Large gaps, questions remain in federal support for research
For many years, Canadian researchers have seen a gradual, but significant decline, in funding from the federal government. For example, from 2013 to 2015, Canada’s average investment in research was 1.6 per cent of GDP, compared to a G7 average of 2.3 per cent. The 2017 Naylor Report found that Canada is falling behind on […]
Duncan says federal government is looking at new ways to support Canadian researchers abroad
Science Minister Kirsty Duncan says the federal government is “looking now at new ways to support international mobility for our researchers, calling the issue of student international mobility a “big priority” as recent statistics show that Canada has fewer students studying abroad compared to European countries. In an email Q&A with The Hill Times this week, the veteran MP representing […]
First Man and the power of perspective
There’s a moment in the new Damien Chazelle film First Man when what happens in the theatre is nearly as interesting as what’s unfolding on screen. The movie is about Neil Armstrong being the first man to set foot on the moon. The key scene is that actual point of contact—Ryan Gosling as Armstrong gingerly making […]
Federal support strong for college-driven research solving the problems of tomorrow
I am so proud to be a member of a government that has placed science front and centre. Since day one, we have made investments to support both the fundamental research that drives new discoveries and the applied research that addresses tangible business and social challenges and promotes the commercialization of ideas. Colleges, in particular, […]
Let’s not fear the unknown
When I was young, my next-door neighbour’s dad was an inventor and I thought that was simply sublime—mostly because he bought a swimming pool with the profits from a patent. On hot summer days, I used to tug on my braids and imagine gadgets that might possibly meet with similar success in order to bring […]
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 […]
