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Consultations begin

Looking out over the innovation and policy funding landscape, Dr Ian McWalter sees a very different environment from 2010 when CMC Microsystems secured $128 million in funding to advance the state and commercialization of micro- and nano-electronics in Canada.

Federal spending on S&T has fallen 12% over the last four years — 3.3% in the current fiscal year alone — as deficit reduction measures continue to reduce outlays of support for all sectors. Federal S&T outlays for FY13-14 totalled $10.

Federal spending on S&T has fallen 12% over the last four years — 3.3% in the current fiscal year alone — as deficit reduction measures continue to reduce outlays of support for all sectors. Federal S&T outlays for FY13-14 totalled $10.

Pre-Budget submission

The Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) is urging the government to accelerate implementation of the Canada Venture Capital Action Plan (CVCAP) and reverse reductions in the federal R&D tax credit program as part of its pre-Budget submission to the Finance department.

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) has whittled down the 280 respondents to its first ever Global Call for Ideas (GCFI) to 12 as it accelerates its transition to a research organization that represents the cream of the world’s top researchers and attracts a greater portion of private sector support.

The latest survey by the National Angel Capital Association (NACO) reports that angel activity among its members resulted in 139 investments — 102 new, 30 follow-on and seven unknown — worth $40.5 million in 2012.

Funding, access secure for two years

The Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (CNBC) has been transferred back to Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL). The move, effective April 1st, comes with a commitment of just two years of funding as the federal government implements a government-owned, company-operated (GoCo) management structure for the crown corporation and decides whether to continue long-term nuclear research at the Chalk River facility.

Conference Board of Canada report

The Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) has released the first of several metrics-based reports on firm level innovation showing that only 15% of firms take a territory-market expansion approach to innovation.

The Conservative government’s July 15 Cabinet shuffle represents something of the status quo for science and technology with new faces at Industry Canada and some of the major science-based departments but little indication of a relaxation of the central control that has dominated the innovation agenda for the past several years.

Analysis

By Jorge Niosi

The picture of our pharmaceutical industry is not rosy. According to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, Canada’s pharmaceutical expenditures on R&D have declined by over 30% since a high in 2008 to 2011.