NRC Annual Report 2001-2002

N R C – F R O M D I S C O V E R Y T O I N N O V A T I O N...“Promoting innovation, research and development is a cornerstone ofour government’s agenda. With the creation of this Institute, Canadawill be poised to play a leading role in this exciting new technology –widely considered to rival the impact of the 19th century industrialrevolution. This joint investment is another great example of what canbe accomplished through our Team Canada approach to makingCanada a leader in the new knowledge-based economy.”The Right Honourable Jean ChrétienPRIME MINISTER OF CANADA40British Columbia – fuel cellslighting the wayThe NRC Innovation Centre (NRC-IC) in Vancouveris home to NRC’s National Fuel Cells R&D Program.When funding from the December 2001 federalbudget doubled the NRC-IC budget, work began tocreate a full-fledged NRC institute to lead NRC’sfuel cell and fuel cell manufacturing research, technologydevelopment and transfer programs. NRCwill link its strengths with the province’s fuel cellsleaders, expertise, and networks, and with relatedfuel cell activities nationally, to promote the growthof an environmentally sound, viable fuel cellsindustry in the region and across Canada. This is asignificant opportunity area for Canada – the estimatedvalue of the fuel cells market by 2010 is$100 billion worldwide. British Columbia, site ofthe nation’s most promising emerging cluster offuel cell innovators, is well-positioned to leadCanada’s effort to capture a significant share of thismarket.These developments follow on investments inNRC-IC and in collaborations with government andindustry partners to promote fuel cells R&D andcommercialization activities. For example, NRC-ICis working to complete the construction of ninenew hydrogen-safe fuel cell research laboratories atits Fuel Cell Technology Centre, in partnership withFuel Cells Canada and Western EconomicDiversification Canada, to accommodate growingdemand for hydrogen-safe fuel cell laboratoryspace.The new laboratories will serve many purposes,such as providing space for R&D testing, productdemonstration, and incubator facilities for newcompanies. The labs will also be used to carry outtesting and development of new parts and subsystemsdeveloped either by NRC-IC or as a result ofNRC collaborations. Existing developers of fuel celltechnologies will also have the opportunity to usethe labs to demonstrate their technology forcommercialization of their products.In the coming months, NRC will host a communityRound Table to help define the agenda and actionplans to drive this important local and nationalinnovation initiative.