Strategic Plan 2006-2010

Executive Summary

• Introduction
• NRC-IAR Strategic Thrusts and Objectives
• Resource Implications
• The Priority R&TD Needs Addressed by the NRC-IAR Strategic Plan
• Expected Outcomes

NRC-IAR Strategic Thrusts and Objectives

Being the R&TD Partner of Choice
The NRC-IAR, with its long history of investment and nurturing of national infrastructure, innovative staff and entrepreneurial approaches to working with partners, is the obvious "partner of choice" to develop innovative, technical solutions to meet the complex engineering requirements of today's aeronautical marketplace. Within this Thrust, the major Strategic Objectives are:

1. To maintain technical excellence and global leadership in the NRC-IAR core Research Plan.
2. To build competencies in three important technologies:
   • Low Cost Composite Materials & Structures
   • Integrated Modeling & Simulation, and
   • Unsteady Aerodynamics.

Building Canada's Competitiveness by Strengthening Our Lower-Tier Suppliers
Under this Strategic Thrust, the NRC-IAR will leverage its position as a key player in Canada's aerospace community to act as a catalyst to address the many challenges facing Canada's lower-tier suppliers. Within this Thrust, the major Strategic Objectives are:

1. To enhance the lower-tier suppliers' product development capacities, knowledge transfer, and linkages of SMEs.
2. To develop the lower-tier suppliers' process development knowledge, skills, and capacities.
3. To increase the availability of financial resources to SMEs in their pursuit of collaborative R&TD and technology demonstrations.
4. To showcase new Canadian technologies through increased number of demonstrator projects.
5. To continue to strengthen the NRC-IAR's commitment to skills development in the industry.
6. To continue to strengthen the country's aerospace industry clusters, strengthening the regional economic environments supporting our SMEs as a whole.

Providing Technical Expertise and Industry Knowledge to Support Federal Government Priorities
With the relative importance of the aerospace industry to Canada's overall economic activity and global standing, the federal government has a number of policy and program objectives to strengthen the industry's macro environment. The NRC-IAR will provide the necessary technological competencies and knowledge to support its decision-making and responsibilities. Within this Thrust, the major Strategic Objectives are:

1. To continue to provide leadership in Industry Canada's efforts to develop an integrated framework and set of national policies and programs for the aerospace industry.
2. To continue to influence national aerospace policy and program recommendations developed outside of government.
3. To continue to support the Department of National Defence and Defence Research & Development Canada in aerospace technologies.
4. To continue to support the public's need for safety through regulatory oversight of the aerospace industry (e.g. design verification, product certification, accident investigation support).
5. To take a lead role and integrate the NRC-IAR's strong capabilities into horizontal programs (NRC, Canadian, international) whose focus is broader than just aerospace.

Growing the NRC-IAR's Ability to Fulfill its Mandate
The NRC-IAR has several strategic objectives to ensure the Institute is able to meet its basic obligation to support the priorities of the NRC and the federal government. Within this Thrust, the major Strategic Objectives are:

1. To support and participate in the NRC's Renewal Program.
2. To enhance the NRC-IAR's visibility in Canada, to support its efforts to increase revenues and collaborations, and to increase the industry's awareness of its new capacities.
3. To continue to maintain the NRC-IAR's economic sustainability.
4. To preserve the value of the NRC's historical investments in the NRC-IAR's national facilities.