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At least 140 Canadian scientists have released an open letter to the country’s elected government leaders urging them to move more aggressively on the increasing urgent challenges posed by climate change.

Unprecedented degree of collaboration

Several influential research organizations have come together in a consortium to fund collaborative cancer stem cell research between Canadian and Californian scientists — an initiative that will soon be expanded throughout Canada and internationally.

Canadian universities are spending an increasing share of their general operating and special purpose funds to cover the costs of research says a new report from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).

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.

Canada’s pharmaceutical firms reversed a decade-long slide in R&D intensity in 2007, with a $115-million spike in expenditures that pushed the annual total up 9.8% to $1.274 billion. The upswing was accompanied by a 7.

A new report gives Canada a failing grade in innovation and warns that the consequences of inaction could place future prosperity at risk. The message was contained in the 12th annual benchmarking report from from the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC), which assigned grades to six elements contributing to overall quality of life: economy, innovation, education and skills, environment, health and society.

The federal government should establish a Canadian Competitiveness Council within Industry Canada to help implement a host of proposed measures to enhance Canada’s competitive advantage. The recommendation was one of 65 contained in the eagerly awaited final report of the Competition Policy Review Panel to increase competitive intensity through productivity and business environment enhancements.

The Univ of Ottawa is hoping that a integrated collaborative R&D initiative with Natural Resources Canada’s Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) will help to revive a once-proud Canadian institution and train a new generation of world class geologists.

Two of five candidates to move forward

The federal government will move forward on only two of the five federal laboratories identified by an Expert Panel as early candidates for collaboration with a range of academic, institutional and industry partners.

Alberta takes aim at province’s high-tech sectors with aggressive action plan

Alberta has unveiled an integrated action plan to stimulate technology company creation and commercialization, highlighted by a $100-million contribution to seed a fund of funds through the recently created Alberta Enterprise Corp.