$118M supports public-private science and technology partnerships

Edmonton, AB – The federal government is providing $118 million in funding over three years in six National Research Council (NRC) technology cluster initiatives. As part of this announcement, the NRC National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) will receive $36 million over the next three years. The funding will also support hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in Vancouver, plants for health and wellness in Saskatoon, biomedical technologies in Winnipeg, photonics in Ottawa, and aluminium transformation in the Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean region.

Technology clusters are broadly based community partnerships between industry, academia and all levels of government, focused on building a competitive advantage for Canada through research and innovation.

“Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary effort, drawing from fields such as applied physics, materials science, supramolecular chemistry, life sciences, and even mechanical and electrical engineering,” said Dr Pierre Coulombe, president of NRC. “Canada will only reap the economic, productivity, and health and wellness benefits of this emerging technology by working collaboratively and by approaching partnerships creatively as done here in Edmonton.”