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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Welcome to the 2005-2006 Networks of Centres of Excellence
(NCE) Annual Report. This year's theme is enhancing value,
reflecting the major role of the program – that of adding
value to the high quality research of the networks' investigators.
That value-added takes many forms, from focusing research
in critical areas for Canada to transferring knowledge results
to Canadians.
The NCE program brings together investigators from a wide
range of natural, social, technological and health sciences
to integrate expertise, overcome obstacles and inspire innovation.
We help researchers – in fields as diverse as structural
engineering, mathematics, geomatics, forestry and photonics
or in the areas of stroke and arthritis prevention and treament,
for example – interact with industry, governments and
the not-for-profit sector to ensure that innovation is transformed
into products and processes to improve Canada's economic prosperity
and quality of life. We initiate the interface between Canada's
leading scientists and those who guide our governments so
that Canadians benefit from informed and enlightened public
policy.
Over the past year we were particularly successful in enhancing
value. The numbers are impressive:
- The NCE program leveraged partnership investments of
almost $70 million in 2005-2006, including $27.4 million
from private sector companies. When the NCE program's
own funding is included, almost $150 million was available
for research, training, knowledge translation and commercialization.
- Overall, 926 companies, 350 provincial and federal government
departments and agencies, 64 hospitals, 202 universities
and 628 organizations from Canada and around the world were
linked through NCE-enabled activities.
- More than 6,000 researchers and HQP (highly qualified
personnel such as research associates and technicians, postdoctoral
fellows, and graduate students) were involved in NCE projects.
- NCE scientists filed 60 patents and published 3,958 papers
in refereed scientific journals. In total, 37 licences were
granted or were under negotiation, while three spin-off
companies were born.
The year also saw considerable expansion with the introduction
of the NCE New Initiatives (NCE-NI) program which resulted
in five new networks in the areas of design, global economics,
obesity, prevention of violence, and the care of the elderly.
The idea behind the New Initiatives is not to fund research,
but to encourage and enable networking and partnerships between
already established researchers or groups of researchers so
that they can apply their proficiencies to the pressing issues
of the early 21st century.
A new network also began its work in 2005-2006. PrioNet was
established to deal with the threat of bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE) and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
BSE has already inflicted billions of dollars in damage to
the Canadian agriculture. PrioNet is recruiting researchers
to build Canadian capacity to diagnose, treat and hopefully
prevent BSE and other prion-related diseases.
It was also a year of change at the NCE offices in Ottawa.
Dr. Thomas A. Brzustowski, who successfully chaired the
NCE steering committee for 10 years as a part of his role
as President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Council (NSERC), stepped aside to return to academia. It was
my honour and privilege to be named his successor. I very
much look forward to building upon his outstanding accomplishments.
In conclusion, let me restate that the NCE program enhances
value by mobilizing excellence. It was designed as an initiative
of Industry Canada and the three granting agencies: NSERC,
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The
NCE program stresses the importance of using scientific research
to improve Canada's economy and our quality of life. The NCE
program could not exist without the generous support of Canada's
universities and its partners who provide the networks with
the infrastructure and research personnel they require. As
ever, we are truly grateful for their co-operation.
At the very centre of the NCE program, however, are the researchers
themselves. The work they do daily in their laboratories and
research facilities is the source of the value that the NCE
program builds upon and enhances. Their enthusiasm in embracing
the multi-disciplinary teamwork approach to finding scientific
solutions has made the NCE program successful in delivering
economic and social benefits to Canadians. On behalf of myself
and Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the CIHR, and Dr. Chad
Gaffield, President of SSHRC, I thank them for their vitally
important contributions.
I would also like to thank the Honourable Maxime Bernier,
the Minister of Industry, for his continued support and encouragement.
Dr. Suzanne Fortier
Chair, NCE Steering Committee
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