Article Type: Generic

Ottawa’s decision to support a $1-billion R&D program at Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) to develop new engine technologies has reignited the perennial policy debate over government support for some of Canada’s largest companies and corporate R&D players.

Countries need to be wary of cutting expenditures on science, technology and innovation (STI) in the name of fiscal belt tightening, says a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Analysis

By Dr Robert Luke

If Canada is to compete in the global innovation economy, we must increase and improve our capacity for innovation and productivity. To do this we need to take research from ideas to invoice: we must craft an Innovation Policy that encourages firms to invest in R&D and provides an “any point of contact” entry to link industry with our postsecondary institutions (PSIs).

Boost to growing mining cluster

Sudbury’s quest to become a major centre of mining R&D received a significant boost with a decision by Rio Tinto to invest $10 million in a Centre for Underground Mine Construction (CUMC), the fifth and final centre in its global research network.

Innovation 2010 Conference

The financing dilemma facing innovative Canadian companies must be confronted and solved to reverse the flight of global capital to emerging nations, says a panel of entrepreneurs and investors at the recent Innovation 2010 conference in Ottawa.

US exceeds $400 billion for first time

Industrial R&D spending in the US in 2011 is expected to increase 3.4% to $265.4 billion, an annual growth of about half the rate experienced between 1981 and 2008 but enough to lift overall R&D funding above $400 billion for the first time in history.

Industrial R&D spending in Canada remains in a deep slump exacerbated by the global financial crisis and the collapse of the country’s former top R&D performer, Nortel Networks Corp. Statistics Canada projects that R&D expenditures will decline to $14.

Closely aligned with government policy

NSERC hopes it’s seen a glimpse of the technological future and has launched new priority areas for its strategic partnership programs aimed at assisting industry and other partners in growing their businesses through innovation.

Core businesses, research themes established

The National Research Council (NRC) isn’t likely to figure prominently in the upcoming federal Budget but that doesn’t mean the organization has stopped planning for the future.

By Debbie Lawes

Canada’s poor commercialization track record, combined with a virtual collapse in venture capital financing, has put the onus on governments and research granting agencies to find news ways to encourage more companies —particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) —to become more innovative through research and development.