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Lowest success rate since inception

Nearly $1.3 billion in research infrastructure funds and related operating support will flow into Canada’s university-based research facilities with the latest announcement from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

For nearly six years, Dr David Strangway has enjoyed a unique perspective on the recent evolution — some would argue revolution — of Canadian science and technology. As head of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the veteran administrator has overseen the largest infusion of money into institutional research infrastructure in Canadian history.

Europe is in danger of missing its highly touted targets of increasing R&D spending and strengthening its knowledge-based economic muscle unless it doubles annual growth in R&D investment. A new publication by the European Commission reports that the gap in R&D expenditures between the European Union (EU) and the US is widening, while the growth rate of investment in the knowledge-based economy is actually declining.

Manitoba is hauling out its heavy artillery in a bid to become the locale for the headquarters of the new Canadian Public Health Agency. A delegation led by premier Gary Doer staged a two-day blitz of Ottawa earlier this month to lobby for Winnipeg as the location of choice, citing the city as the home of the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML), thriving biotechnology industry and its globally renowned expertise in infections diseases research.

The federal government’s March 23rd Budget is expected to unveil a long-awaited commercialization fund that it hopes will contribute to a new era of innovation and enhanced productivity. Recent activity in preparation for the new fund has been intense, with senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office holding meetings dedicated to commercialization with various stakeholders.

The Jean Charest government is moving closer to making major changes to Quebec’s venture capital industry, eliminating many of the publicly funded funds established during the tenure of the last government and challenging the private sector to assume a much larger role.

Mark November 9th & the Ottawa Congress Centre
on your calendar for the next RE$EARCH MONEY Conference.

Don’t miss out on this timely and provocative discussion of the next phase in Canada’s innovation agenda.

The Canadian forestry sector plans to become a lot more strategic in its quest to improve operational efficiencies. Senior government officials and executives from Canada’s largest industry sector have banded together to create the Canadian Forestry Innovation Council (CFIC), which they contend will help to align existing innovative activity and capacity in industry, academia and government.

Commercialization and health care are emerging as two of the lynchpins in a new strategic focus being unveiled by the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC). A high-level approach is being utilized to position the information and communications technology (ICT) sector for a return to growth as it emerges from the worst high-tech downturn in recent history.

A firestorm of controversy has erupted within the US S&T community, sparked by a scathing report that lambastes the Bush administration for substituting ideology for science and making scientific appointments based on political leanings.