The Short Report - May 25, 2022: Quebec renews its research & innovation strategy, MOUs to advance SMR research, Ottawa's request to join DEPA, and more

INNOVATION & INVESTMENT

The Government of Quebec has launched a research and innovation strategy that will see more than $7.5 billion invested to invent, develop and commercialize science and tech sectors over the next five years. The strategy includes $1.3 billion in budgetary interventions, $600 million in financial interventions in investment capital, and $75 million in investments in the Québec Infrastructure Plan (PQI). The Quebec Research and Innovation Investment Strategy (SQRI2) 2022-2027's five key action areas include excelling in research, science and technology; creating an environment favourable to innovation; supporting investments and commercialization of business innovation; developing talent, scientific culture and innovation, and focusing on future sectors. Mila – Quebec artificial intelligence Institute has welcomed the Quebec Research and Innovation Investment Strategy (SQRI2) announcement, which grants more than $217 million to the artificial intelligence (AI) sector over the next five years. Government of Quebec

The Government of Alberta is investing nearly $19 million over three years to support high-potential tech startups and entrepreneurs through the province's eight regional innovation networks (RINs). The funding will be distributed as follows: Calgary Innovation Coalition ($6,946,000), Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network ($1,638,000), Edmonton Regional Innovation Network ($4,888,500), East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network ($787,500), Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network ($735,000), Grande Prairie Regional Innovation Network ($778,500), APEX: Southeast Alberta Regional Innovation Network ($1,785,000), and The Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta ($1,171,700). Government of Alberta

Carleton University’s new Centre for Advanced Building Envelope Research (CABER) will open at the end of the year, according to an internal email. The purpose of the $5.1-million, 6,000-square-foot lab is to develop efficient approaches to constructing building envelopes and methods for renovating buildings with less cost and disruption.

COLLABORATIONS

McMaster University, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), and Global First Power (GFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance research in small modular reactors (SMRs). The agreement will see them deploying a micro modular reactor at McMaster or an affiliated site and is expected to pave the way for Canadian communities considering the adoption of greenhouse gas-free energy. McMaster’s assistant vice-president, research (nuclear) Dave Tucker said the partnership builds on McMaster’s nuclear expertise and follows on the University’s contributions to Canada’s SMR Action Plan. McMaster

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) and Westinghouse Electric Canada have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop and locate a very small modular reactor - also called a micro-reactor - in Saskatchewan for the development and testing of industrial, research, and energy use applications. Westinghouse

The Government of Canada has submitted a request to start negotiations on joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), a trade policy tool initiated by New Zealand, Chile, and Singapore to address fast-evolving digital economy issues and which would provide clarity on rules of digitally enabled trade. GOC

The Canadian Space Agency and the European Commission have signed an agreement to allow sharing of satellite Earth Observation data as Canada works towards implementing its new Earth observation strategy, which includes $8 million in funding for 21 projects through the smartEarth initiative announced in January. CSA

Horizon Aircraft (Kawartha Lakes, ON) is partnering with Fleming College (Peterborough) and Ontario Tech University (Toronto) for a three-year research project on Horizon's electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The three institutions have been jointly awarded $750,000 over three years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's Innovation Link program, under the Tri-Agency College and Community Innovation Program. Dr. Fereydoon Diba is the project lead for Fleming College while Ontario Tech University research lead is Dr. Sayyed Ali Hosseini. Ontario Tech University

Quebec's chief scientist, in partnership with the Fonds de recherche du Québec, the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie (MRIF), the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation (MEI), and Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec (LOJIQ), has released calls for applications for one postdoctoral scientific residency at each of its Quebec government offices in Seoul, Tokyo, Rabat and UNESCO Paris. The residency starts in September 2022 for a period of one year and is renewable for a second year. Government of Quebec

RESEARCH FUNDING

The University Health Network foundation in Toronto has received an anonymous $11-million donation in support of neurofibromatosis (NF) research. NF is a genetic disorder affecting approximately one in 10,000 Canadians; it results in the development of tumours throughout the nervous system and can cause complications such as disfigurement, deformities, blindness, hearing loss and an increased risk of cancer. UHN

The University of Manitoba Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences has received $5 million in funding to help it become one of the top crop research training institutions in North America. Half of the matching funds come from Prairies Economic Development Canada. The money will be used to advance research and training for students and the industry in digital smart farm technology. UManitoba

INVESTMENT NEWS

Vancouver-based Novateur Ventures has participated in the more than $13 million seed investment round raised by Epitopea, a cancer therapeutics company based out of the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer – commercialization of Research (IRICoR) at Université de Montréal. Novateur is supporting Epitopea's tumour-specific antigen research development. Advent Life Sciences, CTI Life Sciences, Cambridge Innovation Capital, and le Fonds de Solidarité FTQ also participated in the round. Novateur

Analysis from Pitchbook Data shows Canada's life sciences industry attracted fewer deals in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first three quarters of 2021, but more funding than in Q4 2021. Drug discovery remained the leading sector for life science venture capital investment in Canada in Q1 2022, gaining a 10% increase in deal flow compared to Q1 of 2021 and taking almost half the amount of venture capital investment for Canadian life science companies. Mondaq

ONTARIO ELECTION

As part of their Vote Science campaign, NPOs Evidence for Democracy and Elect Stem have reviewed and identified candidates in Ontario's upcoming provincial election who hold science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM)-related credentials. Among the findings: overall, 25% of candidates running for seats have a STEMM-related degree or background. The Green Party has the most candidates with a STEMM-related background (42) followed by the Liberals (33). E4D

THE GRAPEVINE

Dr. JJ Kavelaars, head of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (CADC) and principal research officer at the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics (HAA) Research Centre, has received the 2022 Dunlap Award for Innovation in Astronomical Research Tools from the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA). The award is presented every two years to an individual or team for instrumentation or software that has enabled significant advances in astronomy. Kavelaars' leadership at the CADC enabled the organization to set the bar for virtual observatory data standards. NRC

Dr. Bruce Frayne, director of the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo, has been announced its new dean, effective July 1 for a five-year term. Frayne takes over from Dr. Jean Andrey, a professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management (GEM) who has served as dean of the School of Environment since 2014. UWaterloo

Michael Jemtrud is the inaugural Chair in Architecture, Energy, and Environment in the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture at McGill University. The chair, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's Alliance program with support from Hydro-Québec and the Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, is being established to develop a systematic and scalable approach to retrofit existing buildings and communities to reduce their GHG emissions. McGill