Research hubs will further strengthen Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sector while protecting Canadians against future health threats The Government of Canada’s main priority continues to be protecting the health and safety of Canadians. Throughout the pandemic, the quick and decisive actions taken by the government meant that Canada was able to scale up domestic biomanufacturing capacity, which had been…
The federal government says it is tightening its policy on bankrolling research with foreign entities that might pose a risk to national security. The government says “a sensitive research area” will not be funded if a person on the project is affiliated with a university, research institute or laboratory connected to military, national defence or state security entities of foreign…
Once again this year, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) is pleased to remind the community of an important funding opportunity for Canadian researchers interested in ambitious, international projects in the life sciences. Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Research Grants support innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific…
As Canadian policy and investment encourages more innovative startups, we constantly hear about the “valley of death”: the point where a startup has some momentum but struggles for market traction. We hang lofty hopes on research-based startups getting past this to solve global challenges and grow into scalable companies. However, focusing on the valley of death will keep us ignoring…
Earlier this month, researchers attending Canada’s major annual science policy conference here got some seemingly good news when science minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government would be awarding CA$1 billion to research projects. But disappointment soon set in. The $1 billion, scientists realized, was existing, not new, money. The episode added to researchers’ gloom about Canada’s science funding.
Scientists and researchers play an integral role in helping to build a stronger, healthier and more resilient Canada. The Government of Canada understands that when we invest in Canada’s research community, we are investing in the discoveries of tomorrow that will lead to a better quality of life for everyone. Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced more than $1 billion in…
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a core strength of the biotechnology sector was the solutions the sector brings to the challenge of a global population moving quickly to nine or 10 billion people and the imperative of finding ways to fundamentally alter how we grow, manufacture, cure and fuel our economies and societies. While policymakers generally understood the sector’s overall…
Canada must invest adequately in the commercialization and talent development for the biotech sector or we may lose our best and brightest to other countries. The right policies for data collection, the commercialization of new drugs and taxes will help make Canada’s hosting conditions ideal for biotech companies. Canada needs more entrepreneurs in the biotech sector to not only innovate…
Science has a thoroughly global focus, exists within an interdisciplinary intellectual environment, and succeeds through collaborative work that reaches across borders, oceans, and time zones. Indeed, the multi-national, multi-disciplinary and inclusive character of 21st century research mirrors the most formidable challenges of our era, from global pandemics, such as the one we’ve all experienced since 2020, to climate change.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons about science and technology. It has underlined the importance of quicker and smarter surveillance and responses to public health emergencies. The pandemic showed us how telehealth can be an accessible and effective health care option, and that preventative measures such as masks and physical distancing are useful to keep ourselves and others…