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The expansion plans of Canada’s largest life sciences commercialization facility have been thwarted –— at least temporarily — with the suspension of construction on Phase II of the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.

The Canadian headquartered International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) has reached another key milestone with the launch of its first slate of research projects aimed at cataloguing the genetic abnormalities in tumors from 50 cancer types or subtypes.

A task force assembled by TRIUMF is telling the federal government to give serious consideration to experimental photo-fission technology for the production of medical isotopes. Photo fission uses low-enriched uranium and small, relatively inexpensive accelerators as opposed to the aging NRU nuclear reactor at Chalk River which is high cost, high maintenance and requires weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium.

International community weighs in

An international expert panel has concluded that the Conservative government’s plans for Arctic research need to be modified and receive adequate operational funding or risk jeopardizing its scientific program and the region’s long-term value.

Conference Board report

A new report from the Conference Board of Canada recommends that Canada dedicate greater resources to develop and commercialize a core set of technologies it contends holds the greatest economic potential.

By Perry Hoffman

Several Ontario academic institutions and a number of wireless and content companies have banded together to form the Mobile Experience Innovation Centre (MEIC), an organization whose goal is to develop a centre of excellence for applied research, design and commercialization in Ontario’s mobile content and services sector.

Toronto’s design labour force is a hidden resource that must be deployed to enhance Canadian competitiveness and productivity, says a leading advocate for design innovation.

Sara Diamond made the case for greater incorporation of design into the high-tech and other sectors in an address last month to the Economic Club of Toronto.

S&T is back at the Cabinet table after a five-year absence with the appointment of Dr Gary Goodyear as minister of state for science and technology. The reinstatement of the junior ministerial position adds further definition to the Conservative government’s evolving approach to S&T policy and governance with details of the position’s mandate and priorities to be finalized next week.

Nortel Networks Corp has instituted another round of cost-cutting and a structural re-organization that sees the elimination of the position of chief technology officer (CTO). Nortel says the moves reflect the growing impact of the “sustained and growing economic downturn” and end the tenure of John Roese, who was hired as Nortel’s CTO in mid 2006 to coordinate and execute Nortel’s overall R&D strategy (R$, July 7/06).

SME Profile

By Debbie Lawes

A re-branded Toronto-based company is seeking $5-7 million in second round financing for a new made-in-Canada technology that can increase ad hits on Facebook and other social media sites by more than 400%.