Article Type: Generic

One of Canada’s largest scientific associations is calling for a change in direction and funding increases for international science. Measures such as some type of risk capital and the establishment of an International Opportunities Fund would help to enhance Canada’s reputation on the world scene, increasing its innovative status with industry and attracting and retaining top talent.

Global expertise in translating regional strengths into innovative businesses and economic development is converging on Halifax next month for the first Canadian-based Technoopolicy Conference. The two-day event will examine best practices and policies for developing regional innovation strategies, with a particular focus on Atlantic Canada and featuring speakers from North America and Europe.

Health R&D expenditures crept up an estimated 3.7% in 2007 but not enough to stop a gradual slide in outlays when measured in constant 2002 dollars. The increase also failed to prevent the health field’s portion of overall Canadian R&D spending from dipping, according to preliminary data from Statistics Canada.

New policy or legislation urged

A new report lambastes the government for inadequate policies governing intellectual property (IP) flowing from federal science-based departments and agencies (SBDAs).

Collaboration with US and New Zealand

Genome BC is assisting the province’s wine making industry with an international research collaboration to develop tools for enhancing the cultivation, processing and fermentation of wine-making grapes at the molecular and biochemical level.

Canada needs to invest now in R&D and exploration of gas hydrate deposits as it did in the early days of oils sands development if it wants to become a major player in a potential future energy source.

A new report requested by Health Canada on the regulatory challenges of nanotechnology urges a precautionary approach to assessing risk of new nano-scale materials and products and calls for a strengthening of existing regulatory mechanisms accompanied by a greater investment in risk-related research.

The abrupt termination of the Maple reactor program by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) is being called one of the worst planned and managed R&D projects in Canada’s history and has spawned a major lawsuit by MDS Inc.

Paul Johnston is stepping down as president and CEO of Precarn Inc and will be replaced on an interim basis by his predecessor, Dr Tony Eyton. Johnston decided not to begin a second five-year term at the helm of the organization which is in the midst of a major shift in strategic direction prompted by the sunsetting of Industry Canada funding in 2010.