Article Type: Generic

A high level working group is undertaking the mammoth job of developing a national data research management strategy with the long term view of assembling a formal funding proposal in time for the 2002 federal Budget.

Fresh from its success in unifying its ambitious proposal to government, eMPOWR Canada is now refining its bid for funding to support expanded university research into strategic communications technologies.

Martin’s mini-budget targets the CFI for $500 million in new funding

Canada’s research community was the surprise beneficiary of the Liberal administration’s pre-election Economic Statement and Budget Update this week, with the announcement of $500 million in new funding for the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and $100 million over five years for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) (see page 2).

Finance minister Paul Martin has challenged Canada’s S&T community to dramatically increase its annual R&D spending to $47.5 billion by 2010. The astonishing target was contained in Martin’s September 14 New Economy speech to the Toronto Board of Trade and represents a three-fold increase over the total of $14.

Laboratories of the Department of National Defence (DND) are aiming to exploit their increased operating flexibility, and generate an additional $40 million in annual R&D capacity through greater collaboration and additional contract work.

A joint task force is strongly recommending that the federal government take immediate steps to begin restoring research capacity in the Canadian north to ward off a major environmental and social crisis.

Stakeholders backing the funding of the proposed Canadian Neutron Facility (CNF) are increasingly optimistic that the booming economy, a bulging federal surplus and a looming “neutron gap” will conspire towards convincing the Liberal administration that the research facility’s $466-million price tag is a worthwhile investment in the future.

The National Research Council (NRC) has licensed a key component of its photonics technology into the marketplace with the creation of Trillium Photonics Inc, which attracted more than $10 million in venture capital from Mohr Davidow Ventures, Menlo Park CA.

The Univ of Windsor is boosting its key program in automotive research through an agreement with DaimlerChrysler Canada that will see the car maker pour $500 million over five years into expanded and new R&D facilities.