Canadian Innovation News Spring 2018

THE FACE OF CANADIAN SCIENCE IS CHANGING, AND IT’S STARTING WITH WOMEN AT THE TOP Role Dr. Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor, Canada Dr. Julie Payette, Governor General Dr. Molly Shoichet, Chief Scientist, Ontario Models Dr. Kirsty Duncan, Federal Science Minister Matter Canadian Innovation 2 News Spring 2018 What is CIN?

Canadian Innovation News reports on Canadian innovation and international collaboration opportunities.

Our mission is to provide actionable information, promote engaged communities and facilitate new linkages between the private sector, academia and government within Canada and internationally. We keep our readers up to date on the latest Jeffrey Crelinsten opportunities to collaborate and Publisher develop cutting-edge innovations in today’s rapidly evolving, globally- connected world. Rebecca Melville CIN is brought to you by RE$EARCH Chief Operating Officer MONEY, Canada’s premiere source of science, technology and innovation policy and investment news and in- depth analysis. Debbie Lawes

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10 Message from the Publisher

11 Cover Story: Role Models Matter — Female STEM leaders are rising to the highest levelS of politics and power

21 Canadian Tech at the Leading Age — Teaching computers empathy

25 Company Spotlight — CCAB aims to grow Toronto’s biotech community

27 New Brunswick turns fish and forests into high tech opportunities

30 What makes Atlantic Canada a hotbed for bio and life sciences?

32 Innovator Spotlight — Industry partnerships at core of unique BIOTIC model

34 Innovator Spotlight — Mobilizing Canada’s Bioeconomy to Fight Climate Change Canadian Innovation 9 News Spring 2018 Content

36 Company Spotlight — Fredericton NB’s ecosystem is driving the city forward

38 In The News

42 Trailblazers — Dr. Isabel Pedersen: UOIT expert examines how wearable tech will shape humanity

47 Innovator Spotlight ­— The New Canada Science and Technology Museum

50 Gender diversity takes centre stage in federal budget

54 Innovator Spotlight ­— Springboard Atlantic to play cat- alytic role in region’s new growth strategy

57 In The News

On cover, top right: Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General and Commander-in-chief of Canada. Photo: Sgt Jo- hanie Maheu, Rideau Hall ©OSGG-BSGG, 2017 Canadian Innovation 10 News Spring 2018 Message from the Publisher

Spring comes with new beginnings and this In Canadian Tech at the Leading Edge we edition of Canadian Innovation News is no learn about a new AI platform that reads exception. I’m delighted to announce the human emotions, Canada’s new superclusters, launch of our new CIN website. You can cannabis R&D, a new therapeutics search past issues, enjoy the new edition and spin-off, cybersecurity and big data. comment on the stories. In addition to the website, you can still download an interactive In Trailblazers we meet the leader of Decimal PDF, which you can share with others via Lab, a digital humanities research centre email, or print for easy reading on the plane, studying technology-human interactions. train, bus or wherever you happen to be. You can also read about Quebec’s new anti-radicalization research chair, a new We’ve changed the format as well. In addition Canada-India Accelerator program for to the feature article, we’ve organized the women entrepreneurs, a fellowship program editorial content into two themed booklets: to support women scientists in low- and Canadian Tech at the Leading Edge middle-income countries and De Beers and Trailblazers. We will add two other Canada’s new scholarship for women. themed booklets in the Fall issue: Regional Focus and Investment Opportunities. Canada is sending a powerful message to the world that STEM and innovation are open This Spring we’re celebrating Canadian to everyone. We encourage our colleagues women in science and innovation. Our cover around the globe and across Canada to features Canada’s science minister, Canada’s emulate the innovators featured here and new Governor General, Canada’s new Chief to collaborate with them to make the world Science Advisor and Ontario’s new Chief a better place. Scientist – all highly accomplished women who are stellar role models for younger generations. We explore how the Canadian government and others are working to address the shortage of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. Jeffrey Crelinsten Canadian Innovation 11 News Spring 2018

ROLE MODELS MATTER

FEMALE STEM LEADERS ARE RISING TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF POLITICS AND POWER Canadian Innovation 12 News Spring 2018

Women are still woefully underrepresented in senior scientific positions around the world but there is a sense that palpable change is finally at hand – driven in part by a self- declared “feminist prime minister” and the senior appointments of some notable female scientists.

COVER STORY Canadian Innovation 13 News Spring 2018

Dr. Mona Nemer in a uOttawa lab alongside PhD candidate Jamie Whitcomb. Since being appointed Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Nemer still regularly visits students and oversees their research and studies. Photo: Bonnie Findley

By Debbie Lawes

The face of Canadian science is changing, “When our research community includes and it’s starting with women at the top. people from diverse backgrounds with unique experiences, knowledge and perspectives, Drs. Kirsty Duncan (federal science minister), we are all one step closer to the next Mona Nemer (Canada’s chief science breakthrough idea or discovery. Broad advisor), Molly Shoichet (Ontario’s first perspectives breed great science,” Duncan chief scientist) and former astronaut Julie told delegates attending a conference on Payette (now Governor General) are not science policy in Ottawa last November. only raising the profile of female scientists in Canada, they are also vocal advocates for The social and economic benefits of increasing the ranks of women in science, having more female STEM leaders are technology, engineering and mathematics well documented. Yet, numerous studies (STEM), particularly in academia. have highlighted the slow progress

COVER STORY Canadian Innovation 14 News Spring 2018

of women’s participation in STEM “I was told the fields – particularly natural sciences and reason I was engineering – and the chronically low getting paid in number of women in academic leadership. the bottom 10th percentile was The trajectory is changing, albeit slowly. because I was A report last year from TD Economics a woman.” (Women and STEM: Bridging the Divide) found that women have accounted for — Dr. Kirsty Duncan 30% of employment growth in STEM since 2010, but still make up less than one- quarter of employment in these occupations.

These challenges are not unique to Canada. Many countries are struggling to address a gender imbalance that has gained even greater prominence in the era of #MeToo, the social movement which has made the treatment of women in the workforce a national issue in many countries.

Duncan has been very open about the discrimination she experienced during her career as a scientist.

“I was told the reason I was getting paid in the bottom 10th percentile was because

Kirsty Duncan I was a woman. I was asked by a fellow Women have faculty member during a staff meeting when accounted for 30% I planned on getting pregnant. I was asked to choose how I wanted to be treated: as a of employment woman or as a scientist,” said Duncan, a medical geographer who led an expedition growth in STEM since to the Norwegian arctic in search of the 2010, but still make up origins of the 1918 influenza pandemic.

less than one-quarter Similar stories are being shared by other of employment in women who recently moved into senior government posts. Payette – an engineer, these occupations. military pilot, deep sea diver and former astronaut – has recalled how a high school counsellor once suggested that she consider a career as an airline flight attendant. When

COVER STORY Canadian Innovation 15 News Spring 2018

she attended pre-university physics classes reflect gender, ethnic and cultural diversity. and engineering classes at McGill University “Having inspiring role models is paramount. she was often the only female student. We must therefore ensure that our public Fortunately, she had a supportive family and institutional policies allow them to who encouraged her to pursue her dreams. develop and be promoted in all areas of “I was never discouraged from trying,” science and technology,” she told a summit she said in her Oct. 2 installation speech. on gender equality in sciences in Montreal last November. However, she added Payette’s exceptional that by using traditional criteria such as career, which includes evidence of leadership, social engagement being the first and previous research credentials, in Canadian to board addition to academic excellence, “we the International Space unconsciously favour certain groups”. Station, makes her a popular role model for girls thinking about a Changing structures is key career in traditionally male-dominated fields. Nemer wants consideration given to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, achievements, “not positions held, which Nemer has told about Governor General and favour careerists and those who have Commander-in-chief of growing up during a Canada. Photo: Sgt Johanie been in the system for over 20 years”. Maheu, Rideau Hall ©OSGG- time when women were BSGG, 2017 generally discouraged “If we require them to have been Chair of from pursuing scientific or technical careers. a department, Vice-Dean, Dean or Vice- When she learned that her all-girls school President before being considered for in Beirut, Lebanon didn’t offer a science the presidency of a university, a research curriculum, she successfully advocated organization or granting council—positions for the high school to change its policy. that still involve mostly male-dominated processes—we will not succeed at diversifying When she did her PhD in chemistry at the leadership of our institutions,” she told McGill University, she said there were no delegates attending Gender Summit 11 female professors in a department of about 40. North America 2017. “Boards and hiring committees should be reminded of that.” Now, as Canada’s second ever chief science advisor – and the first woman to hold the Payette has echoed the need for structural position – Dr. Nemer is championing what changes: “part of it is cultural, part of it she describes as a “systematic approach is the way the mechanisms are within the to supporting increased diversity.” She universities, the structure, the academic world has called for a society-wide effort where that may not foster the retention of people,” governments, scientific organizations, she told an audience at Waterloo’s Perimeter research granting agencies and educational Institute for Theoretical Physics in July 2017. institutions adopt policies and procedures that support the development and Support for change is coming from the promotion of STEM role models that highest corridors of political power. One

COVER STORY Canadian Innovation 16 News Spring 2018

of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first tasks after winning the 2015 election was to appoint Canada’s first gender-balanced Cabinet, and to name Duncan as the country’s first full minister of science since 1993. His party has also embraced “gender budgeting” – a mechanism that allows governments to use administrative and fiscal policy to promote gender equality.

Trudeau’s feminist agenda is permeating through other federal legislation, policies and programs. They include: new international trade agreements with Trade and Gender chapters – a first for any G7/G20 country; legislation to encourage greater diversity Support for on corporate boards; requiring the new $400-million Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative to provide gender balance reports; change is and, a commitment to focus Canada’s G7 presidency this year on advancing gender coming from equality and women’s empowerment. Industry is paying attention as well, driven the highest largely by a serious shortage of tech talent to meet the booming job demand, particularly in healthcare and STEM fields. corridors of That imperative has driven groups like Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters to release an action plan aimed at encouraging political power more women to join the manufacturing workforce. Currently women hold just 28% of manufacturing jobs in Canada – a number that hasn’t changed in three decades. — Dr. Nadia Octave In January, General Motors of Canada Co. announced plans to establish a $1.8-million fund that will offer university scholarships and other initiatives to encourage more young women and girls in STEM.

“General Motors is redefining mobility and focused on realizing our vision of a

COVER STORY Canadian Innovation 17 News Spring 2018

The University of Toronto’s Girls’ Leadership in Engineering Experience (LEE) program offers hands- on engineering workshops that connect female students, faculty and alumni. Photo: U of T Engineering

world with zero crashes, zero emissions and promote more women in science. Only and zero congestion. We believe that 30 percent of the 1,612 positions in the to realize this vision, we will need to program are held by women and there were support far greater participation in two times more men nominated than women. STEM,” said GM Canada president and managing director Steve Carlisle. As a first step to fix this imbalance, the government announced changes to the CRC program in 2017, including a cap on the Carrots and sticks renewal of Tier 1 chairs and firm equity targets for universities applying for CRCs That top-down support for what the and Canada Excellence Research Chairs. Liberal government has branded “inclusive Universities had until mid-December to innovation” and “inclusive economic submit Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action growth” is prompting a more forceful Plans that will map out how they will meet approach to changing what has become their equity and diversity targets in the CRC an endemic and stubborn status quo. program or risk having funding withdrawn.

For example, frustrated by the lack of female Shoichet, a world-leading researcher in candidates selected for the prestigious Canada tissue engineering and 2017 Killam Prize Research Chairs (CRC) program, Duncan winner, has said she supports Duncan’s put Canadian universities on notice that plan to increase the number of women- she is open to forcing the issue if university held CRCs. She has also lauded institutions leaders ignore their responsibilities to engage like the University of Toronto for holding

COVER STORY Canadian Innovation 18 News Spring 2018

outreach programs, including the Girls’ Leadership in Engineering Experience weekend for female high- school students.

“We have a lot of sexism I’m not

sure men and Molly Shoichet women are even aware of – on our campus and in our communities. Step one is to recognize there’s an issue and to talk about it, and step two is to do something “Until you about it,” Shoichet said in an interview with StartUp HERE Toronto last summer.

touch the Such structural changes are designed to create the conditions where more mid-career researchers—particularly money, people women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities and persons with disabilities— do not move” are applying and being nominated.

“Until you touch the money, people do not move,” says Dr. Nadia Octave, a medical physicist at Centre-Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec and an outspoken champion for women in STEM. “Minister Duncan has set very clear expectations and is forcing the universities to pay attention ... We need to take advantage of this moment to make real change on the ground.”

Early signs of change

Though early days, there are positive signs of systemic change at academic institutions. Universities Canada, the organization representing universities across the country, recently released a

COVER STORY Canadian Innovation 19 News Spring 2018

five-year strategy, called the Action Plan for Inclusive Excellence, which includes a commitment to collect and publicly disclose demographics on under-represented groups.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research have also developed equity frameworks and strategies. CIHR has made unconscious-bias training mandatory for all peer reviewers. And, major universities like Waterloo have committed to setting firm targets for improved gender equality and diversity at their institutions.

“I am really impressed with Justin Trudeau and happy he appointed Minister Duncan. We are encouraged as researchers because she understands the issues. She discussed Dr. Lesley Shannon, the elephant in the room and now Associate Professor, School of more and more women are talking and Engineering, Simon Fraser University taking action,” says Dr. Melanie Martin, Director, Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Centre at the University of Winnipeg.

Dr. Lesley Shannon, Associate Professor, at Simon Fraser University’s School of Engineering Science and an advocate for women in engineering, says top- down leadership and actions are essential “because universities do not change quickly. They are institutions and they are huge… You need a stick to get

Dr. Melanie Martin, Director of the Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Centre at the University of Winnipeg. Canadian Innovation 20 News Spring 2018

things going and make them the norm.” for another year. When I returned I had Martin also stressed the importance of to scramble to build up my lab and start role models in STEM. “In my lab we are publishing again while my husband was all women and Indigenous researchers. already a Tier 1 (Canada Research) Chair.” As a professor, I have attracted more women to the field because I am visible.” “We need to address the full spectrum from primary school onwards to overcome the Martin cautioned however that the challenges effects of bias,” Martin added. “When CV’s are complex and the solutions not simple. come in it is still Bob and Dave that get hired, She noted that it’s still “incredibly difficult” while Molly and Mohamed are overlooked.” to raise a family as a scientist. “I was on bedrest during my pregnancy, and after maternity leave I continued to breastfeed With files from Kelly Nolan

 APPOINTED CANADA’S FIRST GENDER-BALANCED CABINET Liberal

 APPOINTED MORE WOMEN, government VISIBLE MINORITIES, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO CANADA’S SENATE gender

 APPOINTED KIRSTY DUNCAN AS MINISTER OF SCIENCE initiatives  AN ADDITIONAL $1.4 BILLION Since coming to OVER THREE YEARS, STARTING IN 2018-19, IN NEW FINANCING FOR power November 2015 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH  NAMED DR. MONA NEMER AS THE BDC CANADA’S NEW AND FIRST FEMALE CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISOR  60,000 NEW STUDENT WORK PLACEMENTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE  CREATED THE CANADA-UNITED YEARS, INCLUDING MORE CO-OP STATES COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT  IMPLEMENTED GENDER- PLACEMENTS FOR STUDENTS IN STEM OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND BASED ANALYSIS PLUS (GBA+) IN AND BUSINESS PROGRAMS BUSINESS LEADERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES, INCLUDING A GENDER STATEMENT FOR BUDGET 2017  LAUNCHED THE $70-MILLION WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY  SIGNED A MEMORANDUM FUND THROUGH THE BUSINESS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE  LAUNCHED THE CANCODE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF CANADA US AND MEXICO TO PROMOTE PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE MORE (BDC) AND SUBSEQUENTLY WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND YOUNG WOMEN TO PURSUE CAREERS INCREASED IT TO $200-MILLION THE GROWTH OF WOMEN-OWNED IN STEM IN BUDGET 2018 ENTERPRISES IN NORTH AMERICA

COVER STORY Canadian Innovation 21 News Spring 2018

TEACHING COMPUTERS EMPATHY

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 22 News Spring 2018

Lana Novikova, Founder, Heartbeat Ai

By CarolAnne Black

Lana Novikova is on a mission to teach marketing to help organizations better computers to “read” your emotions. know their customers, employees and patients – by understanding how they feel. Why is this important? Her Toronto start-up, Heartbeat Ai, is connecting Heartbeat Ai’s award-winning platform the dots between artificial intelligence, analyzes text – in near real-time – to cognitive sciences, consumer research and extract emotional words and phrases

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 23 News Spring 2018

“We need to put humans at the centre of AI.”

Lana Novikova, Heartbeat Ai

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 24 News Spring 2018

which are then grouped to recognize the currently working with Heartbeat Ai is using writer’s emotions. Text can be extracted empathetic questions and comments developed by from any source, including open-ended Heartbeat Ai to improve its customer service. survey questions, call centre transcripts, customer feedback, product reviews and As Novikova explains, technology typically has employee comments, and then turned into a high IQ and a low EQ (emotional quotient). a user-friendly dashboard within minutes. “We need to put humans at the centre of Ai,” The software is designed to recognize she says. Her focus is on a benevolent Ai – how 99 complex emotions, which are then applications can use empathy to support users. clustered into nine primary feelings – Joy, Love, Trust, Anger, Fear, Disgust, When training their algorithm, (Novikova Sadness, Surprise and Void (a lack of calls it “training the baby”), Heartbeat emotion). Novikova’s goal is to get at the AI’s method has been full supervision: “deep why” underpinning our decisions. psychologists and psycholinguists assigning meaning and emotional categories A market researcher by trade, Novikova to over 20,000 words and phrases. realized that asking open-ended questions gave deeper feedback than the “AI absorbs what we put in it,” she says. This commonly used closed-ended questions. technique ensures Heartbeat’s analyses She says that while the information are unbiased. she received was invaluable, what she lacked was a way to analyze this big data. The future for Heartbeat Ai is to test deep learning algorithms that will integrate “I realized what I needed and what the industry contextual meanings of words and phrases, and needed was a tool that will take all this to help the algorithm learn the connections text, all the words and stories, and separate between emotions and needs or motivations. them into meaningful chunks. And for me, the meaningful chunks were emotions.” Novikova, who grew up in the then Soviet country of Kyrgyzstan before immigrating In 2017, Heartbeat Ai launched its full to the United States and then to Canada Enterprise SaaS (software as a service) and in 1999, hopes to one day see an eventual API (application programming interface) to breakdown of barriers between people and help businesses integrate these new applications cultures, and she sees empathy as the key. into their operations. Its first clients came on board after Heartbeat Ai’s prototype won “When you see how other people feel, you’re the 2016 Insight Innovation Competition more likely to build compassion rather than for Market Research in Amsterdam. to judge.”

All companies and organizations have a vested interest in knowing how people feel when they look at or consume a product. For example, an insurance company Canadian Innovation 25 News Spring 2018

CCAB aims to grow Toronto’s biotech community

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

“Toronto is home to a vibrant and prolific commercializing antibody technology healthcare and life sciences community from the University of Toronto and the led by academic hospitals, world-class organization will now look at assisting research institutions, top scientists, and a in the creation of companies around strong start-up ecosystem” (Jan 16, 2017; that technology and in new areas.” Melinda Richter, former Head of JLABS) Under Verhagen’s leadership, CCAB’s With a wealth of world-class researchers technical expertise will also expand to help and continuing investment into its start- these young companies and the research up ecosystem, Toronto has provided fertile community as it launches C-Lab, its custom ground for building the biotechnology sector antibody and protein production service, and in the province/nation. Since its start in begins distribution 2014, the Centre for the Commercialization of reagent antibodies of Antibodies and Biologics (CCAB) has from its portfolio. focused on helping academic researchers move their discoveries towards validated, Beyond CCAB, marketable biotherapeutics. The company is Verhagen’s vision now set to expand its role in this growing area. is also intended to impact the In late 2017, Robert Verhagen took the larger Canadian helm of CCAB as CEO, bringing more biotechnology than 20 years of business and leadership Robert Verhagen community. experience in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics fields to the organization. “Previously, Canada has focused on bringing in large pharma companies to support the When describing his vision for CCAB, biotech ecosystem in Toronto. We’d like Verhagen said, “I’m looking forward to to help bridge the gap that start-ups face building on CCAB’s accomplishments in attracting interest from large pharma and strengths. It has had success in while growing the business skills of the

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 26 News Spring 2018

Antibody production and purification at C-Lab

people involved. If we have talented, smart companies and, in 20-30 years, Toronto people who are successful in building a will have the research and business talent company, Toronto gains the much needed to drive the industry. This, in turn, will expertise and talent needed to repeat this”. attract money and the big players in industry”.

Even when companies relocate, Verhagen With this outlook, CCAB aims to help enrich said the people that work there often the talent pool and shift traditional thinking remain.“In this light, if CCAB can help away from attracting pharma from else- train C-level executives, they will have where, towards supporting Canadian-built the skills and drive to each build more pharma success.

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 27 News Spring 2018

New Brunswick turns fish and forests into high tech opportunities

Atlantic Canada’s increasing success fish processing plants in New Brunswick on the biotech and life sciences front in alone. Why are we not working more with the the last decade is a true story of finding entire industry (both big and small players) to the sweet spot of where old meets new. look at the collective opportunities through technology and data analytics to innovate?” Take New Brunswick for example: “We’ve seen consistent growth over the last five Seagrave points to Maritime Innovation, years,” says Meaghan Seagrave, CEO of JD Irving Limited’s new lab in BioNB. We’ve begun to understand just Sussex, NB, as a perfect example of how hugely important it is to find ways how biotechnology is transforming to take advantage of the opportunities to legacy industries in New Brunswick. innovate in our traditional industries in a manner that increases output but addresses “We think of them as a traditional forest the global move towards greenhouse gas company, but people would be shocked reduction and minimizing climate change.” to understand the analytics and the Seagrave credits much of this growth science around the genomics of the to the familiar theme of collaboration. trees, the opportunities of taking the “Finding ways to work better together as data and using it to grow trees bigger, opposed to institution against institution faster, stronger, and then implementing or province against province is beginning even robotics and AI into the sector.” to give us real competitive advantage.” While New Brunswick is well known for For Seagrave this shift requires looking at both traditional industries like forestry and fishing, the region and its opportunities differently. Seagrave says it has much more to offer. “You take a look at Atlantic Canada and we’ve got all these hidden gems with so “We’ve got the oldest computer science much opportunity to do things bigger and department in North America at the better—like fish processing. We’ve got a 115 University of New Brunswick. We have

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 28 News Spring 2018

“We’ve got the oldest computer science department in North America at the University of New Brunswick. We have the largest percentage of engineers per capita in all of Canada in New Brunswick and we have the largest number of water technology companies in North America just in and around the Fredericton area. If you look at little pieces like these and link them together we have a huge opportunity.”

Meaghan Seagrave, BioNB

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 29 News Spring 2018

Sugarbeet. Photo: BioNB

the largest percentage of engineers per capita in all of Canada in New Brunswick and we have the largest number of water technology companies in North America just in and around the Fredericton area. If you look at little pieces like these and link them together we have a huge opportunity.”

It makes Atlantic Canada and New Brunswick in particular, a really interesting place to bring business, do business and grow business in North America. There are few places in the world that have access to the plethora of natural resources or diversity of research capacity necessary to support these opportunities.

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 30 News Spring 2018

What makes Atlantic Canada a hotbed for bio and life sciences?

Over the past decade Canada has become a Despite all the innovative work coming global leader in life sciences and biotechnology out of the region, one of the most innovation and commercialization. The frequently asked questions to biotech sector’s steady growth is largely due to and life-sciences organizations is “Why its solid base of expertise and continued are you located in Atlantic Canada?” investment in world-leading research. And while biotechnology innovation can be found And while there’s not just one answer, across the country, Atlantic Canada has the reasoning does stem from a regional become a hotbed of activity and is leading uniqueness and an inherent entrepreneurial the country in key bio and life-sciences areas. spirit that drives collaboration, partnership and a belief that our tiny little region “The region has seen over $1 billion dollars on the East Coast of Canada can in exits and follow-on investment over the compete and win on the global stage. past few years in this sector,” said Scott Moffitt, managing director of BioNova, Nova Supported by federal and provincial Scotia’s Life Science Association. “Being organizations including Springboard responsive, nimble and knowledgeable Atlantic, BioNova, BioNB, the PEI has helped us to get to this point.” BioAlliance and NATI, the region’s continued growth in bio and life sciences Today, Atlantic Canada is home to over doesn’t show signs of slowing down. 150 bioscience companies and 25 research organizations that are at the forefront of “The demand for these technologies and global research in human health, medical new solutions is accelerating, says Rory technologies and diagnostics, marine Francis, CEO of the PEI BioAlliance. “And biology, vaccine diagnostics, pharmaceutical we are well positioned to be part of that.” and therapeutics, animal and fish health products, and agricultural technology, Atlantic Canada is home to many innovative including a strong potato research cluster. companies driving innovative research and

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 31 News Spring 2018

Photo: PEI BioAlliance

development in key areas of bio and life And, he adds, that starts with our sciences. Despite representing just 5% of ability to work together as a sector. the Canadian population, the region has This evolution of the Atlantic bio and continued to punch above its weight in life science sector leverages a history of attracting new opportunities, including scientific ingenuity and an entrepreneurial Natural Products Canada – one of just two bio and self-reliant spirit – it has created a Centres of Excellence for Commercialization dynamic environment for innovation. and Research (CECR) in Canada. “We are not creating a sector from scratch here; This is in no small part due the world- we are building on 150 years of research and class research talent and expertise from the innovation in traditional industries that we region’s 20+ universities and colleges, the know very well. That’s a base that not many two dozen research institutes dedicated to regions have or understand,” says Meaghan supporting the region’s bio-based industries Seagrave, executive director of BioNB. and a regional understanding that moving ideas to commercializable opportunities “The sky’s the limit,” says Doris Grant, is key to growing the sector and region. director for Industry Liaison and Innovation at Dalhousie University. “Collaboration is “It’s not enough just to do the research,” at the core of everything we do and having says Francis. “There’s a lot of discipline the whole ecosystem working together and and a lot of understanding required recognizing this sector for the opportunity to make this economically impactful.” that it is only motivates us further.”

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 32 News Spring 2018

Industry partnerships at core of unique BIOTIC model

INNOVATOR SPOTLIGHT

When the National Research Council BIOTIC (BIOmedical Translational Imaging (NRC) announced a restructuring in Centre) is a multi-site imaging centre that is 2012, the potential for the loss of key embedded in the two leading research and teaching hospitals in Nova Scotia.

A core research facility of the health centres, BIOTIC provides expertise in all facets of imaging R&D and collaborates on commercial development projects with industry partners as well as R&D projects with a number of institutions.

Another shining example of the growing success coming out of Atlantic Canada’s bio and life- sciences sector is BIOTIC’s unique partnership model to research. It’s a model that just doesn’t exist in other markets.

“For us it’s not all about the research capabilities in Atlantic Canada equipment and experts,” says Denise was a real possibility. But in true Atlantic LaLanne, Biotic Director of Innovation Canadian fashion, the industry came Services. “We marry together the cutting- together to look at the opportunity and, edge technology with a project management through that process, BIOTIC was born. philosophy that allows companies to

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 33 News Spring 2018

move ideas forward. A key part of our healthcare providers and research difference is that industry partnership organizations to help commercialize is at the core of how we are structured.” products with the potential to advance our understanding and treatment of disease.” This entrepreneurial and collaborative For BIOTIC, the key is continuing to use its spirit allows BIOTIC to work with research to apply the technology and translate some of the leading bio and life- that into changes that benefit healthcare. science companies in the world. “The long-term opportunities are very broad,” Heather Chalmers, General Manager says BIOTIC’s Science Lead, Dr. Steven for GE Healthcare Canada says their Beyea. “From more accurate diagnosis to collaboration with BIOTIC is able to improved economics through a reduction draw on the considerable expertise in in healthcare costs, these new technologies Nova Scotia to improve patient care for show signs of helping to change the way we the province and potentially the world. deliver healthcare.”

“GE Healthcare is keen to invest in collaborations that draw on the best capabilities from Canada’s leading

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 34 News Spring 2018

Mobilizing Canada’s Bioeconomy to Fight Climate Change

INNOVATOR SPOTLIGHT

One of the key challenges faced by the In another BFN project, a team led by bioeconomy is the provision of competitively- University of British Columbia engineering priced, high-quality biomass. BioFuelNet professor Dr. Shahab Sokhansanj developed Canada (BFN) is building on this a novel, energy-efficient process for steam- insight and on its past accomplishments treating wood pellets. The process yields to develop and grow the bioeconomy. unusually strong and durable pellets tailor- made for conversion into usable bioproducts One exciting project has opened up the such as biochar and biocoal. Global Bio- prospect of growing a “super-crop” with Coal Energy Inc. is partnering with this multiple value streams. By growing willow BFN research team to commercialize the trees tilted at 45 degrees, BFN researchers breakthrough process. Transforming raw made scientific biomass into a standardized form, such as the advances in the pellet, significantly facilitates transportation biology behind and use, whether within Canada or overseas. the cellulose-rich “tension wood” As these examples show, BFN’s strength that contributes high quality biomass for lies in building bridges between researchers enhanced biofuel yield. Under the supervision and entrepreneurs from across Canada who of Université de Montréal adjunct professor share similar objectives that strengthen the Michel Labrecque, the scientists identified bioeconomy. That is why BFN took one step willow varieties and growth techniques further earlier this year to create a cluster that increased the trees’ capacity to clean focused on commoditizing agricultural up polluted soil. They also exploited the biomass to fight climate change. Read more biochemistry behind this high-tolerance about BioMass Canada on our website. capacity for substantially increased green Policy-makers, industry representatives and chemicals production (bioproducts). the academic community need to better

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 35 News Spring 2018

understand the bioeconomy and advanced About us biofuels in particular. That is why BFN created its online Advanced Biofuels Course. BioFuelNet Canada (BFN) is a federally- Consisting of 17 lectures by Canada’s top incorporated, not-for-profit organization and biofuels experts, this course provides decision former Network of Centres of Excellence makers with the necessary information with a proven record of accomplishment to better understand the challenges and in bioeconomy research and innovation. opportunities that our bioeconomy offers. Since 2012, BFN integrated the efforts of This month alone, 25 federal government over 230 researchers from across Canada, representatives benefited from this unique working with 29 post-secondary institutions collection of know-how in an on-site course. and 127 industry partners. Our vision is the emergence of a Canadian bioeconomy based Looking ahead, BFN is ready to catalyze on advanced biofuels and bioproducts that are more partnerships that will play an active socially, economically and environmentally role in addressing the climate and energy sustainable and globally competitive. challenges that we face. We cannot do this in isolated silos!

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 36 News Spring 2018

Fredericton NB’s ecosystem is driving the city forward

As the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes across Atlantic Canada, the city of Fredericton continues to work hard at cultivating a start-up ecosystem that builds on the city’s early successes in key areas like biosciences, ICT and data security.

Most communities that want to grow their start-up ecosystems rely on regional and provincial services to help. By contrast, the city of Fredericton’s economic development agency Ignite Fredericton has invested significantly in its Planet Hatch accelerator to provide a high level of infrastructure to its business start-up community.

Ignite and Planet Hatch have worked with the other key resources in Fredericton to create a true start-up ecosystem that is paying big dividends.

Laurie Guthrie, economic development and marketing specialist at Ignite Fredericton, says that while this investment is paying off for Fredericton, they continue to get asked why they focus on small start up companies.

“Thanks to our tracking we’re able to Lurie Guthrie, Economic Development and Marketing Specialist, substantively say that these investments Ignite Fredericton resulted in 17 new homes, and 48,000 movies and 120 new vehicles purchased

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 37 News Spring 2018

in our community. That’s when people get it and have that aha moment that this is important for everyone.”

And while the focus on the start-up ecosystem is helping to drive Fredericton’s economy, Guthrie says the real intent of their programs is to propel the provincial and regional economy forward.

“Our programs are open to anyone who wants to use them,” says Guthrie. “I think we need to build on that – growing the strength of what we have rather than spending money trying to duplicate it in every community.”

As a result, many companies and individuals from across the province (including new Canadian immigrants) continue to learn and grow thanks to Planet Hatch’s programs and services.

It’s for all these reasons Fredericton was named Canada’s Startup Community in 2016. Despite this success Guthrie says they won’t be resting on their laurels.

“We’re going to work hard to improve our services with what we’re calling Planet Hatch 2.0,” says Guthrie. “We’ll bring in new partners, continue to focus on international student retention and we’ll continue to focus on creating a culture of entrepreneurship with our students.”

CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 38 News Spring 2018

Government selects supercluster winners

The Canadian government has selected five supercluster Inproposals that In will share $950 million in funding In for the next five years under the Innovation theSuperclusters the Initiative. The five winning bids the bested four other superclusters in an newsopen competition Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions, announcednews one of the successful proposals In under the $950-million Innovation Superclusters InitiativeIn at the McMaster Innovation that took some Parknews in February. n i n e m o n t h s In t o c o m p l e t e . Nine shortlisted  Ontario’s Next Generation superclusters were invited to submit full Manufacturing (NGM) or advanced proposals in fall 2017, after the original call manufacturing supercluster, with members the mostly locatedthe in southern Ontario, will work to participate attracted 50 Letters of Intent last summer. theon innovative solutions for a wide range of industry sectors, using big data, intelligent The five winners are: machines and the Internet of Things to scale news and improve productionnews efficiency.  Atlantic Canada’s Oceans Supercluster will focus on investingnews in digital ocean  British Columbia’s Digital Technology supercluster will work on projects technologies for aquaculture, capture fishery, offshore oil and gas, and clean energy in order designed to boost Canada’s precision Into maximize the sustainable development of health, manufacturingIn and resource and the ocean economy. Inenvironment technologies by advancing data collection, analysis and visualization.  Quebec’s SCALE AI or artificial intelligence-powered Supply Chains  Saskatchewan’s Protein Innovations supercluster will focus on the use of artificial Canada (PIC) supercluster will work to the position Canadathe as a top supplier of plant- intelligence and data science in supply chains, particularly in the retail,the manufacturing and based proteins and related products. newsinfrastructure sectors. news CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADINGnews EDGE Canadian Innovation 39 News Spring 2018

Australia and Canadian firm sign cannabis R&D deal

Canopy Growth Corp. , Smith Falls, Ont., has “With this important MOU, we hope signed a deal with the Victorian State Government to increase innovation and institutional Into further develop researchIn and technical understandingIn in the Australian medical capabilities in the production of medical cannabis cannabis market to ensure that our globally in Australia. The research agreement between recognized genetics are available in Australia for research and commercial purposes.” the the theVictoria was the first state in Australia to legalize access to medical cannabis for patients in the news news newsregion, and the state In In Inwill use its bioscience research capabilities to work with Canopy Growth to identify and develop optimal plant strains for a range the the theof therapeutic uses. Specific capabilities include genome Canopy Growth and Australia’s department sequencing, comprehensive metabolome newsof agriculture will focusnews on medical analysis andnews chemo-typing, as well as applications for cannabis genetics, strain technologies for accelerated precision breeding. development, cultivation, and processing. Canopy Growth has emerged as the world’s Stabilized cannabis genetics from Canopy largest cannabis company. InGrowth’s Canadian operationsIn have already In been successfully imported into the country and are growing in the state of Victoria.

“This agreement allows us to combine our expertise in medical cannabis with thethe world-leading biosciencethe research the capabilities of Agriculture Victoria,” said newsMark Zekulin, president,news Canopy Growth. news CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 40 News Spring 2018

First NEOMED $5.9 million will spin off takes aim help grow big at cancer data businesses in In InAtlanticIn Canada The NEOMED Institute, a Montreal- The Government of Canada is investing based R&D institute, has spun off its nearly $6 million in an $18-million project first company in advance of clinical that brings together universities, industry trials to test a new therapy for several and government in a research partnership cancers, including brain, breast, lung and to grow the regional ocean economy. theleukemia. NEOMED Therapeuticsthe 1 Inc. the is seeking to raise funds to advance its lead Led by Dalhousie University, the project molecule – NEO2734 – through human will establish a shared computer analytics clinical trials beginning early 2019 and to platform known as DeepSense that will progress its clinical biomarker program. help Atlantic Canadian companies news newsto develop newsand commercialize big InNEOMED licensed the originalIn technology data analyticsIn products and services. in 2014 from privately-held Epigenetix Inc. which was founded on research Businesses will collaborate with scientists developed by Dr. Claes Wahlestedt, to develop their products and services using associate dean and centre director for high performance computing infrastructure Therapeutic Innovation at University and personnel support provided by IBM theof Miami Miller Schoolthe of Medicine. Canada, an in-kindthe contribution valued at $9,838,000. Dalhousie University and the NEOMED has also appointed Christine Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) are also Lennon as its president and CEO to lead investing a total of $2,133,151 in the project. newsthe firm’s transition fromnews an epigenetic news inhibitor program to a clinical stage company. Lennon has held a number of leadership roles in large pharma, biotech and in venture capital, most recently at InNovartis Oncology in CanadaIn and in Europe, In Shire and Neurochem (now Bellus Health).

Both privately-held Miami, Florida-based Epigenetix Inc and NEOMED Institute will be founding shareholders in NEOMED theTherapeutics 1. the the news news news CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 41 News Spring 2018

RBC opening cybersecurity lab in Waterloo In In In the the the Innews Innews Innews the the the

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)  Privacy enhancing technologies, led newsis opening a cybersecuritynews lab and by Ian Goldbergnews, will focus on the safety and investing $1.78 million into research at security of consumer metadata, including the University of Waterloo to develop identity and location. advanced cybersecurity and privacy tools. In In Post-quantumIn cryptography, led by The funding will support research in the David Jao, will focus on a unique blend of following areas: pure mathematics and computer science that produces a data encryption so strong  Data-driven software defined that quantum computers cannot crack it. security, led by Raouf Boutaba, will focus theon detecting and mitigatingthe security the threats using machine learning and AI. news news news CANADIAN TECH AT THE LEADING EDGE Canadian Innovation 42 News Spring 2018 UOIT EXPERT EXAMINES HOW WEARABLE TECH WILL SHAPE

TRAILBLAZERS: DR. ISABEL PEDERSEN HUMANITY Canadian Innovation 43 News Spring 2018

Dr. Isabel Pedersen, Canada Research Chair, University of Ontario Institute of Technology

By CarolAnne Black

Dr. Isabel Pedersen isn’t shy about asking Technology (UOIT), much of her time uncomfortable questions when it comes is devoted to launching a new institute to emerging technologies that can be that addresses the subjective, rhetorical, carried, implanted, ingested or worn by cultural, ethical and political challenges humans. In fact, she’s made a career of it. posed by these new technologies. In doing so, her research teams will address how The Canada Research Chair (CRC) in wearables, or embodied technologies, will Digital Life, Media and Culture has been shift our reality, change how we interact interested in human-computer interactions with others and participate in digital culture. since her teenage years playing Pac-Mac in the Yonge Street arcades of downtown Toronto. In late 2017, Pedersen’s Tier 2 CRC was renewed for another five years. That funding, Today as a researcher and associate professor combined with a grant from the Canada at the University of Ontario Institute of Foundation for Innovation, is enabling her

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 44 News Spring 2018

Dr. Isabel Pedersen’s focus in on a benevolent AI – how applications can use empathy to support users.

“We need to put humans at the centre of AI”

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 45 News Spring 2018

to transform the UOIT Digital Culture and biometric feedback, Pedersen’s team is trying Media (Decimal) Lab that she founded into an to understand how these new technologies interdisciplinary institute with two locations. will, and are perceived to, affect us. One will be based at UOIT’s Oshawa, Ontario campus and a second will open in Toronto, For example, her lab developed an art- which Pedersen described as a hub for based project that enables visitors to start-ups developing wearable technology, experience art in a new and different way. giving the lab easy connections within Called iMind, the application explores an industry. The institute will also formalize “alternative dialogue” between the viewer, collaborations over the next five years with the art piece and the artist. It encourages other Canadian and international universities. participants to ‘select’ which art piece to view, based on their interpreted emotional state. “Decimal Lab is a digital humanities lab. It’s about humans before technology, “You use it to select paintings based on your rather than the other way around,” says emotional output, read by a wearable device,” Pedersen who earned her Masters and she explains. Digitized paintings from the New PhD in human-computer interaction York Metropolitan Museum were pre-coded design at the University of Waterloo. with emotions, and a headset worn by the user reads brain activity and selects what painting The Decimal Lab conducts speculative to show based on the user’s emotional output. research, tracking technology that exists only as predictions or in labs The iMind art installation is designed (disruptive tech) and when a market to investigate questions like: Is the has just appeared (emergent tech). computer really able to read my emotions, and have my emotions been “Right now I’m looking at brain-computer reduced into a pale version of how I feel? interfaces and brain implants,” says Pedersen, who published a book in 2013 entitled iMind mimics a future technology in which “Ready to Wear: A Rhetoric of Wearable our smartphones constantly read our Computers and Reality-Shifting Media”. emotions and change their output as a result. Her research goes beyond today’s wearable The most common question Pedersen gets gadgets to study the effects of these emerging asked: “Will we be covered in technology in technologies on human communication, our future?” While she can’t predict exactly social interaction and human thought. when this will become reality, she is confident. “It will happen.” In particular, she is investigating how artificial intelligence and brain implants will be governed, and how popular culture is either celebrating or paranoid about the possible consequences of adopting these technologies. While much of the focus on wearable tech has been on the physicality of the human body using sensing devices and

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 46 News Spring 2018

A few of the women behind Canada’s global leadership in AI

Doina Precup, DeepMind

Currently: Head, DeepMind Montreal; Photo: Owen Egan Associate Professor, Computer Science, McGill University; Senior Fellow, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research

Expertise: Dr. Precup’s passion “I look forward to continue training for science was ignited as a child the next generations of machine growing up in Romania watching learning researchers at MILA sci-fi movies. Today, she is a world- (Montreal Institute for Learning renowned expert in the field of Algorithms) and McGill, fostering reinforcement learning, a type diversity and inclusion in the of machine learning based on research community through AI behavioural psychology. In essence, projects for social good, and how can one get a software “agent” building further the Montreal AI to act in such a way as to maximize ecosystem.” its rewards, which is critical to having computers that can plan and reason.

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 47 News Spring 2018

The New Canada Science and Technology Museum

INNOVATOR SPOTLIGHT

In most people’s minds, the words ‘innovation’ November after a three-year renewal process, and ‘museum’ don’t often go together. completed on time and on budget. Visitors now find a modern, world-class museum But innovations in how museums featuring more than 7,400 m2 (80,000 sq. present the old and in how they engage ft.) of completely redesigned exhibition space. visitors can profoundly change those visitors’ expectations and experiences. A major goal of the Museum before it closed for renewal was to focus on encouraging youth Just over 50 years ago, the Museum’s to pursue studies and careers in the STEM founding director set the tone for the then fields: science, technology, engineering, and brand new Canada Science and Technology mathematics. Innovation requires creativity. Museum when it opened in 1967. “I see The Museum added the arts into the mix and no reason why learning shouldn’t be fun. now champions the synergy of the STEAM This is a swinging place,” he declared. subjects to more effectively inspire the next generation of innovators. Winners of the Launched in November of Canada’s second annual STEAM Horizon Awards centennial year, the Museum revolutionized for youth will be announced this spring. how museums interact with the public. Glass cases, barriers, and “Please Do Not Whether it is the voices of those who have Touch” signs were replaced in favour of been overlooked in the past or the complexity presenting artifacts in active, innovative, of technological progress with its impact and engaging ways that were complemented on the planet, the new Museum tells more by interactive experiences, with the Crazy nuanced stories. It is also letting artifacts Kitchen becoming an instant favourite. present themselves as beautiful, inspiring, and unique objects that have their own The new Canada Science and Technology stories to recount and that do not have Museum in Ottawa opened this past to be boxed into a historical timeline.

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 48 News Spring 2018

Children experiment and exercise their creativity in ZOOOM, the Museum’s new Children’s Innovation Zone

global stories of science and technology. The Canada Science and Technology The new Canada Science and Technology Museum along with the Canada Agriculture Museum opened in Ottawa last November and Food Museum and the Canada Aviation during Canada 150. and Space Museum are Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation. The Museums are about driving curiosity, discovery, and innovation, all while delivering fun and unexpected moments as visitors are immersed in both Canadian and

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 49 News Spring 2018

A few of the women behind Canada’s global leadership in AI

Joëlle Pineau, Facebook AI Lab

Currently: Director, Facebook Artificial Photo: Laurie Devine, McGill University Intelligence Research (FAIR) lab, McGill University; Associate Professor and William Dawson Scholar, McGill University where she co-directs the Reasoning and Learning Lab

Expertise: “Much the same way that it takes a village to raise a child, you need As co-director of McGill’s Reasoning an entire community of supporters and Learning Lab, Dr. Pineau focuses to champion the growing role of on developing new models and women in STEM and inspire the girls algorithms designed to shape the who will follow in their footsteps. behaviour of robots and machines I’ve been fortunate throughout my to better respond to human needs. journey to have people who’ve been For example, she was actively there to shine a light on what was involved in the Nursebot project, possible, and I’m encouraged by which developed a nursing-assistant initiatives like Choose Science that robot prototype that provided help will motivate more women and girls and companionship to elderly to pursue education and careers in individuals, and SmartWheeler, a STEM.” (Choose Science is an online robotic wheelchair that can be campaign that encourages women operated by people with severe in science to share their stories with mobility impairments. new generations of young women)

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 50 News Spring 2018

Gender diversity takes centre stage in federal budget

The Liberal government is focusing on structural changes to increase the number of women in STEM and high tech.

By Mark Henderson

The Canadian government’s 2018 budget visible minority and newcomer women may go down in history as the first national face in finding employment in science, feminist economic blueprint. Equality Growth: technology engineering and mathematics A Strong Middle Class introduces a bold occupations,” states the budget, released series of initiatives to boost the participation February 27. “This research will fill of women and under-represented groups important gaps in knowledge as to how in science, business and society at large. to achieve greater diversity and inclusion among the high-paying jobs of tomorrow.” From research funding to business support systems, the budget lays out a roadmap for Government officials have cited the stubbornly how the government will institutionalize low participation of women in science, much of its diversity and inclusion agenda. technology, engineering and mathematics This includes measures to encourage, (STEM) disciplines as one of the main reasons or in some cases mandate, research for its feminist budget. Women represent just organizations and companies to increase one-third of those studying engineering, math the participation by and support of women. and computer science and on average they earn $9,000 less than their male counterparts. And the government will be monitoring whether these actions lead to results. The The budget’s signature initiative for budget includes new funding to track the research community is an historic gender, diversity and inclusion — data that increase in funding to the three granting can be used to keep government, industry councils — $925 million over five years and academia’s collective feet to the fire. to be shared by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), “One of the first projects this would support Social Sciences and Humanities Research is an analysis of the unique challenges Council (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 51 News Spring 2018

“One of the first projects this would support is an analysis of the unique challenges visible minority and newcomer women face in finding employment in science, technology engineering and mathematics

occupations” Federal Budget 2018

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 52 News Spring 2018

of Health Research (CIHR). An additional in the workforce — Canada could add $275 million is earmarked for “research $150 billion to its economy by 2026.” that is international, interdisciplinary, fast-breaking and higher-risk”. Supporting women entrepreneurs

“With this investment, the granting councils In addition to academic research, the will be tasked with developing new plans, government also promises to incorporate strategies and targets to ensure greater greater diversity in its business innovation collaboration between NSERC, CIHR and programs. In December, the government SSHRC and support for interdisciplinary announced that its new Venture Capital research, as well as plans to achieve Catalyst Initiative will require applicants greater diversity among research funding “to demonstrate how they will improve recipients, including improved support gender representation among venture capital for women, underrepresented groups and fund managers and portfolio companies”. early-career researchers,” states the budget. Additional measures in the February budget Supporting early career researchers include:

Significant new funding — $20 million  $105 million over five years to over five years — for the Canada Research Canada’s regional development agencies Chairs (CRC) program is tied to improving to support a Women’s Entrepreneurship the outcomes for early-career researchers Strategy and increasing the number of women nominated to hold new chairs. The  $1.4 billion over three years for granting councils are expected to take women entrepreneurs through the Business steps to ensure early-career researcher Development Bank of Canada. This awards go to scientists “whose diversity commitment is in addition to an increase in better represents Canada’s population”. BDC’s Women in Tech fund to $200 million from $70 million Even new funding for the National Research Council is tied to requirements to include  $10 million over five years to connect more women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, women with expanded export services and persons with disabilities and visible minorities opportunities through the Business Women among its research staff and entrepreneurs in International Trade program supported through various programs.  Plans to introduce measures to increase The budget cites a McKinsey Global Institute the number of women who participate in study which estimates that “by taking steps to federal procurement from 10% to at least advance greater equality for women — such 15% as employing more women in technology and boosting women’s participation

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 53 News Spring 2018

A few of the women behind Canada’s global leadership in AI

Inmar Givoni, Uber ATG

Currently: Autonomy Engineering Inmar Givoni Manager at Uber ATG

Expertise: Dr. Givoni’s fascination and has been involved in several with brain functioning during a high initiatives, including developing school course sparked her ambition and delivering machine learning to become a neuroscientist. But it was workshops for high school girls. a course in machine learning while “There’s no point in trying to get at Hebrew University in Israel that more women into AI specifically. I persuaded her to change directions think the effort should be towards – from studying the brain to building getting women into STEM. From my machines that are as intelligent as perspective, it basically starts as humans. That new passion led her to soon as the baby’s born. When a the University of Toronto, one of the girl is given a shirt that reads ‘I’m a global leaders in AI research. After princess’ and the boy gets one that earning her Ph.D. in 2011, Dr. Givoni reads ‘I’m a hero’ it already sets decided to work in industry, rather a mindset of expectations for [the than academia, “because I feel what child] from society.” (Source: The I do has a more meaningful impact Review, DMZ Ryerson, Nov. 24, 2017) to people and society,” she said in a June 2016 interview. She continues to be passionate about the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in computer science and engineering,

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 54 News Spring 2018

Springboard Atlantic to play catalytic role in region’s new growth strategy

INNOVATOR SPOTLIGHT

Springboard Atlantic is poised to play It works with industry and government to a catalytic role in advancing the new pool the region’s expertise, knowledge and Atlantic Growth Strategy and helping to investment to better position Atlantic Canada drive the region’s economy forward, says to compete at a national and global level. the regional organization’s new CEO. Genge also sees a role for Springboard “If you look at the goals of the Atlantic in attracting inward investment to Growth Strategy, they align directly with Atlantic Canada. He notes that most our own mandate and our members efforts companies looking to expand into new to provide research and capabilities to solve jurisdictions are interested in more than significant problems, and help build great just incentives—they’re interested in companies,” says Daryl Genge, who took over regions that can help them innovate. the helm of the regional network in late 2017 after a career in government, academia and “Companies are looking for places that can industry. “Springboard is kind of a bridge. provide highly qualified people who can We can bring our members together to focus work with them to really expand their market on opportunities that benefit the whole presence,” says Genge. “They’re also looking region and not just individual institutions.” to work with partners who can help them continuously innovate—partners who are Springboard is a network of academic nimble and can offer world-class research and institutions designed to accelerate innovation facilities, so they can bring new products to and commercialization in Atlantic Canada. market faster. The Springboard network is

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 55 News Spring 2018

well positioned to work alongside government “We’re seeing growth in partnerships among agencies to really position ourselves as an universities, colleges and industry focused attractive place for this kind of investment.” on solving real world problems and making us more competitive,” he adds. “And, we’re Looking ahead, Genge says Atlantic Canada is seeing a significant increase in investment— well poised to take advantage on several fronts. particularly private-sector investment which just goes to recognize the great talent and “We’re scoring some exciting wins in Atlantic opportunities we have in this region.” Canada—most recently the ocean technology supercluster funding. The number of new tech companies starting up and scaling up is growing significantly. We don’t have to look too far in other areas like medicine, or in some of our more traditional industry sectors such as agriculture, to see the impact that our researchers are having.

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 56 News Spring 2018

A few of the women behind Canada’s global leadership in AI

Foteini Agrafioti, Chief Science Officer, Royal Bank of Canada; Photo: Borealis AI Head of Borealis AI

Currently: Chief Science Officer RBC R&D lab for fundamental and applied and Head of Borealis AI, an RBC research in machine learning. In 2017, Institute for Research she was named as one of Canada’s Expertise: Dr. Agrafioti is among “Top 40 under 40”. the dozens of young students who “I wasn’t really into engineering at first. have come to Canada to pursue I thought it was a male-dominated their dreams of a career in computer field and my perception at that time science and engineering AI. In 2006, was that engineers just operated she left her native Greece to pursue machinery and heavy equipment a Masters and then a Ph.D. at the all day. However, I listened to my University of Toronto’s Biosecurity Lab. parents, pursued my degree in In 2012, just one year after graduating, electrical engineering, and ended U of T named her “Inventor of the Year” up loving it. Engineering is a platform for her HeartID technology, which for so many things and it lives at uses an electrocardiogram to reliably the intersection of many disciplines. verify a person’s identity. She founded I’ve done projects in healthcare, a new Toronto company, Nymi, to fashion, arts, education and even commercialize the technology. psychology. The possibilities are In 2016, she joined RBC as head endless.” (Source: Canada Learning of Borealis AI, an RBC Institute for Code, STEM Profile Series, June 2015) Research – Canada’s first industrial

TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 57 News Spring 2018

Ingenium’s Women in STEM Initiative In In In the the the Innews Innews Innews the the Ingenium champions the engagement, advancement, and furtherance of women in STEM, such as those in the ground-breaking Homeward Bound initiative set againstthe the backdrop of Antarctica. Photo credit: Shelley Ball

Women have always made important young Canadians. Ingenium and its STEM newscontributions to science, technology, Initiative partnersnews also seek to shed light on engineering, and mathematicsnews (STEM). Yet persistent, and often implicit, gender biases. gender inequity often persists, especially at Supported by an Advisory Council and the highest levels of academia and industry. with partners the Canadian Museum of In Nature, The FranklinIn Institute, the Canadian The Women in STEM initiativeIn of Ingenium Association of Science Centres, and L’Oréal – Canada’s Museums of Science and Canada, Ingenium is combining public Innovation is a multi-pronged approach outreach methods and tools – including a designed to address the underrepresentation national travelling display, documentaries, of women in STEM and to contribute to a multi-faceted digital presence, and theefforts to achieve gender equity in these programming the – to support the engagement four fields. Ingenium theproposes celebrating and advancement of women in STEM. newsachievements and advocates inspiring news TRAILBLAZERS news Canadian Innovation 58 News Spring 2018

Games bring science to life

Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation is very active in the digital world, with several mobile games that bring science and artifacts to life. Three games Inof the Canada Aviation In and Space Museum In take players to the skies during the First World War. In a fourth, human space explorers establish thethe first permanent the settlement on Mars. the

The Canada Agriculture newsand Food Museum’s news I game Bee Odyssey invites In players to learn about news the important role that In bees play in nature as the bee navigates nature’s obstacles, and evades thepredators and pesticides. the

The Canada Science and the Technology Museum’s Artebots engages users newswith artifacts in fun, news exciting ways. Users news collect, test, explore, and create whatever they can Ace Academy: Skies of Fury is one of Ingenium’s free mobile games that bring imagine using artifacts In science and artifacts to life In from the museum’s extensive collection.In

All these mobile games are available for free download from the Museums’ websites, the theApp Store, and Google thePlay. the news news TRAILBLAZERS news Canadian Innovation 59 News Spring 2018

Carleton and India back women tech entrepreneurs

Carleton University and the All India the end of the year. NRI Startup India is Council for Technical Education contributing $1 million towards the initiative In(AICTE), India’s national regulator for In colleges and institutes,In have teamed up In all, 50 Canadian and 50 Indian startups to support women tech entrepreneurs. will be supported over the next five years. Carleton intends to replicate the model with The Canada-India Acceleration Program international partners in Africa and Brazil. (CIAP) will help Canadian women scale- theup their companies the in untapped markets the in cities across India. Support will come in the form of Innewsmentorships from Innews global entrepreneurs, news access to some 200 In incubators, links to corporations, potential seed funding theand internship the opportunities. A similar program the will send women entrepreneurs from India to Canada. news The CIAP program was announced in February in Mumbainews by Navdeep Bains (fourth from right), minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, during the Canadian government’s tripnews to India. CIAP will tap the expertise of existing InCarleton programs, including the Lead “CIAP will Inprepare Canadian women to Win incubator, Canada-India Centre entrepreneurs to develop skill sets and for Excellence (CICE) Inand the Centre for expand their businesses into the vast Indian Research and Education on Women and Work. market. At the same time, we will invite The five-year program partners with AICTE’s Indian women entrepreneurs to enter network of 10,500 colleges in India. The first the Canadian market with their unique theCanadian entrepreneurs will be selected businesses,” thesaid Pradeep Merchant, chair this spring through a national competition of CICE’s Governing Council. and are expected to arrivethe in India by news news TRAILBLAZERS news Canadian Innovation 60 News Spring 2018

Supporting women in STEM in developing countries

Canada’s International Development In related news, IDRC is offering a Research Centre (IDRC) has partnered $1.5-million grant to the Centro de Inwith UNESCO’s OrganizationIn for Women InvestigacionesIn y Estudios Superiores en in Science for the Developing World Antropologia Social (CIESAS) to fund up to (OWSD) to broaden support for early career 20 postdoctoral fellowships for Indigenous women scientists in developing countries. Mexican women pursuing studies in STEM. Jointly funded by IDRC and the Swedish While there have been demonstrated theInternational Developmentthe Cooperation improvementsthe in Indigenous peoples’ participation in higher education in Mexico in recent years, women in particular continue news news newsto face challenges in In In Inbecoming STEM leaders. There are also few opportunities for them to apply their skills and experience to mentor younger the the theIndigenous women and to benefit Indigenous communities. news news newsThe fellowships are intended to aid Chilufya Mwewa, PhD Student, Department of Physics, University of Cape Town, South Indigenous women Africa. Photo: IDRC researchers and Agency, the $15-million fellowship program students in launching their scientific Inwill support 140 doctoralIn and 60 early career careers andIn using their knowledge and women scientists in STEM in low and skills in STEM disciplines to benefit local middle-income countries. Scientists will communities through innovation and training. receive support and training to set up labs and to head research teams, and to transform their research into marketable projects. The thefirst call for applicationsthe will be published the in March 2018 and the first cohort of 20 newsfellows will be announcednews by October 2018. news TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 61 News Spring 2018

De Beers Canada Quebec to funds new host “world first” scholarships for UNESCO anti- Inwomen InradicalizationIn chair De Beers Canada has launched the first Three Quebec universities are launching four scholarships in a $639,000 four-year a new research chair that will act as initiative to support female students entering a centre of excellence for research on STEM programs in Canadian universities. radicalization and violent extremism. theThe first four, one-yearthe scholarships will The UNESCOthe chair will be led by a go to the University of Waterloo, which team of researchers from Concordia will receive a total of 16 through to 2020. University, Université de Sherbrooke and Université du Québec à Montréal. The De Beers Canada chief executive research centre will be led by scientific newsofficer Kim Truter saidnews the launch of director Dr. Saminews Aoun from Sherbrooke, Inthis scholarship programIn – part of the and include Inthree chairs, all recognized company’s three-year partnership with experts in the field: Dr. David Morin United Nations Women – is a significant (Sherbrooke), Dr. Ghayda Hassan (UQAM), step in enhancing female participation and Dr. Vivek Venkatesh (Concordia). in the mining and technical industries. “The scope of the projects conducted by the“Females are under-representedthe in many the Chair willthe extend beyond Quebec and technical industries, including mining, so we Canada to the rest of the world, as the must do more to create opportunities at all Chair relies on an international network stages of education and employment to remove of recognized partners from all sectors of newsbarriers and be more inclusive,”news said Truter. society who arenews involved in the prevention of radicalization leading to violence,” says Preferential consideration will be offered Aoun. “We already have close partnerships in to Indigenous students from areas in North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle the Northwest Territories and northern East and Latin America, and others to come.” InOntario where De BeersIn Canada has In mining operations. UNESCO currently supports 700 institutions in 116 countries to encourage inter-university the thecooperation aroundthe the world. news news news TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation 62 News Spring 2018

In In In the the the Innews Innews Innews the the the news news news

InOne of Canada’s leadingIn stem cell researchers InDr. Janet Rossant was one of five women internationally to receive the prestigious L’Oréal- UNESCO women in science award in March in Paris. A senior scientist at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, Rossant is being recognized for her contribution to the understanding of how tissues and organs are formed in the developing embryo – research that will help to combat birth defects theand other serious medicalthe conditions. “I hope tothe use this opportunity to encourage more girls globally to take up careers in science, math, newsengineering and medicine.news The future is theirs tonews grasp,” said Rossant. TRAILBLAZERS Canadian Innovation News Spring 2018

THE FACE OF CANADIAN SCIENCE IS CHANGING, AND IT’S STARTING WITH WOMEN AT THE TOP Role Dr. Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor, Canada Dr. Julie Payette, Governor General Dr. Molly Shoichet, Chief Scientist, Ontario Models Dr. Kirsty Duncan, Federal Science Minister Matter