Article Type: Generic

Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) is providing Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) with $207 million — the single largest amount of funding assistance since its launch in 1996. The three projects are worth more than $1 billion and underpin P&WC’s small gas turbine engine program, helping to solidifying its status as Canada’s premier performer of aerospace-related R&D

P&WC — a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp, Hartford CT — has a global mandate for small gas turbine engines and supports a staff of more than 6,500 in Canada.

Strategic planning exercise underway

The Alberta government has given a $500-million boost to the endowment of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), increasing its current size to slightly more than $1.

Innovative medium-sized firms could be Canada’s best bet for increasing productivity and business, and governments need to create new strategies tailored to their needs, says the latest innovation report from the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC).

By Debbie Lawes

After just nine months in the job, Canada’s National Science Advisor (NSA) says he will be asking Prime Minister Paul Martin for greater authority in bringing S&T issues to Cabinet for consideration.

Boost integrated S&T from 10% to 25%

Federal scientists across government are being encouraged to integrate their science and technology activities with each other and with players in other sectors by focusing on niches that draw on Canada-wide expertise.

A long-awaited Ontario Centre of Excellence (OCE) for energy has finally been given the go-ahead with a virtual operational model and funding of $8 million over four years. The Centre for Energy (CFE) will operate as a division of the recently consolidated OCE program and focus on the development of new energy technologies, their integration into the provincial energy system, the development of information systems to manage new markets and training of highly qualified personnel.

A new report is calling on the federal government to change the Financial Administration Act (FAA) and its interpretation by the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) as part of a series of changes designed to more effectively link federal science to other key players in a national system of science and innovation.

Dr Pierre Coulombe has been selected as the new president of the National Research Council, pending a possible review by the Industry Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology.

Raymont requests new A-base funding

The National Research Council (NRC) has made changes in its executive ranks to undertake a dual-track process of renewal and possible reallocation of funds under the government’s controversial expenditure review initiative (R$, November 9/04).

Other sectors remain flat

Total R&D spending in Canada is estimated to increase 5.1% this year to $24.5 billion in 2004, due mostly to increased federal support for the higher education sector. Statistics Canada says the modest increases projected for 2003 and 2004 “indicate a recovery” after gross expenditures on R&D (GERD) decreased in 2002 for the first time since the department started tracking R&D.