$39 million to provide strategic boost to health and aquaculture researchers at Canadian universities

Ottawa, December 3, 2002 - Allan Rock, Minister of Industry, today announced an investment of up to $39 million between 2003 and 2005 to sustain the activities of three federal Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE)—the Canadian Stroke Network, AquaNet, and the Canadian Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics.

The funding is awarded following an in-depth review by international experts. It will support the implementation of strategies aimed at boosting Canada’s research, training, and technology transfer capacity in the areas of health and aquaculture.

“These networks bring together almost 300 researchers at Canadian universities and in industry to look into issues that affect a large segment of our population,” said Minister Rock. “The NCE Program is part of the federal government strategy to ensure that Canadians can compete and lead in the global economy by turning ideas and knowledge into new products, new services, and new ways of doing things.”

The funding was awarded following a rigorous and independent review process involving experts of international stature and using the following criteria:

• research excellence;
• training of highly qualified personnel;
• networking and partnerships;
• knowledge exchange and technology exploitation; and
• network management.

Our decision to extend our funding commitment to these networks is the result of a scientific review that measured their ability to deliver a world-class research and training environment, as well as effective strategies to transfer knowledge to those who can put it to productive use,” said Tom Brzustowski, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Chair of the NCE Steering Committee. “These networks succeeded in creating innovative partnerships between academia and the private sector that are resulting in new vaccines, better therapies, and new knowledge to strengthen our economy and improve our quality of life.”

AquaNet provides biological insights and technological innovations to enhance the volume and quality of Canada’s aquaculture production. The network sponsors 39 research projects devoted to improving the country's aquaculture industry through higher productivity, sustaining the quality of the marine environment, and helping participants deal with the social and economic factors of their enterprise. The network’s administrative centre is located at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The Canadian Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics (CANVAC) is a network of leading Canadian scientists specializing in the fields of immunology, virology, and molecular biology. CANVAC's researchers—along with their partners from the private, public, and government sectors—are developing vaccines for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and hepatitis C. The network’s administrative centre is located at the University of Montreal.

The Canadian Stroke Network was established to create a national consortium with the capacity to enhance our knowledge of stroke; develop new treatment plans and medical technologies to improve individual outcomes; and help create policies that will benefit the country as a whole. Its administrative centre is located at the University of Ottawa.

The NCEs are unique partnerships among industry, universities, and government. They are designed to develop the economy and improve quality of life for Canadians. These nation-wide networks connect excellent research with industrial know-how and practical investment. In 2001-2002, a total of 778 companies, 63 hospitals, 155 universities, more than 200 provincial and federal government departments and agencies, and more than 300 other organizations from Canada and abroad are involved in the NCE Program.

The Network of Centres of Excellence Program is an initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Industry Canada.