Our Mandate

NRC is a Government of Canada organization. Our mandate is set out in the National Research Council Act (NRC Act).

Under the NRC Act, NRC is responsible for:

• undertaking, assisting or promoting scientific and industrial research in different fields of importance to Canada;
• establishing, operating and maintaining a national science library;
• publishing and selling or otherwise distributing such scientific and technical information as the Council deems necessary;
• investigating standards and methods of measurement;
• working on the standardization and certification of scientific and technical apparatus and instruments and materials used or usable by Canadian industry;
• operating and administering any astronomical observatories established or maintained by the Government of Canada;
• administering NRC's research and development activities, including grants and contributions used to support a number of international activities; and
• providing vital scientific and technological services to the research and industrial communities. This mandate is discharged to a great extent through the operation of the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program, the NRC Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information and the Canadian Technology Network.

For More Information, visit the Justice Canada Web site where you can learn more about NRC's legislative framework