Connect with us

Technology

Government of Canada invests in discovery and applied research to keep the country at the forefront of scientific advancements

Published

on

Support for researchers, innovators and rising talent pushing the boundaries of knowledge to address the world’s most pressing issues

OTTAWA, ON, June 14, 2024 /CNW/ – Discovery-driven research shapes Canada’s response to cotemporary challenges, improving lives through pioneering exploration. The next generation of scientists and engineers are constantly expanding the frontiers of knowledge, creating new possibilities and driving impactful breakthroughs.

Today, Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, and Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, announced $693.8 million in funding for discovery and applied research. The lion’s share, more than $554 million, will flow through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Discovery Research Program. This funding will support researchers venturing into uncharted territory to find solutions to pressing issues such as the protection of the environment, food security and sustainable constructions in cold climates.

This program also connects Canadian research teams to global research questions through international collaborations and attracts the world’s brightest minds to the country to increase the impact of science, technology and innovation in Canada.

In addition, colleges, CEGEPs and polytechnics are receiving $30.6 million to conduct applied research projects through the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program. This includes 20 Technology Access Centre grants, addressing innovation challenges by enabling community organizations to take advantage of the college’s expertise, technology and equipment.

More than $94.5 million will also be invested in the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program to support 121 new and renewed chair holders at 39 postsecondary institutions across the country in a wide range of disciplines including health, sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities. As a partner of the CRC program, the Canada Foundation for Innovation will support 18 projects across 15 postsecondary institutions with an additional investment of nearly $4 million via its John R. Evans Leaders Fund.

Finally, over $10 million of this funding will help deliver 44 science promotion and outreach programs that engage and inspire young Canadians to develop their skills and curiosity through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics via the PromoScience program.

Highlighting the commitment to bolstering Canada’s research landscape, Budget 2024 proposes a significant investment of $1.8 billion over five years, and $748.3 million per year ongoing, to the federal granting councils to increase core research grant funding. This substantial investment underscores the government’s dedication to fostering innovation and advancing knowledge, ensuring that Canada remains at the forefront of scientific discovery and technological advancement on the global stage.

Quotes 

Canada’s science and research sector is solving some of the world’s greatest challenges, all while driving innovation, growth and productivity. Research programs like Discovery give researchers the flexibility to explore the most promising avenues of research as they emerge to ensure Canada remains a world leader in science and new technologies. Congratulations to all exceptional researchers receiving support, we look forward to learning of your successes.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry 

“Investing in research, developing Canadian research talent, and attracting top scientists working on groundbreaking research from around the world boost our innovation capabilities. The discoveries made in the research of today will help launch the businesses of tomorrow.”
Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“In today’s global knowledge economy, Canada needs good science and research knowledge to remain competitive. Investments, like the ones announced today, means scientists, researchers and students are supported to become global leaders in their field, helping expand the frontiers of science and investing in a better future for Canadians.”
Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

“Whether it’s through discovery or applied research, these recipients have the potential to reveal unexpected findings and have a significant impact on our society and well-being. Today’s announcement provides funding for the full gamut of research impact, from the earliest stages of discovery to the final stages of bringing innovations to communities. It also provides support to inspire students in their most formative years, and to spur our research leaders to even greater success. I applaud the dedication of all our discoverers and innovators in tackling the world’s toughest problems and their determination to find bold solutions.” 
– Prof. Alejandro Adem, FRSC, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

“The University of Ottawa is thrilled to host this funding announcement. For uOttawa, it means support for three new or renewed Canada Research Chairs and 96 Discovery grant recipients, highlighting a vibrant research environment. This significant investment not only demonstrates the outstanding work being done here at uOttawa but will also help propel us into a future filled with groundbreaking discoveries and innovations. We are grateful for this support by the Government of Canada, which will undoubtedly inspire and empower our researchers to achieve even greater heights.”
Sylvain Charbonneau, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa

Quick facts

Today’s investment is spread across two NSERC programs and two programs from the three federal research granting agencies (NSERC, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research):

NSERC Discovery Research Program

$554 million in funding over five years to researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including biology, mathematics and statistics, computer science, physics, chemistry, and engineering. NSERC also supports Indigenous research in the natural sciences and engineering. These grants provide recipients with funding to maintain a long-term program of research, foster research excellence and provide stimulating environments for research training.The Discovery Research Program includes several funding opportunities:$427 million in individual Discovery Grants to 2030 researchers across science and engineering disciplines$72.4 million in one-time, one-year extensions with funds to existing Discovery Research grants held by more than 1,800 researchers across Canada impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.$13.3 million in grants to Subatomic Physics research projects, major resources and equipment.$5.5 million in grants through the Discovery Horizons for 15 projects that broadly integrate or transcend disciplines to advance knowledge in the natural sciences and engineering.$6.7 million in Discovery Launch Supplements to 536 early-career researchers in the first year of their Discovery Grants to help them launch their careers.$25.1 million for 199 Research Tools and Instruments Grants to give researchers access to highly specialized tools needed for their investigations.$2.1 million in Northern Research Supplements to 26 researchers to augment and promote Canadian university-based northern research and training.$1.5 million in Discovery Development Grants to 38 researchers to promote and maintain a diversified base of high-quality research in small universities across Canada.$503,000 in Ship Time grants that will allow four researchers to access vessels in support of their research programs.

College and Community Innovation program (tri-agency):

     Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grants

54 awards$9.4 million over 1 year

     Technology Access Centre (TAC) grants

20 awards$21.25 million over 5 years

Canada Research Chairs– 2023-1 cycle (Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat))

121 awards39 institutions$94.5 million

     Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund

18 projects15 institutions$3.9 million

NSERC PromoScience program

44 grants$10.8 million

Associated links

2024 Research Grants competition resultsCompetition Statistics Dashboard – Discovery GrantsCompetition Statistic Dashboard – Research Tools and InstrumentCompetition Statistics Dashboard – Subatomic Physics GrantsApplied Research Tools and Instruments competition resultsTechnology Access Centre competition resultsCanada Research Chairs recipients: 2023-1 cycleJohn R. Evans Leaders Fund competition resultsPromoScience grant recipients

Stay connected

Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED.

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.
X: @CDNScience, Facebook: @CDNScience, Instagram: @CDNscience and LinkedIn

Follow the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada on social media.
X: @NSERC_CRSNG, Facebook: @nserccanada, Instagram: @NSERC_CRSNG,
YouTube: NSERCTube and LinkedIn

SOURCE Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Galaxy Digital Inc. Announces Pricing of $3.507 Billion of Senior Secured Notes

Published

on

By

NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Galaxy Digital Inc. (NASDAQ: GLXY) (“Galaxy” or the “Company”), a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, today announced that its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Galaxy Helios Data Centers II LLC (the “Issuer”), has priced a $3.507 billion private offering (the “Offering”) of 9.875% senior secured notes due 2031 (the “Notes”). The Offering is expected to close on July 28, 2026, subject to market and other conditions.

The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to finance a portion of the development and construction of two buildings containing eight data halls with a combined total of 400 megawatts (“MW”) of utility capacity and 260 MW of critical IT capacity (the “Project”) to be built on an approximately 260-acre property in Dickens County, Texas and to fund debt service reserves.

The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 9.875% per annum payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on February 1, 2027 and will mature on August 1, 2031. The Notes will amortize at a rate of 4.00% per annum of the original principal amount subject to adjustment, with amortization payments payable semi-annually with the first payment date to occur at least ten months after the completion of the Project.

The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Galaxy Helios II LLC, a wholly owned direct subsidiary of the Issuer (the “Guarantor”), and will constitute the senior secured obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor. The Notes and related note guarantee will be secured by first-priority liens on (i) substantially all assets of the Issuer and the Guarantor, other than certain excluded property and (ii) all equity interests of the Issuer held by the direct parent company of the Issuer.

The Offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether, when or on what terms the Offering may be completed.

The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Galaxy

Galaxy Digital Inc. (Nasdaq: GLXY) is a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, delivering solutions that accelerate progress in finance and artificial intelligence. Our digital assets platform offers institutional access to trading, advisory, asset management, staking, self-custody, and tokenization technology. In addition, we develop and operate cutting-edge data center infrastructure to power AI and HPC workloads. Our 1.63 GW Helios campus in Texas positions Galaxy among the largest and fastest-growing data center developers in North America. The Company is headquartered in New York City, with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the completion, size and timing of the Offering, the terms of the Notes and the intended use of proceeds. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements represent the Company’s current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, including market interest rates, the satisfaction of the closing conditions related to the Offering and risks relating to the Company’s business, including those described in periodic reports that the Company files from time to time with the SEC. The Issuer may not consummate the proposed Offering described in this press release and, if the proposed Offering is consummated, cannot provide any assurances regarding the final terms of the Offering or the Notes or its ability to effectively apply the net proceeds as described above. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/galaxy-digital-inc-announces-pricing-of-3-507-billion-of-senior-secured-notes-302833899.html

SOURCE Galaxy Digital Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

The Finish Line that Changed China: Retracing the Long March to Yan’an

Published

on

By

BEIJING, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China.org.cn on the Long March, and what it means for China today:

 

Every journey has a destination.

But some destinations become the beginning of something even greater.

This is Yan’an.

Over 90 years ago, an army of soldiers embarked from Yudu, Jiangxi Province, on a journey that would go down in history.

They crossed snow-capped mountains, vast grasslands and raging rivers, eventually arriving in northern Shaanxi.

Across this grueling 12,500-kilometer journey, they wrote a magnificent epic in human history with willpower and courage.

Here, their Long March came to a victorious end. But a new chapter of history was only beginning.

In Yan’an, the Red Army found time to recover and rebuild, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China regrouped, gathering strength for the next chapter.

Here, new ideas were debated, new strategies were shaped, and a vision for China’s future gradually took form.

Today, while preserving its revolutionary legacy, Yan’an has grown into a vibrant, modern city — with a greener environment, thriving industries and happier lives for its people.

Nearly 90 years ago, American journalist Edgar Snow came to northern Shaanxi, seeking to uncover a story that few outside China knew. He later chronicled it in his book “Red Star Over China,” which carried the story of the Long March to the world.

Today, people from around the world are once again retracing those steps.

As part of China International Communications Group (CICG)’s “Together on the Long March” international communication project, participants have spent more than a month retracing the route across six key regions.

From Jiangxi to Shaanxi, they followed the Red Army’s journey and witnessed the remarkable changes that have taken place along the way.

I asked them one simple question: What does this journey mean to you?

Zhavier Harris, marketing and communications manager at the Springfield Urban League, said conversations with local residents and descendants of the Red Army made history feel far more immediate than he had expected.

He said history isn’t as distant as we often think. “We’re only one or two generations from these great sacrifices that led to the development and the greatness that we see from the Communist Party of China and China as a whole.”

David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor at Foreign Languages Press under CICG and a recipient of the 2021 Chinese Government Friendship Award, said the journey deepened his understanding of the Long March.

He said the journey helped him understand not only the historical facts, but also what the Red Army endured. “If you see the Long March merely as a military campaign, it ended in Yan’an. But as a spirit, it has never truly come to an end.”

We came to retrace history. We leave with something more: a deeper understanding of China’s past, a clearer view of its present, and perhaps a greater appreciation for the stories that connect us across cultures.

Edgar Snow called the Long March “an Odyssey unequalled in modern times.” He believed that what sustained it was a flame — consisting of an undimmed ardor, an undying hope and an amazing revolutionary optimism.

Ninety years later, that flame still burns.

Passed down through generations, the spirit of the Long March continues to light China’s path forward.

And as it crosses borders and cultures, it offers the world a glimpse of a nation defined by resilience, perseverance and an enduring drive to move forward.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm 

The Finish Line that Changed China: Retracing the Long March to Yan’an
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2026-07/23/content_118614941.shtml

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-finish-line-that-changed-china-retracing-the-long-march-to-yanan-302833900.html

SOURCE China.org.cn

Continue Reading

Technology

Visa and Lianlian Advance Trusted B2B Agentic Commerce Through LoopXPay’s First Live B2B Agentic Transaction

Published

on

By

First live B2B agentic transaction in Greater China highlights how AI-enabled commerce can help SMBs streamline purchasing and payments, supported by Visa’s Agentic Directory for trusted AI agent interactions

SINGAPORE, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, and Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd. (“Lianlian”), an AI-native global financial infrastructure provider, today announced the first live B2B agentic transaction completed using LoopXPay, Lianlian’s AI agent. 

Small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) often lack dedicated procurement teams and spend valuable time sourcing, purchasing and making payments themselves. In the transaction, the LoopXPay agent was used to source a product sample from a supplier and complete the purchase in a single workflow. The agent identified the purchasing requirement, recommended suitable suppliers, compared options, placed the order and securely executed the payment within a single workflow, while operating within pre-defined spending controls and approval parameters.

The milestone highlights how AI-powered commerce experiences can help SMBs simplify purchasing and payment activities while maintaining appropriate controls and oversight. By enabling AI agents to operate within pre-defined spending parameters and approval controls, businesses can reduce manual effort while retaining visibility into commercial decision-making.

As AI agents become more involved in purchasing and payment activities, businesses will require confidence that transactions are being executed by verified participants, within approved parameters and with appropriate oversight. Capabilities aligned with Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol can help provide the identity, transparency and controls needed to support these interactions.

As part of the collaboration, LoopXPay has been registered in Visa’s Agentic Directory, enabling participating businesses and merchants to identify verified AI agents within the ecosystem. Supporting the implementation of Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol, the Agentic Directory helps provide greater transparency into agent-driven interactions and confidence that participating agents have met Visa’s requirements.

“AI-powered commerce experiences can help businesses simplify purchasing and payments while maintaining the controls and oversight they require,” said Darren Parslow, Global Head, Visa Commercial Solutions, Visa. “For SMBs, that means less complexity in managing day-to-day commercial activities and more time focused on growth. As businesses increasingly look to embed intelligence into purchasing and payment experiences, trust will become a critical enabler of adoption. Through our collaboration with Lianlian, we are helping advance the trusted foundations that businesses will need to participate in this next era of commerce with confidence.”

Building on this milestone, Visa and Lianlian are exploring how AI agents can support a broader range of commercial activities, including procurement, digital advertising optimisation and B2B platform payments, helping advance trusted commerce through greater efficiency, transparency and control.

Zhang Zhengyu, Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Lianlian DigiTech, said, “AI is reshaping the entire commercial value chain, where a growing number of business activities will be autonomously executed by AI agents, with payments serving as the critical infrastructure connecting them to global commerce. Leveraging its experience in global cross-border payments, compliance, as well as payment network, LianLian is actively building AI-native financial infrastructure, delivering an integrated suite of capabilities for the Agent Economy, spanning identity verification, transaction authorisation, intelligent payment, and global fund settlement. Through this collaboration with Visa, we aim to combine Lianlian’s AI-native capabilities with Visa’s trusted global network and commercial payment expertise to help businesses transact more securely, intelligently and efficiently in an increasingly agent-driven commerce environment.”

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

About Lianlian

Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd. (“Lianlian DigiTech” or “Lianlian”) was founded in 2009 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2024 (stock code: 2598.HK). As China’s leading global provider of digital and intelligent payment services, Lianlian adheres to its mission of “Connecting the world, empowering global commerce” and pursues an “AI-Native + Globalization” strategy. The Company is committed to building a trusted global intelligent financial infrastructure, enabling seamless connectivity between Chinese enterprises and global businesses.  As of now, Lianlian has established a global licensing portfolio comprising 68 payment licenses and related qualifications, and holds a VATP license issued by the Hong Kong SFC. It supports services in more than 200 countries and regions and enables transaction settlement in over 140 currencies, connecting over 180 global e-commerce platforms and serving a cumulative total of over 13.3 million customers. Learn more at www.lianlian.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/visa-and-lianlian-advance-trusted-b2b-agentic-commerce-through-loopxpays-first-live-b2b-agentic-transaction-302833916.html

SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited

Continue Reading

Trending