Minister Emerson Announces NSERC's Synergy Awards for Innovation

“These awards celebrate Canadian success stories in R&D collaboration between universities and industry,” said Minister Emerson. “Collaborations such as these make this country one of the world’s most innovative and ensure our future prosperity and quality of life.”

Seven partnerships were singled out for national recognition:

• University of Waterloo’s Symbolic Computation Group and Maplesoft for the development and successful marketing of the Maple computer algebra system, which has transformed the way engineers and scientists use technology and is regarded as the best commercial computer algebra system in the world.
  
• University of Saskatchewan professor Jeff Schoenau and Western Ag Innovations Inc., for the Plant Root Simulator™, a probe that simplifies the collection and analysis of soil samples and improves the accuracy of the results. Widely used by farmers to fine tune the application of fertilizer to their fields, the probe is also used as a research tool by agricultural scientists in Canada and abroad.
  
• University of Manitoba’s Department of Microbiology and Cangene Corporation for their collaboration in developing mammalian cell culture processes for commercial production of recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies and vaccines targeted at diseases ranging from AIDS to multiple sclerosis.
  
• TRIUMF and MDS Nordion, for the development and production of nuclear diagnostic and treatment tools for a variety of illnesses, including thyroid cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders. TRIUMF, a world-class subatomic physics research lab, was launched in 1967 and is now a collaboration involving the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, the University of Toronto and Carleton University as full members, along with six associate member universities.
  
• Université Laval and key peat industry partners across Canada, for research and development into restoration and reclamation practices for peatlands. Canada is a world leader in the wise harvest and restoration of peatlands, with research now underway on reclamation for tree plantations, berry crops and wildlife habitat.
  
• Lakehead University, Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, and four other forest companies for their Forest Watershed and Riparian Disturbance (FORWARD) project to develop decision support tools that incorporate social and environmental issues into science-based forest management. With the involvement of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, the other partners have access to the wealth of First Nations knowledge of the land to help design and implement future research.
  
• The Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (Paprican), the Canadian Pulp and Paper Network for Innovation in Education and Research (PAPIER), the University of British Columbia, École Polytechnique de Montréal, and McGill University for a long-term partnership to conduct fundamental and applied research across a range of disciplines supporting the pulp and paper industry in their development of environmentally sustainable products and processes. Complementing its funding of university research, Paprican employs over 340 scientists, engineers, and support staff at pilot plant facilities in Pointe-Claire, Que., Vancouver, and Prince George, B.C.

“These prizes celebrate and recognize effective partnerships that connect our university-based research leaders with those in the private sector who can deliver research results to the marketplace,” said NSERC President Tom Brzustowski. “The Canadian university prize-winning teams will each receive a $25,000 research grant.”

The prizes will be presented tonight at an awards ceremony at the Waterloo Inn, Waterloo, Ontario.

Science and Engineering Research Canada (also known as NSERC) is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation. It supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among postsecondary institutions, government and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

For further information, contact:

Michael Dwyer
Media and Public Affairs Officer
NSERC Newsbureau
Tel.: (613) 992-9001
E-mail: michael.dwyer@nserc.ca

Stéphanie Leblanc
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
Tel.: (613) 995-9001