Networks of Centres of Excellence

Excellence Networks Announced

Ottawa, October 26, 1989 - William Winegard, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced today the 14 selected Networks of the new $240 million Networks of Centres of Excellence program. The selection of the Networks is a significant step in the Government of Canada's ongoing dedication to the promotion of Canadian fundamental and long-term applied research.

"This program challenges researchers to break down barriers between disciplines, ideas and institutions and to come together to devise projects to improve industrial competitiveness across Canada. It follows through on the commitment made at the National Conference on Technology and Innovation in Toronto in January 1988, and reiterated in the Prime Minister's speech at this summer's Halifax Forum of Science and Technology Advisory Councils," Mr. Winegard stated.

The Networks form an integral part of the national science and technology strategy. "Since 1984 this government has invested more than $2.5 billion in new funds to support initiatives in science and technology," the minister added.

The Networks of Centres of Excellence represent a new approach to promoting excellence in Canadian scientific research. They will encourage the integration of research communities in industry, universities and government into interrelated grids stretching across the country.

This initiative represents a unique opportunity for the nation's top researchers to work together in a coordinated, multi-year effort which is integrally linked to Canada's long-term industrial competitiveness and, for the first time, they will be provided with a critical mass of funding over an extended period of time.

The selected networks represent a cross-section of the natural and medical sciences and engineering; their industrial linkages will reach into the manufacturing, resource and high technology sectors and business across the country. Each network involves anywhere from 5 to 20 institutions and companies.

The Networks will work to devise projects that will:

boost Canada's performance in science and technology and the country's involvement in long-term basic and applied research
develop world class engineers and scientists
pass on to industry new technical knowledge gained
begin a new era of collaboration and "networking" between researchers at different institutions and companies across the country.

The networks were selected by a peer review committee of 23 leading international scientists as well as an advisory committee of eminent Canadians. Both 'arm's length' bodies included representatives from all regions of Canada who, with their international colleagues, evaluated a total of 158 proposals. Scientific excellence was the basis of their professional evaluation, with industrial relevance, networking and administration being other important factors.

Mr.Winegard commended all of the applicants for the time and effort involved in preparing proposals of such high quality. In addition he thanked the researchers, experts and corporate executives, both Canadian and foreign, who gave their time and expertise in the selection of the networks.

Industry, Science and Technology Minister Harvie Andre, in congratulating the recipients, said, "All fourteen Networks announced today will conduct research in areas that are among the most promising, as well as competitive, fields of the industrial and technological marketplace of tomorrow".

The Networks of Centres of Excellence program will be administered over the life of the program by the Granting Councils on behalf of the Minister of State (Science and Technology).

List of Selected Networks of Centres of Excellence

Bacterial Diseases: Molecular Strategies for the Study and Control of Bacterial Pathogens of Humans, Animals, Fish and Plants / Bactérioses: Stratégies moléculaires pour l'étude et le contrôle des agents pathogène chez les humains, les animaux, les poissons et les plantes

Chembiomed, Edmonton; Connaught Labs, Toronto; International Broodstock Technologies, Vancouver; Microtek R&D; Limited, Sydney, B.C.; National Research Council Canada; Université Laval; University of Alberta; University of British Columbia; University of Calgary; University of Guelph; University of Victoria; VIDO, Saskatoon

Biotechnology for Insect Pest Management / Biotechnologie pour la lutte contre les insectes nuisibles

Agriculture Canada; Forestry Canada; National Research Council of Canada; Queen's University; Université Laval; University of British Columbia; University of Calgary; University of New Brunswick; University of Ottawa; University of Toronto; University of Waterloo; University of Western Ontario; York University

Canadian Network for Space Research / Réseau canadien de recherche spatiale

Atmospheric Environment Service, Toronto; Canadian Astronautics Limited, Ottawa; Com Dev Limited, Cambridge; Institute for Space and Terrestrial Science, Toronto; Itres Research, Calgary; Myrias Corporation, Edmonton; National Research Council of Canada (Herzberg Institute for Astrophysics); SED Systems Inc., Saskatoon; SCI TEC, Saskatoon; Scientific Instruments Limited, Saskatoon; University of Alberta; University of Calgary; University of Saskatchewan; University of Western Ontario; York University

Centre of Excellence for Molecular and Interfacial Dynamics / Centre d'excellence sur la dynamique moléculaire et interfaciale

Carleton University; Dalhousie University; McMaster University; National Research Council Canada; Queen's University; Université Laval; Université de Montréal; Université d'Ottawa; Université de Sherbrooke; University of British Columbia; University of Guelph; University of New Brunswick; University of Saskatchewan; University of Toronto; University of Waterloo; University of Western Ontario

Genetic Basis of Human Disease: Innovations for Health Care / Base génétique des maladies humaines: Innovations dans les soins de santé

Biomedical Research Centre, Vancouver; Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal; McGill University; Queen's University; Université Laval; Université de Montréal; Université du Québec à Chicoutimi; University of British Columbia; Unversity of Calgary; University of Manitoba; University of Ottawa; University of Toronto

Bétons à haute performance / High Performance Concrete

Bickley and Associates, Toronto; Hardy B.B.T., Vancouver; McGill University; Université Laval; Université d'Ottawa; Université de Sherbrooke; University of Alberta; University of British Columbia; University of Toronto

Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) / Institut de robotique et de systèmes intelligents

Concordia University; École Polytechnique; INRS - Télécommunications; McGill University; McMaster University; PRECARN Associates Inc., Nepean; Queen's University; Simon Fraser University; Technical University of Nova Scotia; Université Laval; Université de Montréal; University of Alberta; University of British Columbia; University of Guelph; University of Saskatchewan; University of Toronto; University of Victoria; University of Waterloo; University of Western Ontario; York University

Institute for Telecommunications Research / Institut de recherches en télécommunications

Alberta Telecommunications Research Centre; Carleton University; Concordia University; INRS-Télécommunications; McGill University; McMaster University; Queen's University; Université Laval; Université de Montéal; University of British Columbia; University of Ottawa; University of Toronto; University of Victoria; University of Waterloo

Microelectronic Devices, Circuits and Systems for Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI) / Dispositifs, circuits et systèmes micro-électroniques intégrés à ultra grande échelle (ULSI)

Carleton University; INRS-Énergie; McGill University; University of Calgary; University of Manitoba; University of Toronto; University of Victoria; University of Waterloo; University of Windsor

Neural Regeneration and Functional Recovery / Regénération neurale et réadaptation fonctionnelle

Carleton University; Concordia University; Dalhousie University; Ludwig Institute, Montreal; McGill University; McMaster University; National Research Council of Canada (Biotechnology Research Institute); Queen's University; Université Laval; Université de Montréal; University of Alberta; University of British Columbia; University of Calgary; University of Lethbridge; University of Manitoba; University of Ottawa; University of Saskatchewan; University of Toronto

Ocean Production Enhancement Network (OPEN) / Réseau de mise en valeur des ressources maritimes

Dalhousie University; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; McGill University; Memorial University; Université Laval; University of British Columbia

Protein Engineering : 3D Structure, Function and Design / Génie protéique : structure en trois dimensions, fonction et conception

Biomedical Research Centre, Vancouver; National Research Council of Canada (Biotechnology Research Institute); University of Alberta; University of British Columbia; University of Toronto

Respiratory Health Network of Centres of Excellence / Réseau de centres d'excellence sur les maladies respiratoires

Employment and Immigration Canada; Engineering Interface, North York; Graham and Bierman, Montreal; McGill University; McMaster University; Merck Frosst, Pointe Claire; Trudell Medical, London; Université Laval; Université de Montréal; University of British Columbia; University of Calgary; University of Manitoba; University of Saskatchewan

Science and Engineering for High-Value Papers from Mechanical Wood-Pulps / Science et génie du papier haut de gamme de pâte mécanique

Lakehead University; McGill University; McMaster University; Mount Allison University; National Research Council Canada; Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada, Pointe Claire; Queen's University; Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières; University of British Columbia; University of Ottawa; University of Toronto; University of Western Ontario


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