Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good evening.
Clause 261 is a proposed amendment to provide the National Research Council with the ability to incorporate and stand up arm's-length entities such as not-for-profit organizations. Under this amendment, the NRC would be able to establish special-purpose collaboration models that increase and deepen linkages between NRC researchers and academics and the private sector.
The NRC's new biologics manufacturing centre facility, which will be operated through a public-private partnership over the longer term, is an example of where a new collaboration model could be used.