Innovation Anthology #272:
When it comes to funding university research, one of the main granting agencies is NSERC, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
And now the Council is making more money available to encourage research partnerships between academia and industry.
Jim Edwards, former member of Parliament and now Chair of NSERC, explains the particular focus on small and medium-size business.
JIM EDWARDS: It’s a fact that 60 percent of the 100 largest companies in Canada use NSERC collaborations but only 7 percent of the smaller companies do. And so we’re seeking to fill that gap. Ultimately the goal is to improve Canada’s competitiveness. We invest more in academic based research per capita than any other country in the G7. On the other hand, we trail very badly in terms of industry based research. And so we’re hoping in a modest way to be able to kick start that and we’re hoping to double the number of partnerships that exist within the next five years.
To learn more about the NSERC industry program, visit www.NSERCPartnerships.ca
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY, I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
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Program Date: 2009-12-01