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New Brunswick-based innovations will keep Canada ahead of the curve
New Brunswick's IT and e-Business technology cluster conducts award-winning scientific research and develops critical technology platforms and programs that keep Canadian industry at the forefront of a lucrative and swiftly changing technology area.
The cluster's build-up has been impressive and is gaining momentum. From 2005 to 2008, it saw 28 percent job growth and contributed to 30,000 jobs in the region, generating more than $3 billion for the Canadian economy.
Meanwhile, the steady expansion of the
NRC Institute for Information Technology's (NRC-IIT's) Industry Partnership Facility (IPF) in Fredericton is further evidence of local success. Twenty three cluster companies and organizations working there have raised $36 million in equity since 2002, including $16.5 million in 2007.
Notable IPF participants include Virtual Expert Clinics, winner of the inaugural Rogers Innovation@Work Award; Radian6, winner of a 2008 KIRA award for Most Promising Start-up; and Green Imaging Technologies, featured as a success at the Full Sail Summit 2007.
Commercialization and technology transfer
Stakeholders in the New Brunswick cluster need to develop tangible, revenue-generating research programs. Only then can they succeed at providing platform technologies and programs that will keep Canadian industry ahead of the technology curve. Many companies have turned for assistance to NRC-IIT's well-established expertise and state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure.
Researchers at the Institute's Fredericton and Moncton locations have produced six technology licences, eight patents pending and more than 400 publications. Research has also garnered national awards and recognition. Two examples are the 2009 CATAAlliance Innovation and Leadership (CATA) Award in Public Sector Leadership in Advanced Technology; and the 2007 CIPA Gold Award of Excellence in Innovation.
Partnerships and collaborations
A key partnership between the Province of New Brunswick and NRC-IIT helps unite collaborative teams that include academia, industry and government. The teams have developed bold cluster strategies for the health and learning technologies sectors (two key IT and e-Business areas), including the development of a Centre of Excellence in Advanced Learning Technologies (CEALT).
These partnerships have helped attract important anchor organizations to the cluster, including Desire2Learn and the Department of National Defence. To date more than 120 formal collaborative agreements have been forged with regional, national and international partners for a total project value of nearly $17 million.
International networks and linkages
The New Brunswick cluster has participated in scores of events with foreign partners in collaboration with NRC. One notable example was the Canada Day event in Stuttgart, Germany with German partner MFG Baden-Württemberg, one of Europe's leading institutions for innovation and technology transfer. The two-day event involving NRC-IIT, NRC-IRAP and the Province of New Brunswick was designed to promote Canada, and more specifically New Brunswick, to German IT companies.
MFG, NRC-IIT, and the Province of New Brunswick share a common focus in the IT sector. And all are committed to the aim of promoting networks and clusters, and fostering linkages between cluster firms and international partners.
Learn more about New Brunswick’s vibrant IT and e-Business technology cluster
Fact sheet available in HTML or PDF version.
Technology Clusters
NRC plays a leading, dynamic role in many Canadian communities, helping to increase their capacity in key technology fields through jointly developed innovation strategies.
