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Latest salvo against government policies

The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) has added its voice to the growing controversy over the government’s muzzling of its scientists and alleged disregard for evidence-based decision making.

Growing Forward 2

R&D is front and centre with the renewal of a major agricultural policy framework that’s allocating $698 million over five years towards its AgriInnovation Program (AIP) — one of three thrusts designed to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the sector.

The federal and Saskatchewan governments are investing $6.5 million into 38 crop-related research projects funded under the Growing Forward 1 framework program. The projects are being made through the Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund aimed at improved methods of crop disease control and weather tolerance and will help achieve the objectives of the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth strategy.

A new long range plan (LRP) for mathematical and statistical sciences is urging the government to ensure that the disciplines receive their fair share of research funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

12th Annual RE$EARCH MONEY conference

Budget 2013: Checking the Pulse of Canada’s Innovation Policies

April 9-10, 2013
National Arts Centre,, Ottawa

Join RE$EARCH MONEY for in-depth discussion and analysis of the 2013
federal Budget and the current status of Canada’s innovation policies.

Despite the creation of a new ministry, the launch of a National Policy for Research and Innovation (PNRI) and encouraging words for research and innovation, the recent Quebec Budget is reducing the amount the provincial government provides to its granting councils.

12th Annual RE$EARCH MONEY conference

Budget 2013: Checking the Pulse of Canada’s Innovation Policies

April 9-10, 2013
National Arts Centre,, Ottawa

Speakers include:

Tom Jenkins, Executive Chairman and CTO, Open Text Corp

Lanis Anthony, Chief Entrepreneurial Officer, CCINC Group of Companies

Tim Bradshaw, Head of Research and Innovation Policy, The Russell Group, UK

Helen Braiter, Director, Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program (CICP)

Charley Lax, Managing General Partner, GrandBanks Capital, Boston

Jerome Le Corvec, President & CEO of Aonix Advanced Materials Corp

David Watters, President, Global Advantage Consulting Group Inc.

Celebrating 15th anniversary

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) won’t be requesting new funding in the next federal Budget but will be seeking a commitment of predictable, sustainable funding in future years.

Other companies may follow

Canada’s top corporate R&D spender — Research In Motion Ltd (RIM) — is considering offshoring future R&D projects as a result of recent cuts to the scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax credit program.