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University research infrastructure received a $422 million boost with the announcement of the last major general competition by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The awards were made through the CFI’s Leading Edge Fund (LEF) and New Initiatives Fund (NIF) and fully commit the non-targetted component of CFI funding.

The Univ of British Columbia’s Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD) is in negotiations with the province of British Columbia to secure its first tranche of operational support following a successful bid to secure infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

The Canadian semiconductor industry needs to think past computational performance and move towards addressing consumer needs while aggressively pursuing niche, high-margin applications. These and other insights into the state of Canada’s semiconductor sector highlighted discussions at the 12th Annual ITAC Executive Forum on Microelectronics, held November 30th in Toronto.

Quebec has decided to play hardball in the competition for high-tech talent and investment with the release of an aggressive new Quebec Research and Innovation Strategy (QRIS). Backed with $888 million in new money over three years, the Strategy contains 24 new and enhanced measures with commercialization as its central thrust.

The surprise winner of the Liberal leadership race also has the most comprehensive and developed policy platform for innovation and commercialization (I&C). Stéphane Dion’s strategy, entitled From the Lab to the Market: Stéphane Dion’s Innovation and Commercialization Plan, contains a wide range of new initiatives that build upon the policies of the Martin and Chrétien governments, with an emphasis on sustainability and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Business priorities given prominence

Let the speculation begin. The Conservative government is embarking on a major departure from the status quo, proposing significant changes to how it funds and manages S&T.

Canada’s governments and industry must boost their funding of energy R&D and utilize a comprehensive systems approach to support energy innovation and the linkages between technology areas, says a major report on sustainable energy S&T.

The Harper government has withdrawn $200 million slated for the development and implementation of a long-awaited sustainable energy science and technology strategy. The funding was committed by the previous Liberal government in Budget 2005 to Natural Resources Canada, which was tasked with striking an expert panel to provide advise on priorities and developing the strategy by the end of 2006 (R$, March 9 & March 30/05).

The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) has joined the chorus of organizations calling for changes to the $2-billion scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax credit program.

By Vincent Wright

Canada’s top research university is adding considerable muscle to its commercialization arm courtesy of a new strategic alliance with one of the country’s most successful technology transfer/business development organizations.