NRC Annual Report 2001-2002

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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...• Significant advances for the industrial applicationof quantum dots through techniques developed toplace quantum dots at a variety of pre-determinedsites across a semi-conductor substrate. Theproject also developed a technique for growingquantum antidots – potentially useful for nanoelectronicdevices.Access to the world’s knowledgeand informationNRC-CISTI has developed a number of resourcepartnerships providing access for Canadian researchersto the information resources of other majorS&T libraries around the world. In 2001-2002, themajor agreements included: the British DocumentSupply Centre, l’Institut de l’informationScientifique et Technique (INST – France), KoreaInstitute for Science and Technology Information,the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information(China), Sunmedia of Japan, and the Science andTechnology Information Centre (Taiwan).NRC-CISTI also designed the Web site of theTechnology Foresight Network (TFN) of the APECCentre for Technology Foresight, launched inSeptember 2001 in Bangkok, Thailand. The TFN willuse this site to provide information to technologyforesight professionals in APEC economies andglobally, as well as to provide access to a variety ofresources that will help build bridges amongpartners – key tools for innovation and competitivenessin the global economy.44New markets for Canadian Tsuga in JapanCanadian Tsuga, also known as Hem-Fir in Japan, is one of the strongestcommercially available softwood lumber products in the world today. InCanada, Tsuga carries a certified E-120 grade – proof of the wood’s superiorstrength and stiffness. In October 2001, the Japanese Ministry of Land,Infrastructure and Transport confirmed that Canadian Tsuga was fully acceptedfor post-and-beam house construction under the Japanese Building StandardLaw. Japan also assigned design values specifically for Canadian Hem-Firproducts – meaning that Canadian exporters can differentiate Canadianhemlock from that of other countries. This is the first time that Japan hasaccepted a foreign grading for their traditional lumber products. Japan’s acceptanceof the Canadian E -120 standard came, in no small part, because of thedirect involvement and support of NRC-IRC’s Canadian Construction MaterialsCentre for the E-120 certification.Measurement comparisonsstand up to scrutinyThe importance of metrology in international tradehas increased greatly over the past decade.International trade agreements now demanddemonstrated equivalence between the metrologystandards of buyer and seller nations. NRC-IMNS,as Canada’s national metrology authority, representsCanada in measurement comparisons withother nations as part of the Mutual RecognitionArrangement of the Comité international des poidset mesures (CIPM).NRC participated in some 35 such comparisons in2001-2002, as well as in the comprehensive internationalreview process that takes place following thecompletion of comparisons. As a result, NRC’s calibrationand measurement capabilities in acoustics,ultrasound and vibration, photometry and radiometry,and chemical metrology were added to theCIPM database. Canada’s standards are now recognizedby all of our major trading partners, helpingremove technical barriers to international trade andincrease exports.International opportunities for SMEsIn 2001-2002, NRC-IRAP undertook a number oftechnology missions to Taiwan, Thailand, China,Korea and Hong Kong, including participation inthe Team Canada mission to Germany. By the endof the fiscal year, the 53 SMEs involved in themissions had signed 8 MOUs, 7 contracts, and 41partnership agreements. NRC-IRAP also undertooka series of exploratory missions to Asia, Hungary,Mexico and the United States, and participated inseveral missions organized by the Department of
Foreign Affairs (e.g. the composite materialsmission to France) as well as individual provincialmissions.In addition to technology missions, NRC signedor extended a number of key internationalarrangements:• A new agreement was signed with the China-UnitedNations Industrial Development Organization toassist technology transfer and technologicallinkages between Canadian and Chinese SMEs• NRC-IRAP’s support to Intelligent ManufacturingSystems Canada in its work with seven internationalregions on collaborative R&D was extended,with several collaborative projects under developmentinvolving NRC institutes• The agreement with the Canada-Israel IndustrialR&D Foundation was extended to facilitate linkagesbetween Canadian and Israeli SMEs and institutionsNRC – science lends helping hand• The agreement for exchanges of NRC’s IndustrialTechnology Advisors with the Agence national devalorisation de la recherche of France was extendedto investigate best practices and stimulate linkageswith SMEs from both nations• An agreement was signed with Thailand’s NationalScience and Technology Development Agency todevelop its Industrial Research Assistance Program,modelled after NRC-IRAP.• NRC-IRAP also led a mission with 14 CanadianSMEs to the APEC Technomart in Suzhou China toform technology-based joint ventures and seek outnew research collaborations. NRC made sevenpresentations during the Technomart and organizeda major exhibit at the technology fair for the event.Firms signed a number of new agreements.I n t e r n a t i o n a lNRC conducts R&D in areas such as marinebiosciences and seafood safety, medical diagnosticsand devices, agricultural and pharmaceuticalbiotechnologies, construction codesand materials standards for buildings andinfrastructure, aerospace and metrology – allare vital to ensuring public health and safety,not only for Canadians, but for people aroundthe world. In 2001-2002, NRC continued thistradition of “R&D for the public good” througha number of international R&D efforts.45Improving marine toxin andreference standardsNRC-IMB is leading an international team ofscientists from Canada, Australia, NewZealand, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and theUnited States on a three-year APEC project todevelop and validate new analytical methodsand produce new marine toxin standards andreference materials. For the millions of people inthe Pacific region dependent on seafood for theirlivelihood, and as their main source of protein,the project will have life-saving impacts.S C I E N C E A T W O R K F O R C A N A D A
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NRC Annual Report 2001-2002

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