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Collaboration leads to commercialization
While technology clusters are not a new concept, their commercial success in recent years has resulted from pointed efforts by Canadian governments, industries and academia to marshal their resources around ambitious goals. By fostering close collaboration and partnerships, teams of cluster players build processes and products that no one organization could conceive of or deliver alone.
More than that, cluster players work diligently and creatively to build international relationships with compatible organizations and technology communities abroad. Working across borders attracts the world's best and freshest ideas to Canadian communities and, as a result, builds our pool of highly skilled workers. Successful clusters create a brain gain for Canada.
NRC is a key player
NRC has established a substantial presence in 11 technology clusters across the country. As part of NRC's clustering initiatives in these communities, the organization's research institutes act as hubs, offering cluster players state-of-the-art, federally funded labs and equipment, incubation space and critical business development mentoring.
Without NRC's targeted support, many small companies working in Canada's cluster initiatives simply could not gain a foothold in today's aggressive global marketplace. NRC also works to bring each sector's players together, not only within individual cluster communities, but also across Canada and around the world.
Delivering on government strategy
Technology clusters-and NRC's catalyzing role within them-address the Government of Canada's Science and Technology Strategy, which calls for the rapid commercialization of new products, services and innovations being created by some of Canada's boldest and most innovative researchers.
Since 2001, the Government of Canada has been a strong supporter of NRC clustering initiatives. With its total contribution of over $550 million in funding, the Government of Canada helps NRC bring together people, knowledge and entrepreneurial drive in some of this country's most dynamic communities.
