Responding to the world’s energy and environmental challenges is a priority in the Government of Canada’s Science and Technology Strategy. Developing and commercializing hydrogen and fuel cell (H2/FC) energy technologies in the Vancouver region is a core element of that response. NRC’s early strategic investments have primed regional and national partners to seize a significant share of a global market that is projected to be worth over US$8.5 billion by 2016.

NRC Technology Cluster Initiatives 2009 - Community Innovation, Economic Gain

The National Research Council (NRC) is meeting the Government of Canada commitment to generate economic growth through support for scientific and technological innovation. NRC partners with universities, industry and all levels of government to build dynamic technology clusters in communities across the country. By fostering world-class R&D with a clear focus on stimulating economic opportunities, NRC research facilities and skilled people accelerate locally-led innovation. The results: new knowledge, new skills, new partnerships and new businesses that are boosting the economy of Canada and its communities through success in markets around the world.

Strategically positioned for growth

While pockets of fuel cell research exist in other locations across Canada, Vancouver remains the national hub for groundbreaking R&D, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the roughly 2,000 Canadian jobs in the field. NRC’s focus is to build on the success to date by securing Canada’s competitive edge in H2/FC commercialization. To reach this goal, NRC supported Canada’s Fuel Cell Commercialization Roadmap, a federal government initiative to identify opportunities in fuel cell R&D and map a strategy for technology commercialization.

NRC is partnering with others to bring pioneering technologies to market through 28 industrial collaborations, 20 university partnerships and 13 international projects. NRC has also strengthened its relationships with three local universities to help develop and attract talent for H2/FC employers, establish hydrogen and fuel cell consortia, and build a knowledge advantage for the region and for Canada. In partnership with industry, NRC earned the support of the provincial government for a BC Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Strategy.

A catalyst for innovation

The NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI) supports the H2/FC industry by helping it solve technological, regulatory, and innovation barriers. It delivers value through:

• the Low Temperature fuel cell Program, focused on increasing the reliability, durability, performance and flexibility of PEMFCs (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells) while decreasing costs;
• the High Temperature fuel cell Program, focused on improving durability and lowering system costs associated with SOFCs (Solid Oxide Fuel Cells) by reducing operating temperatures and increasing system flexibility; and
• the Hydrogen Technologies Program, focused on advancing the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier.

These and other NRC initiatives enable world-class staff, visiting workers and graduate students to develop competencies and knowledge for use in collaboration with industry to address short and long-term technical needs. NRC-IFCI also serves as an incubator for 11 start-up H2/FC companies.

Demonstrating fuel cell potential

NRC-IFCI operates a cutting-edge, public testing facility that is unique in North America. The Advanced Testing and Validation Centre (ATVC) enables small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to test fuel cell ideas and prepare innovations for international markets. NRC also collaborates with cluster partners to showcase real world applications of groundbreaking hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Demonstration projects include:

• a state-of-the-art LEED ® Gold certified green research facility, with integrated clean energy technologies including fuel cells;
• the Gateway, a technology demonstration and exhibit centre showcasing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies that are in the marketplace today;
• the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program, which addresses barriers to commercialization and public acceptance; and
• British Columbia’s Hydrogen Highway™, for which NRC provides hydrogen refuelling infrastructure as well as transportation, micro and stationary fuel cell demonstrations.

NRC has helped the Vancouver cluster attract significant new investment to British Columbia, with international companies such as Ford Motor Co. and Linde Gases locating on-site to develop critical demonstration projects.

"Without NRC – the investment they were willing to make in infrastructure, and their willingness to incubate new companies – it would have been very difficult for us to get off to such a quick start and attract customers as quickly as we did."

Adrian Corless, Chief Technical Officer, Plug Power Canada

Transforming technology into business

NRC offers other strategic services that help businesses to develop and commercialize their science and technology innovations for marketplace success and growth.

Assisting with industrial research

The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) helps SMEs across Canada. It provides technological and business advice and expertise, along with potential financial support to R&D-oriented companies, including those operating in NRC’s cluster initiatives.

Through its extensive network of industrial technology advisors, the program links companies in the cluster to appropriate sources of technical and business expertise, market information and local financing. It also facilitates international connections via technology missions. NRC-IRAP has developed close relationships with the majority of fuel cell firms in British Columbia, supporting innovative research and development, and the commercialization of new fuel cell products and services. In 2008-2009 alone, NRC-IRAP provided almost $1 million in funding to 10 organizations in British Columbia’s H2/FC sector.

Using information intelligence to turn knowledge into commercial applications

As Canada’s national science library, the NRC Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (NRC-CISTI) provides access to global science, technology and engineering information.

NRC’s information specialists and technical business analysts in Vancouver leverage their access to this information to provide critical information services that clients need to position their activities strategically, optimize R&D investments, and generate commercially successful outcomes. To do this, they offer many services:

• technology commercialization intelligence
• information research and analysis
• patent landscape analysis
• groundbreaking technical information
• cutting-edge industry and market information
• rapid delivery of up-to-date full text articles from online sources
• referrals to industry experts or organizations.

NRC’s cluster partners

• Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA)
• Simon Fraser University
• University of British Columbia
• University of Victoria
• Government of British Columbia
• BC Hydro
• BC Transit
• Western Economic Diversification
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
• Industry Canada
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC) Corp.
• Ballard Power Systems
• Hydrogenics
• And many more…

Milestones in Cluster Progress

1998-2002 - NRC sparks cluster formation, creates the Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI) in Vancouver and helps establish the first industry association that by 2009 evolves to become the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA).

2001 - Cellex (now Plug Power Canada) becomes first graduate of NRC-IFCI Industry Partnership Facility.

2002 - Government of Canada invests $20 million in NRC’s Vancouver H2/FC cluster initiative and makes a further investment of $13.6 million in 2007.

2003 - NRC-IFCI establishes collaborations with BC universities to support cluster growth through increased supply of skilled personnel.

2003 - NRC and Western Economic Diversification announce $1.5 million for Hydrogen Environmental Chamber, unique in North America.

2003 - NRC supports launch of Industry Canada’s first Canadian Fuel Cell Commercialization Roadmap subsequently updated in 2008.

2003-2004 - The Province of BC adopts the BC Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Strategy and with the Government of Canada unveils the Hydrogen Highway™, the world's first large-scale, integrated hydrogen fuelling demonstration project.

2005 - The Government of Canada’s Pacific Spirit Fuelling Station located at NRC-IFCI begins operation.

2005 - Ford Motor Company’s Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program launches supported by hydrogen fuelling and maintenance facilities at NRC-IFCI.

2006 - NRC-IFCI officially opens doors to its new $20 million state-of-the-art green research facility.

2007 - The H2/FC demonstration centre opens at NRC-IFCI in partnership with Industry Canada, NRCan, the Province of BC and the CHFCA.

2007 - BC Transit launches $89 million purchase of 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses with assistance from the Province of BC and the Government of Canada.

2008 - Plug Power Canada sells 220 forklifts to Central Grocers, the largest order to date of such units.

2008 - Daimler AG and Ford locate Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC) Corp. in Vancouver.

2009 - NRC-IFCI opens Advanced Testing and Validation Centre (ATVC). Ballard / IdaTech back-up power fuel cell systems pass factory certification tests through validation in NRC ATVC, supporting the largest sale to date of commercial PEM fuel cells for telecom towers in India.

2009 - NRC-led Canada-China Alliance links BC cluster companies to Chinese suppliers with the support of the Province of BC.

NRC Technology Cluster Initiatives

Global Reach - Local Touch

NRC plays a pivotal role in building a competitive advantage for Canada, based on science and technology strengths in communities across the country. The NRC commitment to fostering clusters has made it a catalyst for technological progress and economic growth in every region of Canada. NRC's successful clustering model encourages local entrepreneurial and people advantages, while leveraging the knowledge advantages of NRC - capitalizing on its national and international resources, science and technology capabilities, networks and partnerships. This proven approach supports each cluster based on its unique needs, opportunities and challenges, with NRC as the cluster's flexible and determined partner.

Committed leadership

Innovative companies often develop around a government research institution or a university that attracts highly-skilled researchers. However, successful clusters need more. They need staying power, often taking decades to mature. They must be community-driven and focused on market opportunities - with the support of effective networks and committed local champions.

NRC has distinguished itself as an effective leader in cluster development. It provides not only R&D expertise, but also the leadership, information and linkages that innovators need to generate ideas and then move their research from the lab to the marketplace. Its diverse strengths mean that NRC makes a range of contributions, tailored to individual community strengths and needs.

Delivering results

Clusters across Canada are generating results as critical masses of skilled people, capital and entrepreneurial drive come together to create beneficial technologies for markets around the world. NRC cluster initiatives help strengthen the economies of their home communities as well as Canada's economy. They benefit from community partnerships that look forward with confidence, based on building local scientific and innovation capacity and a competitive business environment.

Great People, Great Minds

Recognized globally for cutting-edge research and innovation, NRC helps Canada create a world-class, knowledge-based economy. NRC is home to nearly 4,000 creative and skilled people held in highest regard by their colleagues and collabo­rators worldwide. NRC employees have earned international acclaim for excellence and for winning innovations - their honours include a Nobel Prize, an Academy Award, and helping Canada capture Olympic gold.

NRC Cluster Initiatives

• Vancouver - Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies
• Edmonton - Nanotechnology
• Saskatoon - Plants for Health and Wellness
• Regina - Sustainable Infrastructure
• Winnipeg - Biomedical Technologies
• Ottawa - Photonics
• Saguenay - Aluminium Transformation
• Fredericton/Moncton - IT and e-Business
• Halifax - Life Sciences
• Charlottetown - Nutrisciences and Health
• St. John's - Ocean Technology

www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/ifci

National Research Council Canada
1200 Montreal Road
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6
Tel: 613-993-9101
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI)
4250 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1W5
Tel: 604-221-3000
Email: info.ifci-iipac@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
Tel: 1-877-994-4727
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/irap

NRC Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (NRC-CISTI)
Tel: 1-800-668-1222
Contact us using the online form