Cluster Support

NRC's efforts to support the growth of the BC fuel cell cluster began in 1998 when it initiated a development strategy and convened a Fuel Cell Implementation Task Force. Those developments sparked the creation of a National Fuel Cell Research Initiative in 1999.

As part of this national initiative, in 1999 NRC created a fuel cell research facility at its Vancouver Innovation Centre. One year later, NRC launched the NRC Fuel Cell Program, a horizontal initiative that now involves dozens of researchers at six NRC institutes across Canada. In 2002, NRC significantly enhanced its presence in the cluster with the formation of the NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI), which serves as the focal point for the horizontal initiative.

NRC-IFCI's current strategic plan covers three broad areas that address critical needs within the cluster:

• The pursuit of research breakthroughs
• The operation of a technology centre
• Cluster-building activities.

NRC-IFCI maintains testing and evaluation facilities including nine hydrogen-ready labs, a membrane electrode assembly facility, a new Hydrogen Environmental Chamber (HEC) and an industrial incubator for early stage companies.

As part of its cluster-building role, NRC facilities showcase Canadian technologies and companies, support networking and provide headquarters for Fuel Cells Canada and major demonstration programs such as the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program.