Federal Science and Technology: The Pursuit of Excellence - Appendix

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Note: On December 12, 2003, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) was divided to create two separate departments, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of International Trade. This report covers activity for the former parent department, DFAIT.

Summary of the Science and Technology Program

Throughout 2003, DFAIT focussed its departmental resources in S&T through its network of S&T officers abroad and its Science and Technology Division by:

• building partnerships with other government departments and agencies;
  
  
• chairing the Interdepartmental Network on International S&T (INIST);
  
  
• helping Canadian technology-based companies and research institutions establish international R&D collaborations, including venture financing, with targeted countries;
  
  
• developing new S&T communications tools and products;
  
  
• managing strategically key bilateral relations (including four active agreements with Japan, France, Germany and the European Union) and an S&T arrangement with Korea, in partnership with the Canadian scientific and business communities; and
  
  
• enhancing Canada’s profile at international events.

Over the course of 2003, the Department continued to work with the INIST as a forum for coordinating international S&T issues of common interest among participating SBDAs. The INIST held four meetings to discuss bilateral S&T relations, notably regarding Brazil, Japan, Germany, the European Union and Korea. Bilateral S&T meetings were also held with these countries during the year, and arrangements for a nanotechnology mission from France began. A special meeting was held to provide input and direction to the Geographic Review, a study commissioned by the Department to identify priority geographic S&T country targets. The Geographic Review report was received late in the year. Consultations on follow-up to the Review are set to commence with SBDAs early in the new year.

The area of R&D business development continued to be quite active, with nearly 20 major international technology and venture capital partnering events organized.

Key 2003 Results Achieved by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Science and Technology Program

Science and Technology Policy and Relations

Major initiatives conducted with INIST guidance and support include the following:

Canada–Brazil — Canada and Brazil jointly undertook an S&T Roundtable that was hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil, in Sao Paulo, November 4–5, 2003. An S&T delegation of 30 Canadian academic, industrial, and government representatives participated in the event, which involved five sectoral working groups: biotechnology, aquaculture, space, sustainable energy, and industrial innovation. An S&T action plan is being devised by Canada and Brazil for 2004.

Canada–European Union — At the Canada–E.U. Summit held December 19, 2002, Canada and the E.U. agreed on a list of priority areas for enhancing collaborative R&D between the two regions. A series of thematic workshops are to be launched, starting in spring 2004. In addition, Canada, the E.U. and E.U. Member States are exploring the potential for a more effective information exchange about their programs of R&D support and areas of expertise, with the aim to accelerate connections between researchers.

Canada–Germany — A successful bilateral S&T consultation under the Canada–Germany S&T Agreement was held in Ottawa, September 4–5, 2003, with about 30 delegates from Germany participating. It was preceded by a two-day Workshop for Young Scientists in Photonics Research. Consultation participants agreed to enhance collaborative S&T efforts in several new areas, including agriculture biotechnology and plant genetics, sustainability and alternative energies, and nanotechnology.

Canada–Japan — The Canada–Japan Joint Committee (CJJC) on S&T Cooperation met in Tokyo, October 15–17, 2003. The very successful event included a tour of the Kobe Translational Research Cluster, a series of sectoral meetings, the Joint Panel on Earth Sciences and the Environment meeting, and the full plenary session of the CJJC. A new Panel on Brain Science was formed, and it was agreed to actively pursue further collaboration in the following areas: reproductive and child health; information communications technology for collaborative research; forestry; agriculture and agrifoods; and fisheries. Agreement was also reached on continuing with the excellent collaboration in space, the life sciences, biotechnology, the environment, information technologies and nanotechnology.

Canada–Korea — The first Canada–Korea meeting on S&T was held in Seoul, October 20–22, 2003. The meeting included an S&T forum and visits to various S&T institutes. Participants agreed to conduct a joint study on S&T cooperation; to strengthen scientific exchanges; and to conduct seminars to promote S&T cooperation in the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology and space technology. The meeting and site visits revealed a very advanced and thriving R&D base in Korea.

Canada–Norway — With the establishment of the Canada–Norway S&T Working Group, currently chaired by Norway’s Ambassador to Canada, many successful bilateral projects and activities have taken place over the past year in a number of key priority sectors. In November, the Norwegian Embassy hosted a successful S&T seminar in Ottawa, attended by more than 70 people, which allowed for a broad overview of Norwegian and Canadian innovation and research policy, as well as a forward-looking panel discussion.

Going Global Science and Technology Fund — DFAIT’s Science and Technology Division administers the Going Global Science and Technology Fund, to assist Canadian researchers in establishing new collaborative R&D initiatives with foreign counterparts. In 2003, 16 projects, many involving groups of researchers from universities, industries and government, were supported by this program.

Multilateral Science and Technology — The Science and Technology Division represented DFAIT in intergovernmental negotiations, and participated on behalf of Canada in multilateral committees and negotiations, notably the negotiations for the International Thermo-nuclear Experimental Reactor; the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space; and negotiations for Canada’s participation in the ESA-E.U. Galileo Program.

Science and Technology counsellors’ tour — Five of Canada’s six S&T counsellors, from Berlin, Tokyo, Brussels, London, and Paris, as well as trade commissioners with S&T responsibilities from Spain, the Netherlands, and Finland, were brought back to Canada from April 28 to May 9, 2003, to meet with SBDAs and NGOs in Ottawa. They also traveled to St. John’s, Halifax, Québec City and Waterloo to meet with the S&T community.

Science and Technology Partnerships brochure — A 2003 version of the S&T partnering brochure was produced and published in November. This brochure is the primary promotional tool for the promotion of international S&T partnerships with Canada.

International Research and Development Business Development

Information and Communications Technology Sector

Information Society Technologies Europe–Canada is a two-year project (ending in April 2004) whose objective is to foster collaboration between European and Canadian researchers in key areas of information and communications technology (ICT). Both European and Canadian organizations are involved. As the lead Canadian partner in this project, the R&D Business Development Section was instrumental in organizing three major partnering events in 2003, bringing together Canadian and European ICT researchers in Banff, Alberta; Milan, Italy; and Paris, France. The events were well attended and provided participating Canadian ICT researchers with excellent opportunities to identify and meet with their European counterparts.

Venture Financing

The Science and Technology Division contributes to the Innovation Strategy objective of increasing the supply of venture capital available in Canada, by supporting local venture capital events. In 2003, the R&D Business Development Section participated in the Investment Future Forum held in Saskatoon in April, the IT Financing Forum in Toronto in May, and the Canadian Venture Capital Association Annual General Meeting in Ottawa in June. In total, more than 60 growing Canadian firms were able to present their capabilities and funding requirements to a solid mix of Canadian and foreign investors, and to receive counseling from DFAIT staff on the various support programs to which they have access.

Biotechnology Sector

The Science and Technology Division continued to include biotechnology as a focus for R&D business development activity in 2003. In addition to biotechnology for human health, which has been the primary focus in past years, attention is also now being given to the emerging sectors of agricultural and industrial biotechnology. Activities include the following:

• the Biotechnology Partnering Seminar, Lyon, France, April 9–11, 2003 (held in conjunction with BioSquare/BioVision 2003);
  
  
• the Biotechnology Technology Partnering Event, Washington, D.C., June 22, 2003 (held at the BIO 2003 Conference and Exhibition);
  
  
• a Panel session on international financing, Québec City, October 2, 2003 (held at BioContact 2003); and
  
  
• the Biotechnology Partnering Mission, Frankfurt, Germany, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, November 17–21, 2003 (held in conjunction with BioEurope 2003 and followed with a biotechnology mission to the Netherlands, with a technology partnering seminar and site visits hosted by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs).

Advanced Materials Sector

The advanced materials sector includes a wide spectrum of new materials technologies that have applications in almost all strategic sectors of the economy, such as ICTs, biotechnology, environment (ecomaterials, ecoprocesses, and ecodesign), energy and aerospace. The Science and Technology Division’s focus in this sector in 2003 was mainly on three major fields: nanotechnology, renewable energy and advanced composite materials. Some of the activities are listed below:

• Nanotechnology/Nanomaterials Partnering Mission to Japan, Korea and Taiwan, February 22 to March 8, 2003.
  
  
• Partnership 2003 — Materials and Manufacturing Ontario’s Annual Networking Meeting in Toronto, June 19–20, 2003.
  
  
• International Conference on MEMS, Nano and Smart Systems in Banff, July 20–25, 2003.
  
  
• International Symposium on Ecomaterials and Ecoprocesses, in conjunction with the 42nd Annual Conference of Metallurgists in Vancouver, August 24–27, 2003.
  
  
• Canadian Conference on Nanomaterials Crossroads in Montréal, October 16–17, 2003.
  
  
• Canada–U.S.–E.U. Partnering Workshop on Smart Materials and Structures, in Montréal, October 23–24, 2003.
  
  
• Mission on Renewable Energy Technologies to Germany, France (in conjunction with Pollutec), Belgium and the Netherlands, November 22 to December 5, 2003.
  
  
• First Canada–France Rencontre technologique on advanced composite materials, in Ottawa, Montréal and Toronto, December 8–12, 2003.

Contact Information
Science and Technology Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Tel.: (613) 995-2224
Web site: www.infoexport.gc.ca/science