University & College Research
SSHRC, RIC bridging the gap between interdisciplinary research and real-world impact
There is a lot of anticipation and excitement about Canadian innovation. New technological advances and renewed investment in research abound. Advancements in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and games design are just a few examples of technological growth across academic and business sector domains where Canada has attained international acclaim with respective hubs of expertise now in […]
Strategic research investments vital to building workforce of the future
Later this fall, the world will applaud the latest Nobel Prize recipients, marvelling at the foresight of researchers who dreamed big and changed the world. What goes on quietly in university labs and libraries today may only be celebrated in 30 years—as we see with the Nobel—once the impacts are known. Consider John Polyani’s Nobel […]
Clean-tech innovation: why are there still barriers?
The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been positioning itself as promoting clean growth and innovation. The “superclusters” may prove to be very effective enablers of innovative technologies. At this stage, they remain experimental. But the easy things to promote innovation and clean-tech are still untouched. It is hard to know why. It is […]
Canada should become a global leader in data-driven economy
Innovation in digital technologies has led to a rapidly changing digital landscape for Canadians. From consumer concerns about personal data collection, unawareness about the scope of disruptive technologies, to the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the new digital economy is quickly changing the way that we learn, work, shop and live. Coupled with technology evolving […]
There’s another pipeline we need to talk about
There’s only one word running through my mind these days: pipeline. I’m not referring to Kinder Morgan, oil development or Canada’s latest acquisition. The pipeline I am referring to is the one that we must continually replenish in our health sciences sector. Given Canada’s considerable investments in research and development and in health care, why […]
Stakeholders divided on need for renewable targets in new clean fuel standard
Some stakeholders say the current rules around renewable fuel have a place in Canada’s anticipated clean fuel standard, while others say that the government should stick to mandating reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but allow producers to reach those targets their own way. “[The government] should not in any way, shape or form dictate how […]
Access to capital, government red tape among top barriers cited by biotech firms, survey finds
Access to capital remains the biggest challenge for Canada’s biotechnology sector, even as most of its companies have tapped into federal programs offered to startup companies, according to a new report released on Sept. 24. While the industry has shown signs of promising growth, a survey polling 208 biotechnology companies in Canada found 57 per […]
Now’s no time to slow support for health research, innovation
Over the last three years, it is clear that the Canadian government has shifted its focus to investments in innovation and technology development for the future—dubbing Canada as a “nation of innovators.” Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada has prioritized investment in supporting business growth, creating jobs, and supporting research that will inform policy directly […]
Should genetic privacy exist in agriculture?
OTTAWA—As of last year, Canada has a genetic privacy law. It sets rules for the privacy of our personal genomes and non-discrimination based on genetic information. This law has become necessary because decoding our personal genomes—and those of other people—had become increasingly quick and cheap. All species have genomes, of course, and since the same […]
