Bains says he’s taking action on innovation promises in 2018
Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains has been busy in 2018. Last year’s budget included major investments in industry programs, and the four-term MP from Mississauga-Malton, Ont., has spent this year overseeing their implementation. That includes the Strategic Innovation Fund, a $1.26-billion pot of money meant to support “cutting edge” projects, the subject of a major lobbying […]
Delighted with 2018 budget, scientists eye funding for ‘open’ grant competitions as next step
The 2018 federal budget gave new hope to Canadian scientists, but they knew their job as advocates wasn’t done. “We were definitely pleased with the results. There was a lot of money there for science,” said Katie Gibbs, executive director of research advocacy group Evidence for Democracy. “But we are all realistic that there is still […]
Robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence will improve lives of people with disabilities
Robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence will both revolutionize several sector of activities and improve considerably the lives of Canadians, especially people with disabilities. In a report released in October 2017, the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology highlighted the potential benefits, and also challenges, of integrating these technologies into the health-care system. […]
Industry and academia react warmly to feds’ IP strategy, opposition MPs say it’s void of details
Industry groups and academics are giving a thumbs up to the Liberal government’s new intellectual property strategy, saying it brings much-needed changes to the country’s outdated patent landscape, but opposition MPs are skeptical the proposals meant to boost Canadian businesses will actually advance the country’s high-tech firms. “IP is one of those issues that it’s […]
Research, innovation sparking health-care revolution
Canada spends about $228-billion each year on health care, but the system still can’t keep up with demand. Despite the undeniable dedication, skill and hard work that physicians, surgeons, nurses and administrators put in, the fact remains that demand for health care is gradually exceeding supply. It’s time for a technological revolution—and we have the […]
Research & Innovation
Do the robot: public servants unplug from typical telecommute
Employment and Social Development Canada policy analyst Pierre-Olivier DesMarchais is tall—six-foot-three, to be exact—but when most of his colleagues see him, he’s only about four-foot-five—and a robot. Mr. DesMarchais lives in Montreal, but his physical presence in Ottawa is that of an iPad attached to two Segway-style wheels via a vertical stick, which he uses to telecommute […]
It’s time to unleash the power of artificial intelligence
Computers are becoming more powerful, faster, and intelligent every day. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Hal, the computer that took over an entire spaceship in the sci-fi movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Although fiction in 1968, Siri, Cortona, and Alexa and many nifty new smart gadgets are now reality and […]
Misogyny lives, and the internet is giving it too much oxygen
OTTAWA—Misogyny lives. And the internet is giving it too much oxygen. While Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is being called to account by governments around the world for political misuse of social media intel, a bigger issue looms in cyberspace. Normal platforms of discourse are governed by legal restraints which serve to cool down the rhetoric […]
Half a cup of peanuts: starvation diet for diabetes offers lessons
A century ago, a diagnosis of diabetes was a death sentence. The only treatment that was able to somewhat slow the progression of the disease was a starvation diet. Eating no more than 400 calories per day was advised, equivalent to about half a cup of dry roasted peanuts. Ironically, some people with diabetes died […]
