The NGen supercluster has awarded $27 million in funding for 12 advanced manufacturing projects that can supply critical health care products to combat COVID-19. The funding includes $5 million for Providence Therapeutics and partner Northern RNA to establish manufacturing capacity in Calgary for Providence’s made-in-Canada vaccine.
Topic: federal response to COVID-19
Analysis: Updated mandate for federal innovation minister shows a Prime Minister preoccupied with COVID-19
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is much more focused on his government’s response to COVID-19 than on science and innovation priorities, judging by the PM’s updated mandate letter to the minister of innovation. The letter mentions the world “innovation” once, compared with more than a half-dozen references to COVID-19 and the federal response to the pandemic
Parliamentary Budget Officer’s pessimistic report on innovation superclusters used outdated data
According to a “preliminary assessment” report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the five federally funded innovation superclusters are unlikely to attain goals for job creation and GDP growth. But the superclusters’ CEOs told Research Money the report is based on outdated data and that it’s too early to assess the superclusters’ long-term outcomes.
The Short Report – July 29, 2020: Facebook Canada moves against online hate, Alberta rediscovers R&D grants, and more
FedDev Ontario will give $4.8 million to Trent University to create the Trent Enterprise Centre (TEC) in its upcoming Cleantech Commons; less than a year after slashing R&D tax credits and grants, Alberta’s United Conservative Party government has reversed course; Gerald Butts helps Eurasia Group with global climate policy, sustainable finance, and artificial intelligence; and more.
Canada’s chief scientist will tap expert panel to help inform pandemic preparedness strategy
Canada’s chief science advisor Dr. (PhD) Mona Nemer says she’d be “pleased” to provide input into a new long-term research and pandemic preparedness strategy being developed by the federal government. Nemer also co-chairs a group providing advice on health data needed to manage disease spread, an area public health experts say needs significant improvement.
Feds developing unprecedented long-term research and pandemic preparedness strategy
The federal government is developing Canada’s first long-term research and pandemic preparedness strategy that will include a new Centre for Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies Research. Ottawa has provided nearly $1 million to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to lead its development.
Canada’s Innovation Superclusters join fight against COVID-19
Tasked by Ottawa to prioritize funding that responds to COVID-19, two of Canada’s Innovation Superclusters have already launched programs to help combat the pandemic.
The National Research Council empties buildings across Canada
NRC researchers turn to data analysis and writing as the organization adapts to new teleworking conditions.
The Short Report, March 25, 2020: Tech CEOs implore Ottawa to protect their industry, the NGEN supercluster commits $50M to scaling up production of supplies to fight COVID-19, and more
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research launched a new COVID-19 funding opportunity for operating grants called the “COVID-19 Clinical Epidemiology Research Rapid Response.” The application deadline is this Friday, March 27, and successful applicants will be notified of the decision on April 1. The competition description emphasizes the viruses “many unknown epidemiological parameters, particularly with respect…
Ottawa moves with “unprecedented” speed to fast-track COVID-19 research
In collaborating with the WHO and other governments, Canada’s funding agencies have moved rapidly to channel more than $52 million in federal funding to rapid response research at Canadian universities.