Canada's Nanotechnology Institute Guided By Global Leaders in Research and Industry

First Board of Trustees includes Canadian Nobel Prize winner, international researchers, and community and business leaders

(June 6, 2005– Edmonton, Alberta)— The research of the very small has some big advocates on the first Board of Trustees for the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT). Board members have a global outlook with representatives from national and international academic and research institutions, government and multinational corporations including a Canadian Nobel Prize winner and international community and business leaders.

“Alberta is a proud partner in Canada’s drive to be a world leader in Nanotechnology,” said Victor Doerksen, Minister of Alberta Innovation and Science. “The world class calibre of the Board of Trustees helps establish NINT as an international centre of excellence for nano research and technology commercialization.”

The Board of Trustees will have two roles: to provide advice and guidance on the strategic direction of the Institute and to act as the institute’s Advisory Board to the National Research Council of Canada.

“The quality of people on the Board of Trustees re-enforces that Canada’s National Institute for Nanotechnology is among the elite research institutes in the world and I am proud that NRC’s leading edge research teams are a key part of this initiative.” said NRC President Pierre Coulombe. “I am looking forward to seeing NINT’s international reputation continue to grow under the under the Board’s direction.”

"The University of Alberta played an integral role in the establishment of NINT and is a proud partner in its development," said University of Alberta President, Rod Fraser. "The Board of Trustees announced today will clearly provide the kind of advice and guidance to continue moving NINT forward as a world leader."

The National Institute for Nanotechnology conducts advanced research and fosters innovation in support of a new generation of nanotechnology-based firms. Canada’s flagship nanotechnology institute, its unique multidisciplinary environment integrates National Research Council (NRC) and the University of Alberta researchers across numerous disciplines. Established in 2001, NINT is a joint initiative of the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the NRC and the University of Alberta.

The first meeting of the Board of Trustees is being held today in Edmonton, Alberta.

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Biographies of the board members

Pierre Naud
National Research Council
Tel: (613) 990-6091
Email: pierre.naud@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Anne Douglas
Alberta Innovation and Science
Tel: (780) 422-1562

Sandra Halme
University of Alberta
Tel: (780) 492-0442

Backgrounder

• The institute’s governance protocol determines that the Board of Trustees is appointed by and reports to the Institute’s Oversight Committee which is comprised of the Presidents of the National Research Council and the University of Alberta, and the Deputy Minister of the Government of Alberta Department of Innovation and Science.

• Ex-Officio members of the Board of Trustees are:
-National Research Council Vice President David Simpson University of -Alberta Vice President Gary Kachanoski Alberta Innovation and Science -Assistant Deputy Minister Ron Dyck National Institute for -Nanotechnology Director General Nils Petersen (non-voting)

• Service on the NINT Board of Trustees is on a voluntary basis.

• The budget for the National Institute for Nanotechnology is $120 million for the first five years. Half the funds come from the Government of Canada and half from the Government of Alberta and the University of Alberta.

• Nanotechnology is defined as the application of science to developing new materials and processes by manipulating molecular and atomic particles. A nanometre is a billionth of a metre, that is, about 1/80,000 of the diameter of a human hair, or 10 times the diameter of a hydrogen atom. Nano comes from the Greek word for dwarf ‘nanos’.