Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada (NSERC) is the national instrument for making strategic
investments in Canada's capability in science and technology.
NSERC supports both basic university research through research
grants and project research through partnerships of universities
with industry, as well as the advanced training of highly
qualified people in both areas.

Budget
In 2001, NSERC will invest $550 million in postsecondary
research and training in all the natural sciences and
engineering. The Council supports excellent research and
training for over 8,700 researchers in 60 Canadian universities.

Excellence through Expert Review
NSERC uses expert review to adjudicate applications.
All funding is awarded competitively through the peer review
process, and excellence is always a criterion for funding. Each
year more than 10,000 volunteer experts help make the grant
choices. In addition, more than 500 experts from the university,
industry and government sectors across Canada serve on NSERC's
policy and expert review committees.

Research Partnerships Program
NSERC Research Partnerships Program funding promote
innovation through flexible and responsive programming designed
to maximize the benefits to Canada of the results of university-
based research. These programs link universities with the
public and private sectors, building relationships that
stimulate knowledge exchange, put ideas to work, and provide
students with new opportunities. The grant funding leverages
more than 160 percent of additional funding from industry,
universities and government. More than 1,000 Canadian companies
have participated in the Research Partnerships Program to date.

Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCEs)

The objectives of the NCE program are to:
- stimulate internationally competitive, leading-edge
fundamental and applied research in areas critical to Canadian
economic and social development;
- develop and retain world-class researchers in areas essential
to Canada's productivity and economic growth;
- create nation-wide multidisciplinary and multisectoral
research partnerships, integrating the research and development
priorities of all participants, and;
- accelerate the exchange of research result within the networks
and the use of this knowledge within Canada by organizations
that can harness it for Canadian and economic development.

The existing 18 networks have created dynamic synergies in the
areas of health and biotechnology, information technology,
natural resources, infrastructure and human resources.

In 1999-2000, the-networks have partnered with over 1,100
private and public sector organizations in Canada and abroad,
leveraging cash and in-kind contributions in excess of $70.6
million, of a total NCE annual budget of $135 million.
Approximately 1,500 researchers in 98 Canadian and foreign
universities were involved in NCE activities. NCEs also
contributed to the development of over 3,600 highly qualified
professionals, including research associates, postdoctoral
fellows and graduate and summer students. Thirty-one patents
were awarded, 71 licences granted and 14 spin-off companies
created. Since the program's inception, NCE's have accounted
for 10% of university spin-off companies.

The NCE program is managed by a Directorate and reports to
steering and management committees comprised of representatives
from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
(NSERC), the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and
Industry Canada.

Strategic Investment for Canadians
NSERC is a key partner in the nation's research and
training effort. Its funding:
leads to important scientific and engineering advances;
creates new knowledge to make Canadians' lives better;
supports training of highly qualified people;
provides access to international technologies and
expertise;
encourages industry to invest in university research;
transfers new technologies to industry;
leads to process and product innovation; and therefore,
in all these ways,
creates jobs, new companies and industries.

Company Details

Company Information

Janet Walden
Title: General Manager
Area of Responsibility: Management Executive
Telephone: (613) 996-1545
Fax: (613) 947-6371
Email: Click Here

Services

Strategic Investment