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Genome Quebec’s endorsement of an economic development agreement between the provincial government and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region is a telling demonstration of how the Quebec S&T policy is beginning to marry scientific research with regional economic development.

Federal agricultural research is pushing ahead with a dramatic transformation, adapting its S&T activities to a business line model that is re-energizing personnel after years of cutbacks. The re-organization of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) began with the arrival two years ago of a new DM (Samy Watson), and has accelerated since the release of the new Agricultural Policy Framework (APF).

Financing arrangements have been completed for the creation of the Waterloo ON-based Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). On February 10, CIGI received and converted shares in Research in Motion Ltd (RIM) worth $30 million from two of its principals, triggering a matching federal grant.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is looking ahead to the latter part of its mandate as it deals with the prospect of reduced funding levels and the possible end to several specialized programs.

The United States has decided to rejoin the proposed ITER project for fusion research five years after it withdrew in frustration over delays in the site selection process. The decision to participate in ITER was announced January 30 by the Department of Energy and is being welcomed by Canada as a boost to this country’s bid to host the massive, multi-billion project.

R&D spending by Canada’s private non-profit (PNP) sector registered its first increase after five consecutive years of declines with $68 million in expenditures in 2001. The total marks a 17.2% increase over the previous year but falls far short of the high-water mark achieved in 1995.

Nortel R&D spending falls again

R&D spending by Nortel Networks Corp fell dramatically for the second year in a row but rose as a percentage of revenue as the beleaguered telecommunications giant moves through a difficult period of downsizing and consolidation.

Technology Clusters: By Accident or Design?

Cluster formation of promising leading-edge industries is quickly being recognized across Canada as a dominant and essential characteristic of a successful knowledge-based economy.

Emerging cluster on the line

For the second time in one year, the US government has unveiled a major fuel cells research initiative and is proposing R&D spending of US$1.7 billion over the next five years.

Best hope for Regina cluster

Backers of a proposal to establish a national institute in Regina for sustainable development are waiting for the next federal Budget to see whether they have been successful in securing core funding for their project.