National Research Council Canada

National Research Council Canada (NRC) is one of the primary agencies that undertakes and assists with scientific and industrial research for the Government of Canada. Established in 1916, NRC began as an advisory body to the Canadian government, but has since taken an active role in federal research and development and now partners nationally and internationally with private and public sector organizations to stimulate technological innovation and wealth creation. NRC now includes more than 20 institutes and programs, which are organized into five main areas: life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, technology and industry support, and corporate management.

NRC has played a significant role in supporting Canadian nanotechnology research, particularly in regards to biomedicine, materials sciences, and information and communications technologies. Nanotechnology research is conducted through a variety of NRC-supported organizations, such as the Biotechnology Research Institute, the Institute for Aerospace Research, the Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology, the Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, the Industrial Materials Institute, the Institute for Microstructural Sciences, the Institute for National Measurement Standards, the Institute for Research in Construction, the National Institute for Nanotechnology, and the Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences. These organizations undertake research on innovations that include nanomaterials, polymer nanocomposites, nanoelectrodes/biosensors, fuel cell technology, thin films and surfaces, and nanometrology.

Of the aforementioned institutes established by the NRC, the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) has become a flagship for the NRC's nanotechnology focus, and garners recognition as offering the “quietest research space in Canada,” a building with laboratory space [Page 593]designed to minimize acoustical noise, vibration, and electromagnetic interference that would otherwise impact upon sensitive experiments. The NRC established the NINT in 2001 in partnership with the University of Alberta. Since 2007, NRC has partnered with the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) in a Nanotechnology Initiative that funds project grants focused on the commercialization of nanoscience and nanotechnology research. Through this partnership the Canadian government aims to keep pace in terms of innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization of publicly-funded nanotechnology research. The Nanotechnology Initiative focuses Canadian research efforts on clean energy, environmental sustainability, and information and communication technologies.

Beyond supporting and maintaining various platforms for nanotechnology research, NRC has given rise to a number of other specialized Canadian agencies and organizations over its history, including: Atomic Energy Canada Ltd., Canadian Space Agency, Communications Security Establishment, Defence Research Board (now known as Defence Research and Development Canada) Medical Research Council (now known as Canadian Institutes of Health Research), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Communications Research Centre, and Canadian Police Research Centre. As an agency of the Government of Canada, NRC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Industry and is governed by a council of members appointed from NRC client organizations.