Editorial - 29-6

The demise of ISTPCanada is something of a puzzle. Months of attempting to determine whether it would continue to be supported by government was met with silence. With no guidance on its future prospects, the organization pulled down its website and closed up shop (see page 7).

Two weeks after the March 31st closure, the prime ministers of Canada and India issued a joint declaration on S&T, innovation and space. In that statement, Stephen Harper and Narendra Modi "re-affirmed their commitment to joint industrial research and development projects through the International Science and Technology Partnership Program (ISTPP), and endorsed the annual contribution of CAD $1 million by both countries".

As a program of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, ISTPP was ISTPCanada's primary funder for bilateral, industry-led projects with India, China and Brazil.

If ISTPP's continuation is now assured — at least the Canada-India component — then the government must have another delivery regime in mind. If not ISTPCanada, then what?

For an administration that spends more on communications than any government in history, it seems to have difficulty conveying key information about how it is spending taxpayers' money.

A similar silence surrounded Harper's announcement of a Factory of the Future program (R$, November 27/14). Nearly half a year later, crucial details have yet to be divulged. More clarity is essential to ensure the each player within the innovation ecosystem is aware of what others are doing, and why.