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R & D: National Research Council

Public Research Infrastructure: Agriculture Life Sciences ICT Industrial NRC NSERC

The National Research Council is composed of over 20 institutes and national programs located across Canada, encompassing a wide variety of disciplines and offering a broad array of services. Areas of research and industry support include: Aerospace, Agriculture, Surface Transportation, Biology and Biotechnology, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Construction, Energy, Environment, Health and Wellness, Information and Communication Technologies, Manufacturing, Materials, Nanotechnology and others.

NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics (NRC-IBD)

Winnipeg’s NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics conducts research and develops instrument-based, non-invasive medical diagnostic technologies. The Institute performs its research in partnership with medical schools, universities, other research organizations, and industry to foster socio-economic development through R&D and commercialization of its advanced medical devices.

NRC-IBD’s has six core research groups:

• The Biomedical Informatics Group develops and adapts methods to analyze and monitor complex biomedical data and helps bring the resulting software products to market.
• The Cardiac Studies Group develops non-invasive spectroscopic and imaging techniques to study cardiac disease processes and develops new imaging techniques for clinical application.
• The Magnetic Resonance Research & Development Group advances basic MR hardware, techniques, and software research to improve the detection, characterization, and monitoring of diseases and disorders.
• The Magnetic Resonance Technology Group develops MR techniques and instruments for the diagnosis of human disease and creates protocols for application of these techniques.
• The Neuroscience Group develops novel methods for diagnosing neurological and psychiatric disorders.
• The Spectroscopy Group uses optical methods, including the development of infrared imaging, to improve diagnostic capabilities in health care.

NRC Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (NRC-CISTI)

As the country's largest scientific and technical information service, the Institute provides instant online access to North America's most extensive collection of scientific and technical literature. Its services include customized literature searches, the development of highly specialized data banks and expertise in finding answers to complex questions.

NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)

NRC-IRAP brings together a diverse network of organizations, services and programs to help Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) develop and exploit new technologies. The program provides expert technical and business advice, financial assistance, access to business information, contacts, and national and international networks. Firms that take advantage of the program become equipped to perform basic R&D, to commercialize new products and processes, and to access new markets.  Canadian SME's and industrial associations looking to enhance their technological capability are eligible for support.Some 12,000 SME’s use the program annually.

The IRAP portfolio of services has four main components:

• Technology Expertise and Advisory Services -- NRC-IRAP Industrial Technology Advisors (ITAs) help to identify and address the technical and research needs of SME’s at each stage of the R&D development process.  ITA’s are chosen for their skills in technology and science as well as their experience in business.

• Financial Assistance for R&D -- NRC-IRAP offers 2 kinds of financial assistance:

  • Research and Technology Development Activities -- non-repayable contributions to Canadian SME’s interested in technology-driven growth. NRC-IRAP also provides mentoring and cost-shared support for research and pre-competitive development technical projects.
  • Youth Employment Strategy Programs -- provide firms with support to hire post-secondary graduates.

• Networks -- The NRC-IRAP Network links entrepreneurs, R&D institutions, technology brokers and technology transfer centres to those with knowledge and information about local sources of financing.

• NRC-IRAP Partners -- NRC-IRAP maintains strong partner relationships with organizations at the regional, national and international levels, whose capabilities complement NRC's ability to assist SME's.

Contact Information

National Research Council
Industrial Research Assistance Program
435 Ellice Avenue
Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1Y6
Tel: 204-983-0092
Fax: 204-983-8835