A recent market research study done by Lux Research found that the VC investments in nanotechnologies dropped in 2007 for the first time in the past five years.

According to their study, in the past two years VCs have focused their money on environment and energy sectors, in spite of the generous returns generated by some of the nano-tech startups (over 200 times the initial investment in average for health science applications).

This is just one more proof that global warming can be bad for your health and your wealth!

Singapore: Asia’s technopolis

MaRS Discovery District is now an affiliate member of the Singapore-based Technology Transfer Network (TTN).

The TTN is a newly-formed collaborative alliance of technology transfer organizations created to enhance the effectiveness of technology transfer to industry. The network’s vision is to enhance, expand and equip technology transfer activities worldwide.

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Charles Taylor, Montreal Philosopher
Photo by Padraic

What does a philosopher from Montreal and a molecular biologist from Toronto have in common? They are the first two Canadians ever to win Japan’s most prestigious lifetime achievement award, the Kyoto Prize, largely referred to as Japan’s Nobel Prize.

Drs. Anthony Pawson and Charles Taylor were just announced as the winners of the prize which was created to recognize that “[humankind] has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of society, and that mankind’s future can be assured only when there is a balance between our scientific progress and spiritual depth.”

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Canada’s non profit sector booms
Photo by joesflickr

If the global nonprofit sector were a single industry, it would be the world’s fifth largest, employing 4.5% of the world’s population. This and many other dramatic insights were unveiled by Kim Klein in a recent presentation on Canada’s nonprofit sector at the Laidlaw Foundation.

The data, compiled from Imagine Canada, the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations, Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Civil Society Studies and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, map the nonprofit sector’s size, composition, and finance structure, and offer international and inter-provincial comparisons.

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Canada and California come together over stem cell research

Last week, a bold initiative brought together the world’s leaders in cancer stem cell research. The Governments of Canada and California announced a major three-year research agreement to begin a common search for ways to evaluate, fund and monitor cancer stem cell research projects.

Minister Tony Clement (Canadian Minister of Health) pledged $100 million over three years to the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium (CSCC). The CSCC will collaborate closely with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

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Universe evolution timeline

Dr. Richard Bond, leading Canadian cosmologist, astronomer, and astrophysicist, was recently awarded the Gruber Cosmology Prize for his many contributions to the field.

“Richard Bond, PhD, director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Cosmology and Gravity Program, was the recipient of the 2008 Cosmology Prize of the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation in affiliation with the International Astronomical Union. He was honored for groundbreaking theoretical work on structure formation and evolution of the universe.� (Gruber Press Release)

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Canada’s silent policy change
Photo by joesflickr

In a world where the hunt for talent is fierce and is intensifying, it is crucial for Canada to position itself as a destination of choice for the brightest minds to remain competitive globally. With the integration of many eastern European countries into the EU and with increased internal competition for skill in countries like India and China, many desirable candidates no longer look to Canada as a choice for advancement. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States have been long engaged in this battle for talent. With an aging workforce and population growth coming predominantly from immigration, it is important for Canada not only to attract but also retain the right minds.

Recent changes in regulations governing the post-graduation work permit for international students hope to achieve exactly this.

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Tales from an upstart

To catalyze the birth of the biotech’s next pioneering entrepreneurs — an ambitious task for an incubator let alone a single first year undergraduate. Yet just one year later — one year from day when it was just an idea in my head — BioSynergy has exploded from a student magazine into an international phenomenon with 30,000 copies being delivered into the hands of the world’s leading biotechnology executives and scientists at this week’s BIO International Convention in San Diego. I have had the rare privilege of seeing my idea be tested by, and become, reality.

And I think that I have some insight to share with entrepreneurs who are starting out with just an idea.

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Are VC’s seen as gangsters?

I think venture capital is one of the most exciting industries because it is one of the fundamental levers of capitalism, starting and running a company. The VC has a very important role in facilitating the development of ideas. After working with entrepreneurs at MaRS, I have been lucky to get a bit of insight into the industry.

However, during a discussion about the cost of capital in my MBA strategy class, my professor brought up the point that VC funding is very expensive. In fact, she ranked it up there with borrowing money from the mob! How could you compare VCs with the mob?

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Social Tech Training, running from June 22-24 at MaRS, has already sold out. But for those who are missing it, you’re in luck! There’s still space available at the free keynote lecture, “People powered politics,” on June 22, 2008 at 7:30pm.

Join Avaaz.org founder and Executive Director Ricken Patel who will share his secrets on how he built the world’s largest online advocacy organization, with 3.3 million active members (320,000 in Canada!), in just over a year.

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