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The Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) has targeted strategic skills investment, the completion of a national broadband network and government-on-line initiatives as the top priorities for the federal government in the coming year.

Budget delivered five months early

Research infrastructure tied to Quebec’s recent science policy was a beneficiary of the provincial government’s early Budget, highlighted by massive capital spending to help ward off the impact of the current economic slowdown.

Widespread acceptance of higher education’s key facilitating role in fostering innovation is translating into substantial increases in R&D funding for Canada’s colleges, universities and affiliated research institutes.

GERD/GDP propelled to historic high

R&D spending increases in all sectors combined to give Canada’s gross domestic expenditures on research and development (GERD) a major boost to $19.129 billion in 2000, up nearly 11% from $17.

The launch of the Innovation Paper is still a moving target, although it’s now clear that the planned consultation phase is likely to stretch well into next year. Industry minister Brian Tobin and secretary of state for Science, Research & Development Dr Gilbert Normand are actively lobbying their Cabinet colleagues to forge ahead with the release of the document.

The resolve to stay the course with the federal innovation agenda received plenty of ammunition recently when a series of high-profile representatives from the S&T community appeared before the House of Commons Finance Standing Committee.

Inno-Centre Canada (ICC) has launched its first full-fledged provincial operation with the creation of Inno-Centre Alberta (ICA) and is working with other provinces to expand its mentoring and commercialization concept across the country.

The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) is poised to recommend combining the administrations of three key industry R&D support programs within an arm’s length institute, council or agency. The idea of promoting what’s been described as a holding company for industrial innovation was approved by CATA’s board of directors last month and was publicly floated during an October 2 CATA presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance.

A new report provides compelling evidence that university research is beginning to significantly expand its role in innovation. The report’s data show that Canada’s top 50 research universities received nearly $2.

The federal government has asked McMaster Univ to host a series of three national round table discussions on innovation in March or April of next year. The timing of the sessions indicates that the government anticipates a lengthy consultation phase for the Innovation Paper, following its anticipated release some time before the end of the year.