Over the years, a number of specialized agencies and services have grown out of NRC. These include:
- Atomic Energy Canada Ltd.
- Canadian Space Agency.
- Communications Security Establishment
- Defence Research Board (now known as Defence Research and Development Canada)
- Medical Research Council (now known as Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
- Communications Research Centre
- Canadian Police Research Centre
Since 1995, NRC has established more than 65 new companies in a variety of industry sectors. These firms have already generated jobs for more than 500 Canadians, and have an estimated cumulative investment of $470 million.