President's Insight

NRC – A Proud Past, a Vital Future

by NRC President, Pierre Coulombe

It is with great pleasure that I present Science at Work for Canada – a new strategy for the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). A strategy that will drive our organization over the next five years and beyond.

Based on extensive consultations with stakeholders in business, industry, the academic community, and governments at all levels, this strategy will ensure that NRC continues to meet our industry's and our nation's fast-evolving needs. We will continue the proven NRC activities and programs that have shown true value – from conducting cutting-edge research and development and providing technology advice and assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises, to forging research partnerships with Canadian firms, transferring our technologies to industry, and sparking innovation through research clusters in communities across the land. All these activities generate economic and social benefits and improve the global competitiveness of Canadian firms.

But, we will also move in new directions. We will focus our R&D on areas that will make a real difference to entire sectors of our economy. We will concentrate more of our resources on finding solutions to enduring issues – in health and wellness, the environment, and sustainable energy – issues that affect our economy, our society and our quality of life. And we will also engage industry, university and government players in building a stronger innovation system for Canada.

Throughout the last nine decades, NRC has been a potent, valuable resource for Canada – one that has constantly adapted itself to the current and emerging R&D needs of industry. Having the foresight, talent and commitment to make a real difference for Canada is a tradition NRC will continue to uphold. Our new strategy recognizes that we must not only respond to the changing needs of industry and the nation, but also to the changing realities of R&D and our place in a fast-paced world.

It's not enough for NRC to be one of the world's best national research organizations. To be a valued force for innovation, we need to be even more accessible to all the Canadian organizations that could capitalize on our discoveries, our capacities and our services.

We are a hands-on research performer and a business partner to industry, to universities and to other government agencies across Canada and around the world. We operate our own cutting-edge research facilities in all parts of the country.

Our strategy for the next five years is to see NRC become the 'go-to' national resource for science and technology based innovation for Canada. We are confident that NRC has the hard-earned respect as well as the right capabilities and the right resources to do the job. Our strategy is about living up to an important promise – a promise to industry, government and all Canadians – to exemplify Science at Work for Canada.

For the complete version of NRC's strategy document:  Science at Work for Canada

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