research and innovation : In The News

Canada's venture capital industry is showing increasing promise as a slew of big name companies have recently invested in Canadian start-ups and developing private companies. As reported by Reuters, the list of powerhouse companies that have recently made significant acquisitions in Canada include U.S giants Google and Microsoft, Swedish meditech company Elekta, and Canada's own Research In Motion. Toronto has been the site of much of this venture capital investment. Recent high profile acquisitions include the purchase of two Toronto tech-firms -- Bumptop by Google, and Viigo by Research In Motion.

"Bay Street take note: Canada's venture capital industry is neither dead nor dying."

"I think we are really kick-starting a new cycle, and it's refreshing," Chris Arsenault, managing partner and chief operating officer at iNovia Capital Inc, said at the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity conference last week."

"The venture capital sector, which typically invests in small start-up or developing private companies with the aim of taking them public, turned in some of its lowest investment figures ever in Canada in the past two years."

"According to data compiled by the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) and Thomson Reuters, only C$276 million ($267 million) was invested in the sector in the first three months of the year, lower even than last year, when venture capital investing was at its lowest since 1996.The drop has been squarely blamed on the global financial crisis, which choked off the market for initial public offerings and triggered a broader retreat from risk investing."

"Yet venture capitalists, buoyed by growing Canadian government support for the sector, say the figures are misleading, hiding the potential for huge success."

"Arsenault said a changing of the guard among investors and investment managers is adding momentum and bringing new strategies to the sector in Canada, where venture capital activity has historically been well below U.S. levels."

"Industry veterans say publicly traded companies who scaled back on research and development during the global financial crisis are increasingly looking at Canadian companies to jump-start new venues for growth."

"Similar to the last recession, companies cut innovation spending in the crisis," said Chris Albinson, a Canadian native and the managing director of Panorama Capital, a Silicon Valley investor in venture capital. "The problem for those companies ... is they don't have anything to drive future growth."

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original source Reuters

The Globe & Mail's Ivor Tossell (and Yonge Street contributor) writes on Toronto's transformation into the "Silicon Valley of the North" as successful tech start-ups continue to pop up across the city. Toronto's position as an emerging international hub of web development can be attributed in part to its proximity to strong computer-science universities (e.g. Waterloo, McMaster and University of Toronto), and to its "size and vibrancy" that make it an attractive destination for young workers.

"There's a new emergent scene going on in Toronto," says David Crow, a strategist for Microsoft, and a long-time organizer of the city's tech community. "We have great talent and great opportunity."

"After years of nurturing a tight-knit tech community, Toronto seems to be reaching a critical mass � not just of homegrown companies, conferences, and networks, but of ties to a global industry. Groups like Extreme Venture Partners "are building a pipeline between Toronto and the Valley," says Mr. Crow."

"Clustered in neighbourhoods like Queen and Spadina and Liberty Village, companies such as Polar Mobile (they make iPhone apps for big media firms), LearnHub (which connects international learners) and Five Mobile (who produce apps for The Score TV network) are part of the local tech resurgence."

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original source the Globe & Mail

Researchers at the Sleep Research Laboratory at Toronto Western Hospital have made inroads into science's understanding of sexsomnia, a disorder which causes people to be in a state of semi-arousal while asleep. As reported by the New York Times, the Toronto scientists conducted one of the first studies that attempts to determine the percentage sexsomnia sufferers among patients with sleep disorders. After reviewing 832 patients seeking help at the hospital's Sleep Laboratory, the Western Hospital researchers found that 7.6 percent of patients reported some form of sexsomnia.

"The study, which has not yet been published, is among the first to try to quantify how prevalent sexsomnia is among patients with sleep problems. (An abstract was to be presented Monday in San Antonio at Sleep 2010, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.)"

"The author, Sharon A. Chung, a scientist at the Sleep Research Laboratory at Toronto Western Hospital, says the behavior becomes a problem when it disrupts the normal sleep cycle."

"At night you're supposed to be sleeping," she said in an interview. "Anything that stops you from sleeping at night is bad � not because of the behavior, because it stops you from sleeping."

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original source the New York Times

The Globe & Mail reports on Toronto's growth as a global "hotbed of app development". The article focuses on three innovative Toronto tech and design companies -- EndLoop Studios, Five Mobile Inc., and NuLayer Inc. -- who have developed internationally popular mobile phone applications.
 
"Toronto has become a hotbed of app development for mobile phones, churning out everything from productivity apps for businesses to sports and entertainment apps�.The city is well-placed to do so. Its bustling film, Internet, design and creative industries have merged around the city's universities and institutions to create an ideal ecosystem for app development, says Krista Jones, who heads the information and communication technology division at the MaRS Discovery District, a small business incubator. "Toronto is an app hub because we have deep roots in both the creative and design industries, and the technical industries," she says. "It's the perfect mix for apps."

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original source the Globe & Mail

As reported by Science News, York University researchers have made important inroads into understanding the physiological impact of perfectionism. In a study presented at a May 30 meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, the Toronto scientists found that women with perfectionist standards were more likely to develop postpartum depression.

"Perfectionists often try to impress others by bragging or trying to promote their faultless qualities, avoid situations in which they might show imperfections and refuse to admit failures to others, said Gordon Flett of York University in Toronto. Flett reported his findings on how perfectionistic tendencies contribute to the risk of postpartum depression in new mothers."

"Using questionnaires, Flett queried 100 women during the final month of their pregnancies and one month after giving birth about their perfectionism, personality and mental health."

"Postpartum depression occurred substantially more often among women who had demanded perfection of themselves while pregnant than among those who had cited few or no signs of perfectionism. This association held after accounting for pregnant women's feelings that others demanded perfection of them and for any depression symptoms that had been present during pregnancy."


"This is the first evidence that new mothers who need to seem like a perfect parent are at risk for depression," Flett said.

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original source Science News

This year's Mesh event, Canada's annual web conference, saw industry experts from around the world converge at Toronto's MaRS Center for two days of panel discussions and interactive workshops. The sold-out conference, now in its fifth year has become a can't-miss event for the city's online media and tech community. According to Backbone Magazine's Glen Farrelly, this year's conference, which featured speakers from companies ranging from LinkedIn, PayPal, to the the Guardian, made for an enthralling two days.

"After four years attending, I can spot perennial patterns. The location is the same � Mars, a centre for innovation in downtown Toronto. As I hoped, Red Bull is there again providing ample fuel for making it through the hours of listening. Rightsleeve had a new batch of fun and offbeat swag. Many of the attendees' faces are the same � as one of the conference speakers stated Mesh was integral to helping form the digital media and tech community in Toronto and clearly this community is loyal to Mesh. I have, however, also met more people this time from across Canada, which is great. The structure of sessions is the same with internationally-prominent keynote speakers in the mornings and panel discussions or workshops in the afternoon. The speakers represent a good cross-section of local and American or British people working in or studying the area."??

"I keep going to Mesh as it is consistently delivers."

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original source Backbone Magazine

Toronto firm, Profound Medical Inc., is being recognized for developing a new treatment for prostate cancer, that uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to make the process faster and more efficient. As reported by the Toronto Star, the company has been awarded the $200,000 Premier's Catalyst Award for a start-up company with the best innovation.

"The award "is an important validation not just of the technology but of the business model," says Paul Chipperton, CEO of Profound Medical Inc."

"Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer among men, with roughly 25,000 new cases diagnosed in Canada each year. While surgery and radiation are often successful, they also carry risk of impotence and incontinence as a result of damage to surrounding nerves and tissue."

"There is a huge emotional and psychological price to pay for the inability to treat prostate cancer successfully without side effects," says Chipperton, who gets a call every couple of weeks from newly diagnosed men who are looking for treatment alternatives. He says although it has not been tested on patients, preclinical data shows the non-surgical technology developed by the Sunnybrook researchers will be more accurate, more precise and faster."

"Chipperton has met with U.S. regulators at the Food and Drug Administration and clinical trials are set to begin there next year involving hundreds of patients, and later in Canada. He hopes to secure $10 million in venture capital in the next two months."

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original source the Toronto Star

As reported by the London Times, researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered a link between learning to lie at an early age and success later in life. According to the Toronto researchers, since lying marks a milestone in a cognitive development, learning the skill early is indicative of a highly developed brain.

"Lying involves multiple brain processes, such as integrating sources of information and manipulating the data to their advantage. It is linked to the development of brain regions that allow "executive functioning" and use higher order thinking and reasoning."

"Parents should not be alarmed if their child tells a fib," said Kang Lee, director of the Institute of Child Study at Toronto University."

"Almost all children lie. Those who have better cognitive development lie better because they can cover up their tracks. They may make bankers in later life!"

"His team tested 1,200 children aged 2-16. The most deceitful age, they discovered, was 12, when almost every child tells lies."

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original source the London Times

As reported on Physorg.com University of Toronto researchers have discovered the hidden code within DNA that explains how a small number of human genes can provide the directives for organs as complicated as the human brain. The UofT scientists presented their groundbreaking discovery on May 6th in a paper published in the Nature journal entitled "Deciphering the Splicing Code".

"In a paper published on May 6 in the journal Nature entitled "Deciphering the Splicing Code," a research team led by Professors Brendan Frey and Benjamin Blencowe of the University of Toronto describes how a hidden code within DNA explains one of the central mysteries of genetic research - namely how a limited number of human genes can produce a vastly greater number of genetic messages. The discovery bridges a decade-old gap between our understanding of the genome and the activity of complex processes within cells, and could one day help predict or prevent diseases such as cancers and neurodegenerative disorders."

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original source Physorg.com

As reported on NewsWise two Torontonians were among those recognized but they American Institute of Physics, when they announced the winners of the 2009 AIP  "Science Communication Awards" last week. Toronto-based writer Dan Falk was recognized in the Science writing category for an article published in COSMOS magazine in 2008 entitled "End of days: a universe in ruins".  Toronto's Gillian Oreilly won the Children's Category for a 2007 book she co-wrote with Vancouver's Cora Lee entitled  "The Great Number Rumble: A Story of Math in Surprising Places.

"The American Institute of Physics (AIP) announced the three winning entries in the 2009 Science Communication Awards today. The winning authors -- a freelance science journalist, a TV and film director, an author and screenwriter, and two children's book authors -- will split three prizes of $3,000. They will each also get engraved Windsor chairs and certificates of recognition. "These outstanding science communicators have each improved the general public's appreciation of physics, astronomy, and related sciences through their wonderfully creative endeavors," says Catherine O'Riordan, AIP Vice President, Physics Resources. "We are pleased to be able to recognize such excellent work."

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original source NewsWise

As reported by in the Globe & Mail, Toronto-based Rightsleeve, an online promotional products and design company, recently won the Dell 2009 Small Business Award for "innovative use of technology". The Globe quotes Mark Graham, president and founder of Rightsleeve, as saying  "the combination of our internal operations as well as how we rolled out our online platform is what caught Dell's attention."

"Always "curious about the impact that technology could have on a business," Mr. Graham used technology to differentiate Rightsleeve right off the bat."

"I wanted a Web presence," says Mr. Graham. "I recognized that technology and branding combined could give us a competitive advantage."

"While it was trendy to go online at that time, the technology available didn't have the flexibility the fledgling company needed, nor was it cost effective for a small organization. So Mr. Graham decided that the only route was to bring the development in-house.

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original source Globe & Mail

The Canadian Solar Industries Association's annual conference, held this week at Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, signals the beginning of significant growth in Canada's solar power industry. According to the Globe & Mail, Ontario's new "Green Energy Act " is acting as a major impetus for this growing industry and is reason for optimism about the future of solar energy in Canada.

"The law, with its "feed-in tariff" that pays big bucks for solar-generated electricity (and other renewables), is prompting individuals and companies to plan new solar energy projects all over the province. To get the higher prices, some of the hardware must be made in Ontario, and that has pushed manufacturers to set up shop in the province. On just one day last week, two companies announced they will build new solar panel plants in Ontario - Canadian Solar Inc. and Opsun Technologies Inc."

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original source Globe & Mail