics Canada data show a projected 2.6% year-over-year decline in 2015. Industry is slated to perform just $15.5 billion this year, down from $15.

Canada’s premier physics laboratory can now implement more of its ambitious strategic plan with $45 million in additional funding. The Budget allocated the money to allow TRIUMF to launch and operate its new $100-million Advanced Rare IsotopE Laboratory (ARIEL) as well as maintain base operations including its core cyclotron facility.