Alberta innovation system realignment proceeding

The Government of Alberta is moving ahead with its planned overhaul of S&T assets with the creation of four new corporations and a successor to the Alberta Science and Research Authority (ASRA), which has been replaced by the Alberta Research and Innovation Authority). Under the umbrella brand of Alberta Innovates, the four corporations are: Technology Futures, Bio Solutions, Health Solutions and Energy and Environmental Solutions. The launch of the corporations is scheduled for January/10 but the board members of the five new entities should be announced by the end of November. The new corporations are also working with the ministry of Advanced Education and Technology to deliver on a new policy for open innovation, approved by the government earlier this year. The policy will facilitate a clearer and more consistent approach for managing intellectual property (IP) across the provincially funded research and innovation system, with the expectation that more IP will end up in companies. The realignment of the research and innovation system has been ongoing since March/08 with the structure of the new corporations unveiled earlier this year (R$, March 30/09)....