From the discovery of insulin to stem cell research, Canadians have long been at the forefront of groundbreaking innovations in health and biosciences.
| TORONTO, May 21, 2019 /CNW/ - From the discovery of insulin to stem cell research, Canadians have long been at the forefront of groundbreaking innovations in health and biosciences. That’s why the Government of Canada organized a competition for innovation initiatives at the intersection of data and Canada’s health and biosciences sector—to invest in better health outcomes while creating and maintaining good middle-class jobs across the country. Today the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced a historic collaboration in data and digital technology. The investment, up to $49 million, will support the Industry Consortium for Image Guided Therapy (ICIGT). This pan-Canadian network of more than 70 partners, including industry, academia, government organizations and not-for-profits, is working to systematically improve the delivery of health care. This investment will support ICIGT’s estimated $126 million project to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies for more accurate image-guided therapies such as MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds. Through this investment, Canadians will benefit from better health outcomes, faster diagnoses and safer treatments that minimize side effects and the length of hospital stays. As a collaborative public-private network, ICIGT will shorten the pathway to market for promising high-impact new technologies that help to address gaps in Canadian health care systems. This investment will help position Canada as a world leader in leading-edge medical technologies that will accelerate personalized treatments for patients. ICIGT’s project will also help to create and maintain highly skilled jobs across Canada, lead to the creation of innovative new start-ups, support the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, and create new internships for students in STEM fields. The Government of Canada believes that trust is the foundation for economic growth and innovation. The ICIGT project will adhere to the most recognized principles and measures to protect data privacy, safety and security. Quotes “Canadians have long been leading innovators in health and biosciences. Our government has brought together the best in the public and private sectors to find real health care solutions. The investment in the ICIGT project is helping to leverage Canada’s strengths in artificial intelligence, machine learning and image-guided therapies to ultimately deliver better health care for Canadians across the country while building the trust necessary to protect data privacy, safety and security.” “Sunnybrook would like to thank the Government of Canada for this significant investment in image-guided therapeutics. For years, Sunnybrook, along with its partners, has been pioneering and commercializing groundbreaking work in this area. This important grant will help encourage further investment, inspire greater breakthroughs around the world, and elevate Canada’s artificial intelligence and image-guided therapy sectors.” Quick facts
Associated links Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA
SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada |