Business

The 3rd Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) TestFest in Montréal
Over a hundred international mobile data experts attended the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) TestFest held in Montréal from 30 November to 8 December. OMA, an international forum designed to facilitate global adoption of mobile data services, includes some 400 mobile operators, device and network suppliers, information technology companies and content providers.

Expansion of the ICAO in Montréal
The growing volume of global air traffic has led to the expansion of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the oldest and largest Montréal-based international organization. Last month, Québec Minister of International Relations, Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, inaugurated the new offices of the Technical Co-operation Bureau of the organization, which is affiliated with the United Nations.

Health sciences: NIH meeting
Partnerships and discussions between Québec and the U.S. are flourishing in the health sciences sector. In association with BioQuébec and with the support of the Canadian Embassy in Washington, the Délégation générale du Québec (Québec Government Office) in New York organized a recent meeting in Montreal aimed at exploring cooperation opportunities with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), America’s premier health research organization. Approximately 60 Québec participants met with Steven M. Ferguson, NIH Director of Technology Development and Transfer.

Mission to India generates promising results
India is one of the high-priority emerging economies singled out in Québec’s international policy. Although active relations between Québec and India are recent, they are already very promising. On the heels of an initial visit less than a year ago by Premier Jean Charest, about 60 people from the worlds of business, research and education travelled to India in November as part of a major economic mission.

Research and innovation keys to economic development
To ensure its economic development in a highly competitive international context, Québec is concentrating more than ever on research and innovation. Over the next three years, the Government of Québec will invest close to a billion dollars to bolster public and private research and enhance infrastructure. These efforts are included in the new Québec research and innovation strategy unveiled recently by Premier Jean Charest.

Networking event at the Québec Government Office in London
A networking event organized by the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce was held on 7 November at the Québec Government Office in London. The theme centered on laws pertaining to information and communications technology in businesses. The two guest speakers were Robert Brown, Technical Director of DataSec, and Gordon Turner, a partner in the Roiter Zucker law firm and President of the Canadian Network for Employers UK.