There is increasing attention to sub-national regions in science and technology (S&T) policy. This paper examines the recent evolution of provincial S&T policies in the Canadian provinces, focusing on how they link university research to regional technological development. Drawing on multiple sources of data and evidence, this study identifies and analyzes trends in provincial policies over the past decade. From the isolated initiatives established in a few large provinces in the 1980s, we are now witnessing a diversification of S&T programmes across the country, along with the rise of a distinctive provincial policy infrastructure. Among the various types of provincial programmes, there is an emphasis on promoting "world class" science in selected fields, bringing targeted investments in universities' research capacity.