Prime Minister Visits National Institute for Nanotechnology
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| Minister McLellan looks on as Prime Minister Martin peers through a Raman Imaging Spectrometer at NINT |
Prime Minister Paul Martin got an up-close look at the world of the very small during a recent visit to the National Institute for Nanotechnology. Mr. Martin and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan toured laboratories, met researchers and students, and had a wide ranging discussion about the research done at the Institute and the commercialization potential for nanotechnology.
The Prime Minister was very curious about the capabilities of the various kinds of microscopes and surface science instruments. A stop at NINT's Chemical Analysis lab gave the Prime Minister a chance to view styrene beads using Raman Spectrometry, including a specially tooled display of beads that spelled out "Bienvenue PM Martin."
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| Prime Minister Martin and NINT Group Leader Bob Wolkow |
Joining the Prime Minister for his visit to NINT was NRC President Pierre Coulombe. Dr. Coulombe has an opportunity to tell the Prime Minister of the importance of NRC cluster programs.
During a roundtable discussion with nanotechnology researchers, the Prime Minister learned about the unique partnership at NINT, where Group Leaders are both NRC researchers and University of Alberta professors. He asked many questions, ranging from "how does the work done at NINT relate to commercialization" to "will nanotechnology help us understand our origin". He also heard about the robust support for NINT's cluster development efforts among the local business community. Chris Lumb, CEO of Micralyne Inc. and a member of NINT's Advisory Board, told the Prime Minister of the importance of NINT's research programs and technology discoveries to growing the small tech sector in Edmonton.
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| Prime Minister Martin with Steve Launspach, a NINT Technical Officer |
The Prime Minister inquired about how many people might be employed in the region a decade from now as a direct consequence of today's investments. Also discussed was the strategic role of Canada's nanotechnology efforts in relation to international developments in the field.
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