Highlights
|
|
NRC Expanding Reach of Industrial Materials Cluster
 NRC, along with Canada Economic Development and Valotech, recently announced new investments towards the creation of a new Industry Partnership Facility at the NRC Industrial Materials Institute (NRC-IMI) in Boucherville, Québec. Known as the Crossroads for Industrial Materials Innovation, the new facility will play a critical role in NRC's ongoing cluster-building efforts in the Montreal region. Industry Partnership Facilities (IPFs) help bring industry and researchers closer together, cultivate business and scientific networks and attract new resources to the region.
"This future facility represents NRC's commitment to nurture the growth of high tech clusters in communities across Canada," said Dr. Arthur Carty, NRC President. "It will enable some of the world's best researchers in the field of industrial manufacturing technologies from NRC, universities and the private sector to work side-by-side, fostering innovation and commercialization opportunities for Canada." The new 20,000 sq foot facility should be complete by the end of 2003 and will have space to incubate more than 15 companies.
NRC-IMI has played an active role in the region since 1978 and carries out research on industrial materials (i.e. aluminum, composites, etc.), their formulation and forming, as well as the control of their processes. NRC-IMI provides solutions for the metallurgy, polymer, aerospace, automotive and biomedical sectors and contributes to a number of NRC-wide research initiatives, such as nanotechnology and fuel cells.
The IPF model has proved to be an important NRC contribution towards community innovation. In 2001-2002, over 70 firms were incubating in NRC facilities across the country. By the end of 2003 there will be a network of IPFs at NRC facilities across the country. These facilities offer start-ups access to specialized laboratory space, interaction with NRC researchers and access to the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program.
|
