Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, read about trading day for Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals, an acquisition by Shift, and a new circular economy program.

Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 670 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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$1.7 billion in research funding

University of Victoria researchers are getting a big boost in funding after the Government of Canada announced a $1.7 billion investment in Canada’s science and research community. The funding will be distributed to 7,700 researchers and students through grants, scholarships, fellowships and other programs.

Of that $1.7 billion, 17 UVic researchers will claim $3 million, to be spread over 19 projects, including:

• Keivan Ahmadi: Autonomous identification of machining dynamics for intelligent vibration suppression in milling operations

• Alexandra Branzan Albu: Computer vision-based deep learning algorithms for detecting marine life and physical phenomena from acoustic backscatter time series

• Zuomin Dong: Development of electric medium-duty trucks (e-MDTs) through model-based design and optimization

Funding for the UVic projects will come through the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Alliance grant program. NSERC Alliance grants encourage university researchers to collaborate with partner organizations from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

✅ Give me a sign: Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals began trading on Nasdaq. The Victoria-based biotech company is trading under the symbol EPRX.

👋 Oh na na, what’s my name? Shift acquired Shift. Shift.com, that is. The local company challenging the big web browsers has long been pursuing the domain with its name.

🌎 Around the world: The Synergy Foundation announced its Project Zero Circular Economy Accelerator Program. The program will help Vancouver Island- and Sunshine Coast-based businesses incorporate circular economy principles and practices. Intake for the program is open now.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Assistant Deputy Minister at BC Public Service BC

• Director, Data and Analytics at BC Public Services BC

• Junior Quality Assurance Analyst at VertiGIS North America

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

April 30 | Leading to Election - Breakfast with Premier David Eby

Start your day with insights from BC's Premier, the Hon. David Eby, on key issues shaping our province's future. Engage in a lively, moderated Q&A session focused on business and community priorities for Greater Victoria and beyond.

The event is a chance to connect with fellow community leaders over a delicious breakfast. You'll gain valuable perspectives and build relationships that help guide our community's path forward.

May 6 | Ambition 2035 Hybrid Event

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster regularly convenes its network to report on activity, share insights, and build the path to transformational growth of Canada’s ocean sector. This spring, the group is hosting two hybrid events to continue working toward Ambition 2035, a discussion paper around the 5X growth, and the $220 billion vision for Canada’s sustainable ocean economy.

Don't miss an opportunity to hear from sector leaders, learn how the ocean economy is enabling communities, engage in action planning, and make connections with like-minded peers in Canada’s ocean network.

June 4-25 | Data Management & Analytics Roadshow 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of data and analytics, this conference stands as a beacon for industry leaders, professionals, and innovators seeking to navigate the complexities of today’s information age. Discussions will unravel the paramount importance of data governance, efficient data management, and the strategic application of AI.

From understanding strategic frameworks for robust data governance to exploring the ethical implementation of AI, attendees can anticipate gaining actionable perspectives and knowledge essential for navigating the intricacies of the information age.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

We at Victoria Tech Journal know you, our community, pretty well. Are you searching for someone in your field to have coffee with, a hiring hookup, a lead on local investors, or suggestion for a great Victoria tech tool? Whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen.

Email your requests to [email protected].

Have something or someone we should know about?

Reply or email [email protected] so we can work together to spotlight the lesser-known stories of Victoria's tech ecosystem.