$4.5M partnership for nanotechnology R&D

Edmonton, AB, and Mississauga, ON, – Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC), the National Research Council Canada (NRC), the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and Alberta’s provincial government have come together in a $4.5 million partnership for research and development of materials-based nanotechnology over the next three years.

The three partners will invest funds, human resources and available infrastructures to create a research program and teams focused on developing commercially successful nanotechnology-based discoveries. Personnel from NINT and XRCC will collaborate on research projects at NINT in Edmonton and at XRCC in Mississauga.

The funds will contribute to the hiring of six to 10 scientists who will investigate materials-based nanotechnologies, including document and display-related technologies. The research program, co-managed by XRCC and NINT, will allow access to Xerox’s experience in successfully commercializing technology to facilitate the market application of resulting inventions.

“This level of public and private sector partnership helps fuel the type of innovation that will keep Alberta, and Canada as a whole, strong and competitive in an increasingly global, knowledge-based economy,” said Doug Horner, minister for advanced education and technology, government of Alberta. “Researchers will have the opportunity to take scientific ideas through the full cycle of innovation, from initial concept to commercialization, which will contribute to building a stronger Alberta.”

XRCC was established in 1974 to develop the materials used globally by Xerox Corporation, and it began nanotechnology-enabled research efforts several years ago. It has already developed successfully commercial materials, including a technology for making more cost-effective and environmentally efficient toner for printers. XRCC will now be able to expand its nanotechnology efforts.

Hadi Mahabadi, vice-president and director, Xerox Research Centre of Canada, will co-manage the new nanotechnology collaboration with Dr Nils Petersen, director general, NINT.