Article Type: Generic

Canada’s primary organization for health research advocacy is teetering on the brink following the withdrawal of support by its primary backer. The Ottawa-based Coalition for Biomedical & Health Research (CBHR) was informed last November that it would no longer be receiving $80,000 in annual financial assistance from the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges (ACMC), accounting for nearly 60% of its annual budget.

Provinces and charities expected to follow suit

Canada appears to be steering towards a middle ground on the inflammatory issue of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research with the high-profile release of guidelines by an ad hoc working group of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Level of support still falls short of demand

Liberals MPs are fanning out across the country to promote the allocation of indirect costs for university research under the $200-million fund announced in the last federal Budget (R$, December 17/01).

Federal distribution of S&T is gradually becoming more equitable, with gains in Alberta and British Columbia marginally decreasing the dominance of Ontario, Quebec and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Industry Canada is still considering a larger role and significantly increased funding for its flagship Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) program, but will not make any decisions until the consultation phase of its innovation strategy is completed this fall.

The chairs of the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) are recommending a series of structural and strategic changes to the university-industry research program including a consolidated governance structure, more commercialization and an extension of the next funding period to 10 years.

MOU opens door to participation

Canada has formally joined the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) project with the February 7 signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Washington.

The Liberal administration has unveiled a major new research initiative with the ink barely dry on its new innovation strategy. The government has allocated $125 million to create the Advanced Research in the Humanities and Human Sciences Fund.

Increasing foreign investment, strong support for life sciences and the lure of Ottawa’s telecommunications cluster helped to characterize venture capital (VC) investment in 2001. The Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA) released its annual survey of the industry this week.