There is an update on the SPARC website.So it looks as though this coin is very much alive.

Message from the Exec team
Strategic postponement of ICO - Details below

2017 saw SPARC gain significant traction and interest as we have developed strategic collaborations and partnerships with key stakeholders and investors. The SPARC team has grown to include a CFO, new experienced advisers, and more excited engineers.

Due to significant Canadian interest in SPARC, we are in a strong financial position. Given this opportunity, we have the chance to distribute tokens more strategically to the benefit of all participants.

2018 is forecasted to be the year of growth in decentralized applications. SPARC's technology is designed to facilitate this growth by providing a complimentary and cost-effective distributed application layer to other more-expensive distributed asset layers.

In 2018 We will:

Collect large regional users & suppliers of compute power and work with them to migrate to our technology.
Leverage larger projects to create common SDKs for individuals and smaller researchers.
Release the Distributed Compute Protocol© & grow the network before public ICO
Help to grow a local university's distributed application incubator.
Distribute token grants to strategic users of compute power.
Our Next Development Steps:

SPARC is collaborating with an S&P/TSX 60 compute supplier in a closed beta-test. They will be computing an astronomy project for a large group of Canadian researchers.
A complimentary astronomy SDK is being created in parallel for release to other project groups.
Public beta-test of SPARC to begin in coming weeks.
Launch of MVP shortly after.
Our Next Funding Steps:

Mid-December 2017, Doyle Capital Management, NYC, invested a significant amount of pre-seed funding into SPARC’s economy.
Upon the successful outcome of SPARC’s pilot project, SPARC will hold a private seed round led by Doyle Capital Management.
Launch large-scale marketing campaign through an established Canadian firm, announcing successful pilot projects and strategic partnerships.
Launch of public ICO summer 2018, date to be announced.