Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good day. Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today on behalf of the National Research Council Canada (NRC).
While I will be pleased to contribute to the discussion of any relevant issues, there is one particular point I would like to make. The National Research Council, or NRC, is exceptionally well positioned to support the priorities and vision of the federal science and technology strategy, modernizing science and technology to Canada's advantage.
In developing our own plan a few years ago, entitled Science at Work for Canada, we went through a series of in-depth studies and consultations and focused our programs on what are clear government priorities in health and wellness, sustainable energy, the environment, as well as a series of key sectors such as the area of space, advanced material, and information and communication technologies. In pursuing these goals, NRC is building upon a long tradition.
Since 1916, the NRC has played a leading role in fulfilling the Government of Canada's commitments in the field of science and technology. Over the years, the NRC has continued to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of Canadians and of the country's economy. This ability to adapt and renew itself is one of the NRC's most remarkable qualities.
Not only does the NRC conduct innovative research and development, it also transfers the knowledge acquired to cutting-edge technology firms for marketing purposes. Some of the NRC's most noteworthy achievements include ecoplastics, 3D laser scanners, advanced characterization technologies, the artificial pacemaker and the meningitis C vaccine.
In performing its day-to-day activities, NRC is helping to determine Canada's social and economic future by building partnerships that increase national productivity and by creating a competitive advantage for Canada through science and technology. NRC is thus enhancing Canada's entrepreneurial advantage by concentrating some of its unique strengths and competencies in key industrial sectors, such as agriculture, automotive, construction, and biopharmaceuticals.
NRC supports Canada's knowledge advantage by developing a series of national research programs that leverage multidisciplinary competencies and mobilize collective strengths, creating a critical mass in research capacity that will lead to substantial advances in knowledge, development, and application, in Canada's national interest.
Our first national program under our plan is co-led by NRC and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Its focus is on bioproducts and will help to address Canadian priorities, such as the environment, sustainable energy, and rural revitalization, through products that can marry the challenges of effective utilization of forest and agricultural biomass with expertise in fields as diverse as polymer science and industrial systems to increase the competiveness of sectors that include automotive and aerospace.
The second national program will focus on fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. It will build upon NRC, NRCan, and NSERC activities and will help bring government and industry researchers together to meet the critical demand for research and development in this field.
The NRC is also involved in multi-partner collaborative efforts, such as the nanotechnology research initiative announced at the end of April. These collaborative efforts are one concrete way for the federal government to help Canada make a name for itself as one of the world's most innovative nations.
Working with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Business Development Bank (BDC), the NRC collaborates with Canadian researchers on the development of state-of-the-art nanotechnology applications. In the process, it contributes to the attainment of the goals set out in the federal science and technology strategy.
Finally, NRC is supporting Canada's people advantage by attracting and retaining the highly skilled people Canada needs to thrive in the global economy.
So as you can see, NRC's five-year strategic plan, which will lead us to 2011, is perfectly aligned with the federal science and technology strategy. We focus on the same priorities. We strongly support Canada's three distinct S and T advantages, and we generate technological solutions for industry that improve the quality of life of Canadians and others around the world. Therefore, by continuing to implement our programs, initiatives, and collaborative research projects, we hope to maintain our leadership position in helping the Government of Canada meet its science and technology commitments.
Merci.