The Short Report - March 1, 2023: A boost for cancer research in B.C.; a major funding round for insect biotechnology; CFI's new strategic plan, a new SMR program, and more.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Natural Resources Canada has launched the Enabling Small Modular Reactors Program to support the low-carbon energy transition. The program follows Budget 2022's allocation of $29.6 million over four years to develop supply chains for small modular reactor (SMR) manufacturing  and to fund research on safe SMR waste management. It also complements the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's open call for proposals for SMR projects under its Alliance Grants program announced February 6th. Natural Resources Canada

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario has announced a total investment of over $22 million through the Aerospace Regional and Recovery Initiative (ARRI) for projects that will increase manufacturing and productivity, green operations, and training in southern Ontario's aerospace sector. Awardees include Oshawa-based Cleeve Technology (a repayable contribution of $2.5 million) and The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (a non-repayable investment of nearly $9.2 million to support and mobilize research in sector-specific challenges, and to provide training and access to green technologies through an innovation hub at the Waterloo Region Airport). FedDev Ontario

Transport Canada is contributing $12.5 million to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region, through the launch of the Ballast Water Innovation Program as part of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan. The program will fund projects that ensure ballast water management systems are optimized for water environments in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region; provide solutions for implementing new ballast water regulations and for preventing the entry and spread of invasive aquatic species in the region; enable the federal government to deepen technical expertise, and inform discussions with the U.S. and other countries towards increased environmental protections. Transport Canada will accept applications for funding from Canadian vessel owners and operators, Canadian Port Authorities, not-for-profit organizations, public sector organizations, and academia until May 10, 2023. Transport Canada

Alberta oil sands consortium Pathways Alliance has awarded a $10-million contract to Aberdeen, Scotland-based Wood Group to develop  a 400-kilometre CO₂ transportation line linking more than 20 oil sands-processing facilities with a hub for permanent carbon storage in Cold Lake, Alberta.  The  field work supports a regulatory application later this year for the Pathways Alliance proposed carbon capture and storage network. Pathways Alliance

RELATED: Oil sands producers set sights on sequestration

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada is investing nearly $2 million in projects to enhance online safety through the Cyber Security Cooperation Program. Projects will be managed by the Université de Sherbrooke's cyber security hub and will include a focus on the protection of the electrical grid, particularly smaller electricity providers. The second project will focus on cyber security in the integration of service providers in a 5G wireless environment. Public Safety Canada

The Atlantic Groundfish Council (AGC) has been providing vessels for research coverage in Eastern Canadian waters as part of a multi-year collaborative research agreement between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the AGC, including multispecies fisheries and/or ecosystem surveys. Data collected over the three-year agreement (2023-2025) will inform fisheries management decisions, support international obligations, and enable the sustainable growth of Canada’s seafood industry. Activities will include biological sampling, ecosystem data collection, management strategy evaluations, scientific research projects, and a research chair in stock assessment. DFO

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) will start accepting expressions of interest (EOI) for new technology projects on March 1. This is the first call for projects under the $150 million funding provided through the Government of Canada’s renewed Global Innovation Cluster program.  PIC says it will accept EOIs from across the value chain with an increased emphasis on ingredient processing and within four areas of focus including genetics, crops, ingredients, and products. PIC

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has announced that major Government of Canada suppliers will be compelled to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and set reduction targets as of April 1, 2023. The new standard outlines that federal government procurements over $25 million should incent suppliers to disclose their GHG emissions and set reduction targets, which can be  fulfilled through participation in Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge initiative or another approved internationally recognized and functionally equivalent standard or initiative. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat 

HEALTH FUNDING

The Government of British Columbia has announced $440 million in cancer research, technology, and innovation over the next three years as part of its new 10-year cancer-care action plan. The funding includes $170 million to provide for startup and seed grants to attract research talent; create four endowed leadership and research chairs to recruit and retain clinical researchers; increase clinical trials; and enhance capacity in genomic testing. Government of British Columbia | B.C. Cancer Action Plan

The Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and its territorial partners are providing an investment of almost $24 million over five years to support patient-oriented research in the Northwest Territories through its SPOR SUPPORT Unit. Territorial partners include the Government of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Department, Aurora Research Institute, Dehcho First Nations, Délı̨nę Got'Įnę Government, Fostering Open Expression Among Youth, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Gwichyà Gwich’in Council, Gwich'in Tribal Council, TIDES Canada, Tłı̨chǫ Government, and the University of Alberta, Department of Medicine and Dentistry, Indigenous and Global Health Research Group  CIHR

Meanwhile, CIHR, in partnership with the Azrieli Foundation, Mitacs, and the Rossy Foundation, is providing $12 million as part of the ongoing Transitions in Care initiative to 14 inter-disciplinary research teams looking to improve health care transitions in areas such as mental health, the pediatric transition to adult care, the care of people with complex medical conditions, the long-term care system, and palliative care. Funded investigators include Dr. Anne Duffy at Queen's University, who will be developing and evaluating mental health support pathways and transitions for the diverse university student population; Dr. Laura Brunton at the University of Western Ontario, who will be evaluating a model of transitional and lifelong care for adults with childhood-onset disabilities; and Dr. Gina Dimitropoulos at the University of Calgary, who will be co-designing and implementing Canadian practice guidelines for transitions for youth with eating disorders. CIHR

Research teams from the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary have been awarded $9.6 million through Alberta’s Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Health System to deploy technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, sensors, wearables and 3-D printing, that can identify health issues early on, and improve patient care and outcomes. Projects funded include using personalized risk and computerized tools to guide transitions following acute kidney events (led by Dr. Matthew James; University of Calgary; $1.2 million) and a patient dashboard to improve complex care and self-management of inflammatory bowel disease (led by Dr. Karen Wong; University of Alberta; nearly $1,116,000). Alberta Innovates

 The Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction is investing more than $4.7 million in projects examining standards for mental health and substance use services for children, youth and young adults to help provide an idea of the standards that exist and how they deliver care for young people and families affected by mental health and substance use issues. The results will also contribute to the evidence base for pan-Canadian best practices for care. CIHR | Funding details

INNOVATION & RESEARCH

The Canada Foundation for Innovation has released a new five year strategic plan based on five pillars  which it says will build a stronger future for Canada through research. The five pillars include fostering the science of tomorrow, building prosperous and healthy communities, contributing to a sustainable world, inspiring the next generation, and delivering for the research community. CFI

Read more: Facing the future after a long (long) wait

VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING

Edmonton-based insect biotechnology company Future Fields has closed a $15.1-million seed round as it vies to overcome a shortage of bioreactors using technology involving fruit flies. Investors included Bee Partners and Toyota Ventures (both of San Francisco), as well as Builders VC (San Francisco), AgFunder (Silicon Valley) and Amplify Capital (Toronto), among others. Future Fields

Waterloo-based Mappedin has raised $8.6 million in a Series A round led by Channel Equity Partners (San Diego). Mappedin's indoor mapping platform offers solutions for malls, offices, stadiums, campuses, airports, and other venues to tackle indoor mapping use cases including wayfinding, asset and facility management, public safety, private security, and logistics. Mappedin

THE GRAPEVINE

 Blair White has been appointed Chief Information Officer in the Office of the Chief Information Officer for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, effective February 27. White is replacing acting CIO Sean Dutton, who is Deputy Minister of Digital Government and Service NL. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Dr. Karen Dodds has been appointed chair of the Canadian Museum of Nature's board of trustees for a term of four years, effective February 16.  Dodds served as assistant deputy minister at Environment and Climate Change Canada from 2011 to 2016 and was assistant deputy minister at Health Canada from 2008 to 2011. She is chair of the board of directors of the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network, a national network funded by the Tri-Councils (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) and hosted at Dalhousie University. Newswire

British Columbia's Forest Practices Board has appointed Keith Atkinson as chair for a three-year term, effective Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Atkinson is a registered professional forester and will lead the board as it conducts audits and investigations, and issues public reports on how well industry and government are meeting the intent of B.C.’s forest practices legislation. Government of British Columbia

The University of Saskatchewan's Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) has announced the inauguration of an agricultural technology centre at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Gazipur, Bangladesh, as part of its partnership with the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC).  The centre will offer programs to enhance crop breeding and plant improvement, advance soil health and quality, improve soil water retention, increase data management and analytics, and deliver innovation for post-harvest food handling and processing. It follows the GIFS - BARC memorandum of understanding signed in 2020 to advance knowledge and technologies for agricultural research and development in Bangladesh. USask