Driving Innovation Through Research Excellence - AUTO21

Canada is already well known for its skilled workforce. But it is time we are recognized for our innovative and smart
workforce too. AUTO21 is helping to promote this capability. Thanks to continued investment by the Government of
Canada and partners, AUTO21 is helping to provide these automotive minds through an expanded automotive research
community and a steady supply of expertly trained young people who have been exposed to the best of the research
and industry worlds.
Since 2001, a key mandate of AUTO21 has been the development of a Canadian automotive research community. Prior
to AUTO21, automotive research occurred throughout Canada in small pockets but with little alignment, strategic planning
or connection to industry’s needs. With an active research community of about 230 academic researchers, AUTO21
has led to more research being conducted in Canada, and has helped smaller Canadian companies leverage a national
team of experts for in-house R&D. AUTO21 has helped to position Canada as an advanced nation capable of world-class
R&D which makes it more attractive to potential investors.
“Several announcements this past year indicate
the Canadian automotive sector is a survivor. For
the second year in a row, more vehicles were
produced in Ontario than in Michigan. ”
4
Following a successful mid-term review of its operations in 2004, AUTO21 started 2005-2006 with new federal funding of
approximately $5.8 million, part of a three-year $17.4 million commitment that will complete the Network’s first seven-year
funding cycle. With this federal investment, AUTO21 was able to leverage the funding by partnering with automotive and
public-sector companies to provide an impressive $24.5 million two-year commitment to 41 projects that began April 1, 2005.
Clearly, the Government of Canada and Canada’s major industrial companies are committed to helping the country’s best
automotive researchers develop safer and cleaner vehicles while enhancing one of Canada’s largest economic sectors.
AUTO21 Annual Report 2005-2006