I'm very sorry about this.
I was just on with the industry committee and things were working fine, so I'm hopeful it's not my equipment. I have a high-speed connection here.
I was going to say, just as all departments have been called on to protect Canadians and our economy during this extraordinary time, Innovation, Science and Economic Development has been working hard and trying to do its part to deliver a strong, immediate and effective response.
I have witnessed a deep commitment within my own and other departments to do what it takes to help individuals and businesses manage the economic disruption caused by this pandemic. I've had the privilege of working closely with colleagues in other departments and agencies to help mobilize Canada's industrial and research communities as part of these efforts.
Since the government's call to action to Canadian business about six weeks ago, nearly 6,000 Canadian companies have offered their expertise and capacity to help combat COVID-19 by retooling, scaling up or providing urgently needed goods and services. ISED has been moving swiftly to work with these companies to help build a secure domestic supply of key personal protective equipment for Canada's front-line health workers as they fight the pandemic, and we have shifted the focus of our business innovation programs to directly target COVID-19.
We are accelerating applications and the approval process so that projects can get off the ground quickly to address the most urgent issues, and we are making progress through our strategic innovation fund, innovation superclusters, the innovative solutions Canada program and the National Research Council's industrial research assistance program.
Through these programs. ISED is helping meet the urgent needs of health care workers for equipment such as masks, face shields, medical gowns, ventilators and test kits. For example, funding from the National Research Council's IRAP helped Ottawa's Spartan Bioscience fast-track the certification process for its COVID-19 test kit.
Following a call-out to its more than 970 members to develop and scale up new health products and equipment, the Next Generation Manufacturing Canada supercluster has already reviewed and conditionally approved seven projects for ventilators, test kits and face shields. To take a final example, Innovative Solutions Canada has received a tremendous response from SMEs across the country to its challenge and testing streams focused on a response to COVID-19. These initiatives will be moving into selection and funding faster than ever before.
Throughout all of this work, we have been in lockstep with Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and others. PSPC has been instrumental in leading significant investments to increase Canada's supplies of critical equipment for the health care sector. With a coordinated strategy among these departments, we are maximizing the contributions of federal innovation programs as part of Canada's response to this extraordinary challenge.
Complementing these industrial contributions and those of our science and research community, there is no denying that Canada must act quickly to accelerate promising research aimed at treatments and a vaccine for COVID-19. That is why the ISED ministry has been working diligently with Canada's world-class science and research community in taking on this challenge. The results of this work will be accessible to researchers around the world to advance the global fight.
Organizations such as the NRC and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research have received federal funding to conduct COVID-19 research in important areas, such as diagnostic tools and vaccine candidates.
The University of Saskatchewan VIDO-InterVac facility has also received funding to help get clinical trials set up and running as soon as possible so that we can ensure no time is wasted in developing a vaccine to protect Canadians against potentially recurring waves of COVID-19.
Genome Canada has received funding for the new Canadian COVID genomics network to further its genome sequencing research and help scientists better track the virus, its different strains and its impact on patients. The research conducted by this network will also guide public health authorities and policy-makers in their efforts to curb the pandemic.
Finally, my department worked quickly to facilitate the establishment of a new $600-million COVID-19 stream under the strategic innovation fund. This stream will support vaccine and therapy clinical trials, as well as Canadian biomanufacturing opportunities.
ISED is working hard to support the scale-up of national platforms to develop and deliver a vaccine to Canadians when one is discovered, including support for manufacturing. Combined with efforts to mobilize industry, we are trying to do our part in the larger whole-of-government approach to protecting Canadians and preventing the spread of the virus.
We want to help ensure the capacity of our health care system as well as supporting international and domestic efforts. I'm proud ISED can contribute to the coordinated response, one that hopefully will allow Canadians to return to work, get the economy moving again, and set up our country for a rebound when it is safe to do so.
That concludes my remarks, Mr. Chair. Again, thanks for the opportunity to speak with members today. I would be, of course, pleased to answer your questions.