Tag Archives: ISTP Canada

National Science and Technology Week and funding support to join ISTP trade mission to China

I was a bit surprised to find out that Canada is having a National Science and Technology Week, Oct. 17 – 26, 2008. I guess calling it a ‘week’ seemed like a better idea that ’10 days’. Plus, they don’t appear to have an advertising budget as there was no publicity in daily or community newspapers where I’d ordinarily expect to find out about such an event. Luckily I’m on the GenomeBC mailing list and they have a special event for this week (part of the Genome Canada International Conference also being held this week) that’s called: “The Genetic Test Results are in … now what?” It’s going to be held in Vancouver at Telus Science World, 1455 Quebec St. on Weds., Oct. 22, 2008 from 7:30 to 9:30. Speakers are Dr. Elaine Mardis, Washington University at St. Louis; Dr. Darren Platt, human genemoics scientist and former senior director of research at 23 & Me; and Dr. Wylie Burke, University of Washington (Seattle). It’s free but you do have to pre-register (and last year’s event held during this week was packed so you might want to consider doing that). For more information and pre-registration, go here.

International Science and Partnership Canada (ISTP Canada) has funding for SME businesses who want to participate in a trade mission to Nanjing (Jiangsu), China  for the First International Technology Transfer and Commercialization Conference to be held Nov. 6 – 8, 2008. ISTP Canada will provide 50% of the cost of an economy class fare and their counterparts in China will take care of all other expenses for the duration of the conference in China. Full details from the news release are available from Nanotech BC and also from ISTP Canada.

Nano funding — BC-India expressions of interest

Way back in June 2008, the BC government announced that they had committed $1M which was matched by the government of India to support collaborative research between BC and Indian research scientists. On Friday, Oct. 10, 2008, the BC Minister of Technology, Trade, and Economic Development, Ida Chong, announced that the collaborative funding programme, which is being administered by ISTP (International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada), is asking for expressions of interest in the fields of convergent medical technologies, clean biotechnology, health, and biopharma by October 24, 2008. More details about the announcement here and about the programme here. Plus, for anyone who’s interested in knowing more about the delegation of Indian scientists who visited Canada in August you can find copies of the presentations that were made and some information about their itinerary on the ISTP site. There’s also some information in my interview with Darren Frew, Nanotech BC’s executive director (postings dated Sept. 26 and Sept. 29, 2008).

I just heard from poet Heather Haley that she will be featured on CBC Radio 2 (105.7)  tonight on the On the Signal show at 10 pm. If you’re curious about her work, you can check it out here.

ISTP Canada, China, and your nanotech ambitions

ISTP Canada is the International Science and Technology Partnership [programme]. It’s a not-for-profit organization which somehow acts as an intermediary for collaborative economic efforts with India, China, and Brazil.  Short story: they have announced their 2008 Canada-China Call for Proposals for R&D Collaborations. It’s open to all Science & Technology projects but they are especially interested in: Agriculture Foods and Bio-products; Energy; Environment; and Health & Life Sciences/Biotechnology. Expressions of interest (EOI) have to be delivered by Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.  For more details, go here.

The whole approach is oriented to commercial applications and economic benefits. Their website mentions Brazil as the 3rd country of interest (initiatives of some type are slated for 2008/2009). Weirdly, there’s an Israeli flag at the top of the website pages, beside the China and India flags. There’s nothing on the home page or the About page or the Partners page that explains the presence of the Israeli flag. Intriguing, non?

I may be getting an interview with Martha Cook Piper whose appointment to the [Canada] National Institute of Nanotechnology was announced in April 2008.