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...“Innovation is the process through which neweconomic and social benefits are extracted fromknowledge… Knowledge has become the keydriver of economic performance.”Canada’s Innovation Strategy:Achieving Excellence – Investing in People,Knowledge and Opportunity6Building nationalR&D capacityNRC makes strategic investments in R&D facilities,programs and networks in every part ofCanada. It is the home of unique national scienceand engineering facilities, Canada’s nationalscience library, and Canada’s source for sciencebasednational measurements and standards. NRCalso plays an important role in major nationalscience facilities, initiatives and programs, helpingbuild Canada’s reserves of knowledge – the newestcurrency of our economy. NRC’s contributions tonational infrastructure create new opportunitiesand leverage Canada’s R&D investments.In 2001-2002, NRC made a number of major contributionsto building Canada’s R&D infrastructureand capacity. Among the highlights:NRC – National Institute forNanotechnologyNRC moved forward on the establishment of itsNational Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT), a$120 million world-class facility to be located onthe campus of the University of Alberta inEdmonton. This new research facility is a uniquecollaboration between the Government of Canada,represented by NRC, the province of Alberta andthe University of Alberta.NINT will be multi-disciplinary in scope, integratingNRC and partner strengths in physics, chemistry,engineering, biotechnology, informatics, pharmacy,medicine and new materials. The research programwill build on NRC’s and the University of Alberta’sexisting world-class nanosciences and nanotechnologyR&D strengths. Initially, NINT will direct itsNRC – Core strengths forCanadian R&D• 18 research institutes• 6 advanced technology and innovation centres• Sustained research in critical sectors: biotechnology,manufacturing, information and communicationstechnologies, aerospace, construction,nanotechnology, photonics, astronomy andastrophysics, fuel cells, ocean engineering, and others• National S&T knowledge and information resources• Local, regional, national and international S&Tnetworks, partnerships and collaborations – accessfor Canadian R&D to the world• National standards, codes and measurements, relatedR&D and services.