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Frequently Asked Questions

General

Where is NRC-IIT located?
The NRC Institute for Information Technology (NRC-IIT) is a multi-site organization with offices in Ottawa, ON; Gatineau, QC; Fredericton and Moncton, NB. Site specific and contact information is available for each location.

Does NRC-IIT provide funding for my research?
NRC-IIT does not provide financial assistance. Small and medium size enterprises may contact the NRC's award-winning Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) for additional information on sources of financial and other assistance.

How do I sell my company’s products or services to NRC-IIT?
Information about products relating to networking or server applications should be forwarded to the following staff at NRC-IIT:
Network products and information: Randy Born
Software and server applications: Charles Kingsley

Collaborative Research

What kind of projects could qualify?
Most importantly, projects must include a significant amount of research. In addition and in general,

projects must be compatible with the Institute's research directions;
NRC-IIT must have the required resources and expertise available;
projects must be realistic and have a reasonable potential for impact; and
potential partners must be in a position to fulfil their commitments and use the outcomes of the research.

How does NRC-IIT define “research”?
Research is the discovery of new knowledge that can be effectively applied within several product cycles. Because of its longer-term nature, such research tends to be more high risk than most companies can assume. However, successful research results can be extremely beneficial to industry, with significant returns on investment.

For specific examples and a list of NRC-IIT's current areas of research, please consult the Research section.

Will NRC-IIT provide funding?
NRC-IIT will contribute resources to the joint project, but not to its partners. NRC-IIT’s partners and/or specific projects may be eligible for financial assistance through other programs. NRC-IIT will work with its partner(s) to provide the necessary documentation for such applications.

Licensing Opportunities

Do I have to pay for a licence?
Most licences, with the exception of open source and academic licences, require payments to NRC-IIT, since the Institute both invests significant resources into research and usually assumes most of the risk inherent in it. NRC-IIT expects that its partners will benefit from the research outputs by profitably marketing technologies and, as such, will be in a position to pay for licensing fees and/or royalties.

Will I own the intellectual property (IP) if I get a licence?
Licensees acquire the right to use, commercially or otherwise, the technology outlined in specific agreements. However, the transfer of intellectual property (IP) is not included. Experience has shown that such arrangements are viable for most companies, including those seeking to secure Venture Capital funding.

Will NRC-IIT provide technical support?
NRC-IIT and its researchers are committed to successful technology transfer. While NRC-IIT does not typically provide technical support, there may be cases within the context of technology transfer that require more extensive technical support, beyond the initial transfer of technology. In such cases, partners negotiate a mutually agreeable arrangement with NRC-IIT.

Services

Does NRC-IIT provide programming services?
No. NRC-IIT’s mandate is to conduct research and facilitate the transfer of technology. The Institute does not provide programming services.

Will NRC-IIT evaluate my software?
NRC-IIT cannot endorse or evaluate software or products.

Can I or my group tour the NRC-IIT labs?
Conducting world-class research requires sustained, intense concentration. Frequent tours of labs and facilities have the potential of interfering with this focus, so NRC-IIT prefers to consider requests for visits on a case-by-case basis.

Organizations who would like to request a tour are asked to contact Claudia Munante or Dr. George Forester. School groups should contact the NRC Public Awareness Officer, Margaret Kennedy.