Recent News
B.C. researchers testing software solution to chronic under-reporting of dangerous drug events
Most Canadian doctors don’t comply with the Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act, also known as Vanessa’s Law, which requires hospitals and clinics to report adverse drug events to Health Canada. Two researchers are attempting to create a software platform to solve the problem — but establishing a national network requires overcoming extremely thorny policy issues.
Canada's outdated flood maps are a liability. New funding could finally change that
As the climate heats up, severe flooding has taken lives and damaged communities in Western Europe, India, and China this summer. Canada has been spared extreme flooding but the risk here is just as real: Flooding is already the country’s most widespread and costly natural disaster. Part of the solution lies in updating the country’s flood maps, the majority of which are 20 to 25 years out of date. New federal support could make that a priority, but Canadians are already paying the price of inaction.
Targeted measures needed to improve Canada’s national defence against pandemics and other catastrophic events
Canada needs targeted measures, including a preparedness plan, a pandemic coordinator and adequate medical countermeasures to improve the country’s national defence against pandemics and other catastrophic events, say Camille Boulet, Senior Partner, and Daniel Katz, Lead Research Analyst, at Ottawa-based Global Advantage Consulting Group in an op-ed.
The Short Report - July 28, 2021: Genomic projects boost environmental resilience, backing innovation at Canada's colleges, and more
Ottawa and partners commit $60 million to natural resources and environmental genomics projects, applied research funding at Canadian colleges gets a boost, and more.
Latest Issue:
Number 7
Volume 35 July 21 2021
Editorial:
Sebastian Leck
International science collaborations have never been more active than during the pandemic. The sharing of scientific information across borders — from genomic datasets to open-access journal articles — has allowed for rapid progress in the fight against COVID-19 that would otherwise have been hamstrung.
Ottawa, B.C. and Shell invest $105 million in new low-carbon innovation centre
Critics say the plan to expand carbon-capture and storage will extend Canada’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Federal government launches consultation to study AI copyright rules
Starting this week, the Canadian government is asking for public input on a “modern copyright framework” for artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.
Ottawa introduces new national security guidelines for NSERC grants
The federal government has released a list of guidelines for universities and research institutions as the result of a working group convened earlier this summer.
Global ocean-mapping project bolstered by Canadian-made AI tool
A new Canadian-made software tool could help speed up a global effort to create a definitive map of the ocean floor.
Opinion: Canada’s university science innovation ecosystem needs a build-for-scale strategy
Canada’s university science innovation ecosystem needs a build-for-scale strategy that supports academic scientist-entrepreneurs from ideation through to commercialization, Elicia Maine, the W.J. VanDusen Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Simon Fraser University, says in an op-ed.
B.C.-based company to build nuclear fusion test plant in England
A Vancouver-area company with backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to start building a nuclear-fusion test plant in England next year as part of a collaboration agreement with the U.K. government.
By the Numbers: Research projects across Canada receive a $635 million boost
The Government of Canada has directed $635 million of funding to research projects through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian Research Chair (CRC) programs.
Opinion: Addressing Canada’s digital divide requires equitable access to data
Canada needs to address inequities in who has access to the power and promise of data science and advanced analytics, including by supporting training for grassroots, charitable and community organizations to collect, access and manage data, Kelly Nolan, an external affairs and equity, diversity and inclusion expert based in Ottawa, says in an op-ed.
Canada's first rare earths projects underway in push to build new industry
A mine in the Northwest Territories, set to start Canada’s first production of rare earth concentrate in July in Saskatchewan, will build a rare earths processing facility in Saskatoon, as the public and private sectors ramp up efforts to make Canada a supplier of choice for strategic critical minerals.
Q&A: Chris Albinson on why Canada's Waterloo Region could be the next Silicon Valley
Chris Albinson, the new CEO of Waterloo-based Communitech, says he sees the same process underway in Silicon Valley today that took place in Boston in the late 1990s — and the Waterloo Region is well-placed to become the technology hub to replace it.
The Short Report - June 30, 2021: Ontario invests $70M in R&D, Ottawa supports optics and photonics research, a Nova Scotia centre of forestry innovation, and more
Ontario announces support for hundreds of research projects across the province; Quebec’s INO optics and photonics research centre gets a boost, Nova Scotia launches a forestry innovation centre, and more.
Opinion Leader:
Wilf Keller
National climate plan needs to focus on foundational public research and transformative Canadian technologies
Canada’s national climate plan needs a complementary approach focused on long-term public research and innovation to develop transformative Canadian technologies, including novel approaches to carbon management, Wilf Keller, Vice-President, Outreach at the Agri-food Innovation Council, says in an op-ed.
Canadian and Quebec governments pour $685 million into three aerospace companies
Governments in Ottawa and Quebec City have committed hundreds of millions of dollars in support for aerospace companies after the pandemic decimated the sector.
The Short Report - July 21, 2021: Canada's fast-growing tech talent, UBC joins global autism initiative, and more
A CBRE report shows Canada has some of the fastest growing tech talent pools In North America, UBC joins a global network to personalize autism care, and more.
NSERC to fast-track grant approvals after COVID-19 rapid-response programs pay off
Ottawa plans to fast-track smaller grant approvals in multiple research areas based on the success of two COVID-19 quick-response research funding programs, Research Money has learned. The council plans to roll out its new rapid-response grants within the next year.
Six months on, Canada’s first patent collective is expanding its membership
The Innovation Asset Collective, Canada’s first patent collective, more than doubled its membership in its first six months and has awarded two rounds of grants to its member companies to help them own, access and use intellectual property.
The Short Report - July 14, 2021: Rémi Quirion to lead International Network for Government Science Advice, mining gets a $40 million boost, and more
Québec’s Chief Scientist, Rémi Quirion, heads the INGSA international network, Ottawa moves to accelerate innovation in Canadian mining, and more.
Q&A: Entrepreneur Mark Blackwell on building a strong innovation ecosystem in Calgary
At 32, Mark Blackwell is a seasoned entrepreneur, venture capitalist and board chair of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. Research Money spoke to Blackwell about his experience in Silicon Valley, what success means to him and strengthening the innovation ecosystem in Calgary and Canada.
Non-profit to grade transparency in government policymaking
The non-profit Evidence for Democracy has released a framework to judge government policies based on the level of transparency around evidence.
Canada and EU deepen research partnerships as Horizon Europe talks enter new phase
As the global geopolitical landscape shifts, Canada and the European Union are deepening bilateral cooperation on research and innovation. At the EU-Canada Joint Summit in Brussels in mid June, leaders announced new partnerships on health, the oceans and raw materials, and agreed to launch exploratory discussions on Canada joining Horizon Europe, the EU’s new €100-billion research program.
Opinion: It's time for Canada to rethink its innovation policies and integrate its programs
Canada must rationalize its innovation programs and provide its research, development and innovation ecosystem with coherent direction as part of a plan for long-term economic growth, Dr. Camille Boulet, PhD, and Ömer Kaya at Global Advantage Consulting Group, say in an op-ed piece.
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