On 30 November, the Canadian National Research Council (NRC) announced its investment in an attosecond laboratory at University of Ottawa. The announcement was made in a news release with comments by Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Orleans, on behalf of Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear.
For those wondering what an attosecond is and why it is important, the release defined it by saying, “Attosecond research provides the ultimate window into what's happening at the molecular level and helps scientists study the fastest processes in atomic and molecular physics.” Explained on a more mundane level, the NRC and University of Ottawa said, “Research at the Joint Laboratory for Attosecond Science (JASLab) may lead to scientific breakthroughs in health care, diagnostic medicine, quantum computing, nanotechnology, environmental science and energy.” (See the entire release on the NanoTech Café site at http://www10.NanoTechCafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=766053).
While the creation of an advanced-research lab is nothing new, it is significant that Canada joins the long march of governments backing research and development in advanced technologies. Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Germany, Belgium, France, Scotland and numerous other countries are parading their funding, policy support and resource investments into activities that can pave the way for technology leadership.
Where does the United States stand in terms funding research in the technologies that will shape our future prosperity, business development, jobs and lifestyle? President Obama’s commitment to supporting clean energy development is one step. More steps are needed. Or, are we content to be a service economy -- whatever that means?
Last spring, President Obama named Vivek Kundra as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Aneesh Chopra as US Chief Technology Officer (CTO), but the primary responsibility of both those jobs seems focused on aligning information systems within and amongst government agencies. (See http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/04/obama-appoints-virginias-aneesh-chopra-us-cto.ars). True, Chopra is also supposed to work on a technology and innovation policy, but there are two problems with that. Getting government agencies to cooperate is a full-time job on a good day. And, how can you write a policy on innovation on any day??
Americans today seem willing and able to take opposite sides on almost any topic. Are we smart enough to band together and lead the technology innovation parade?
Barbara Kalkis, Maestro Marketing & PR (sm) -ends-
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