The Short Report - March 16, 2022: Tri-funding agencies asked to freeze research ties with Russia, Carleton U approves fossil fuel divestment strategies, €76.3M for a German quantum computer, and more

GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND RESEARCH

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne and Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos have asked Canada's three research funding agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to refrain from entering into agreements with Russian research institutions. At the same time, the federal government plans to establish a fund that will allow eligible grant holders from the three federal granting agencies to apply for supplements, which will provide short-term relief and assistance to Ukrainian trainees directly impacted by the crisis. GoC

Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS), along with 24 other companies, is working on a quantum computer to help make Germany a global leader in the field of quantum technology, maintain independence and open up numerous applications in science and industry. Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research has allocated € 76.3 million in funding for the next five years as the global race for quantum technology intensifies. IPMS

RELATED: New federal budget could include funding for a quantum institute as global race for quantum tech heats up

Brampton-based MDA has been awarded a $269-million contract from the Canadian Space Agency for the next phase of the Canadarm3 program, which will see MDA completing the preliminary design of the Canadarm3 robotics system to be used aboard the NASA-led Gateway. The gateway is a multi-year international collaboration that will establish a sustainable space station in lunar orbit to support human and robotic missions to the surface of the Moon. MDA

Meanwhile, MDA has released details for its new 200,000 square-foot global headquarters, the Space Robotics Centre of Excellence. The new centre is supported by a $25-million grant from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and will provide on-orbit operations capabilities to commercial and government customers in the global space industry worldwide. MDA

The Government of Ontario will invest up to $4.5 million on more than 80 projects approved for funding from the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. The program will support projects including protecting and recovering at-risk turtles (Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre); outreach and habitat management for 21 species at risk (Wiikwemkoong Unceded Indian Reserve) and restoration of up to 50 hectares of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna and oak woodland habitat for species at risk (Long Point Basin Land Trust). Government of Ontario

Glass bottle manufacturer O-I Canada (Montreal) will receive $3.5 million in financial assistance from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions as part of nearly $40 million in federal government support for projects that will reduce environmental impacts. The project will enable up to 75,000 tonnes a year of cullet and glass to be diverted from landfill sites. GOC

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) is contributing up to $2.5 million through the Jobs and Growth Fund to performance analytics company Martello Technologies Corporation. The investment will allow Martello to diversify its sales channels, strengthen Canada’s SaaS sector and create 25 new skilled jobs in the Ottawa region. GOC

The Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency is providing more than $2 million to the PEI BioAlliance to establish the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) biopharmaceutical manufacturing training facility in Charlottetown. ACOA is also providing $1.5 million to support the design and construction of the Bioscience Manufacturing Incubator to help address the pilot-scale manufacturing infrastructure gap that currently exists in Prince Edward Island. GOC

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is contributing $1 million in funding to support a new research project at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. The study, led by Dr. Catherine Birken, will examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the eating habits of children and the link between their nutrition and their physical and mental development and educational performance. GOC

The Ontario government is investing $1 million over two years in a scholarship for postsecondary students in esports (standing for "electronic sports") and related programs. The Ontario Esports Scholarship program will offer financial assistance to students enrolled in programs related to the game design, development, marketing and innovation industry that may lead to a career in similar fields. Government of Ontario

RELATED: Survey: Canadian universities are increasingly cutting fossil fuels from their investment portfolios

The Human Frontier Science Program, a program that involves international exchanges in biological research and is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, is accepting letters of intent for applications for research grants until March 31 (initiation deadline is March 24). NSERC

The Transition Accelerator has funding opportunities for researchers interested in developing pathways to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Up to three proposals will be selected and awarded a maximum of $20,000 each, as an entry point to potential long-term collaboration with the accelerator to fully develop novel pathways. Applicants need to submit a short project proposal by Monday, May 2, 2022. Transition Accelerator

 HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT NEWS

Carleton University has decided to abolish direct fossil fuel investments in its endowment and non-endowed operating funds. The university says it will achieve “significant decarbonization” within the endowment and non-endowed operating funds by 2030 and will establish a fossil-fuel free investment fund by the end of 2022. Carleton U

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is planning to launch funding to support phase 1 or 2 clinical trial research into the safety and early efficacy of using psilocybin, in combination with a psychotherapy, to treat substance use and mental health disorders. CIHR's pre-announcement states that $3 million will be available in total to fund three grants over two years, subject to availability of funds. The funding opportunity is led by CIHR’s Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) with funding provided by the Canadian Drugs and Substance Strategy (CDSS). CIHR

Sudbury's Health Sciences North has officially opened The Labelle Innovation and Learning Centre, a 28,000 square foot facility that will function as a clinical hub in Northern Ontario for future doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals. The centre has the capacity to house more than 2,000 learners from 70 post-secondary institutions each year and includes simulation suites, debriefing rooms, a multi-skills lab and a classroom where learners train on technology as they develop skills to care for patients. HSN Sudbury

VC FUNDING

New Brunswick-based mixed reality solution development company Kognitiv Spark has raised $4.7 million to support the building of sales and marketing teams that will broaden their range of industries and sales in the U.S. and U.K. Kognitiv develops technology that provides 3D augmented reality data to support field services workers in remote locations. The seed round was led by the Foresight Williams Technology Fund with a $500,000 contribution from the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation. Kognitiv

AI-powered health navigation platform Clinia (Montreal) has raised $5 million in seed funding, which it will use to grow its personalized health search navigation infrastructure. The round was led by AQC Capital with participation from Anges Québec, Groupe Benoit, Kastello, and Formentera Capital. Clinia

REPORTS

The Smart Prosperity Institute, the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions and The Transition Accelerator have issued a report saying Canada's current clean competitiveness investments are insufficient, and they call on government and industry to work together to position Canada for economic success in the low-carbon economy. The report, Canada’s Future in a Net-Zero World: Securing Canada’s Place in the Global Green Economy appeals for a more strategic industrial policy approach by focusing on "top economic opportunities," such as manufacturing medium and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles, producing low-carbon hydrogen and aluminum refining. The Transition Accelerator

THE GRAPEVINE

Hanif Joshaghani and Tiffany Kaminsky have been selected as Canada's first entrepreneurs to join the Endeavor Global entrepreneur network, a global community of 2,200 entrepreneurs building ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets. Joshaghani and Kaminsky are the CEO and CMO of Calgary-based tech venture company Symend. Symend

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