the networks of centres of excellence of canada 1999–2000 ... · selection committee for final...

The Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada1999–2000 Annual ReportPowerful Partnerships for Innovation

ii — Powerful Partnerships for Innovation

AquaNetCANCBDNCGDNCANVACCIPICITRCSNGEOIDEHEALNetIRISISISMITACSMicronetPENCESFMTL - NCEWood-Pulps

Network in AquacultureCanadian Arthritis NetworkCanadian Bacterial Diseases NetworkCanadian Genetic Diseases NetworkCanadian Network for Vaccines and ImmunotherapeuticsCanadian Institute for Photonic InnovationsCanadian Institute for Telecommunications Research Canadian Stroke NetworkGeomatics for Informed Decisions NetworkHealth Evidence Application and Linkage NetworkInstitute for Robotics and Intelligent SystemsIntelligent Sensing for Innovative StructuresMathematics of Information Technology and Complex SystemsMicroelectronic Devices, Circuits and SystemsProtein Engineering Network Sustainable Forest Management NetworkTeleLearning Network of Centres of ExcellenceMechanical Wood-Pulps Network

Eighteen Networks of Centres of Excellence

Networks of Centres of Excellence350 Albert

Ottawa, OntarioK1A 1H5

Tel: 613-995-6010Fax: 613-992-7356

[email protected]

www.nce.gc.ca

ISBN 0-662-66557-0Catalogue No.: NS1-14/2000

Printed on recycled paper

1999–2000 Annual Report — iii

Table of Contents

Message from the Chair

Message from the Chair 1

Excerpts from the 1999 Auditor General’s Report 2

NCE Program at a Glance

Networks’ Competitive Edge in Canada and Abroad 5

Multiplying the Benefits of Discovery Research 7

A Unique Approach to Program Administration 9

NCEs Foster Collaborative Management 10

Program Highlights for 1999-2000

Discovery, Innovation and Training Benefits for Canada 13

A Program That Supports the Best 15

Innovation in Photonics 15

Three More Networks 16

The Best in Aquaculture 16

Innovative Vaccines and Stroke Treatments 16

Looking Ahead 16

NCE Selection Committees 17

Stage 1: Letters of Intent 17

Stage 2:Full Proposals 18

Eighteen Networks of Centres of Excellence 19

List of Tables and Illustrations

NCE Participating Organizations 6

Paths Through Which NCE Program Funds Flow to the Networks 7

Contributions to the NCE Program 8

Post Network Employment by Sector 8

Governance Structure 9

A Typical NCE Organization Chart 10

Regional Distribution of NCE Researchers, Highly Qualified Personnel and Funds 14

1999–2000 Annual Report — 1


Thomas A. Brzustowski, P. Eng., Ph.D.ChairNCE Steering Committee

The fiscal year 1999-2000 was a periodof unprecedented growth for theNetworks of Centres of Excellence(NCE) Program.

A $30 million budget increase made itpossible to fund a new network, tolaunch a competition that led to theestablishment of three other new net-works, and to start the competitionprocess in four target areas of strategicimportance to Canada. The details aregiven on page 17.

One key to this success was the enthu-siastic participation of the universityresearch community and our industrial,government and other sector partnerswho put forward innovative proposalsand invested immense amounts of tal-ent, time, money and effort in the twocompetitions this year.

We’ve also had effective co-operationand assistance from the universitiesand research hospitals of Canada, as well as from the Natural Sciencesand Engineering Research Council(NSERC), the Medical ResearchCouncil (MRC), the Social Sciencesand Humanities Research Council(SSHRC), and Industry Canada.

The granting agencies and IndustryCanada provide the base funding whilethe Canadian universities provide the R&D staff and the pool of students, as well as the infrastructure that enableNCEs to forge innovative partnershipsbetween industry, government and thenon-profit sectors.

The NCE peer review process ensuresthat the selected NCE projects are bothexcellent and important to society andthe economy. All funding decisions arebased on an arm's length assessmentof applications by Expert Panels andrecommendations of internationalcalibre

Selection Committees. The membershipof those committees is given on pages18 to 19.

I am happy to say that in his 1999report, the Auditor General recognizedthat the NCEs are well-managed. Some excerpts from it are given on the following page.

Statistics, too, can tell a story andthose in the Tables and Illustrations ofthis annual report demonstrate just howsuccessful the NCEs have been.

I would like to conclude by thanking theHonourable John Manley, Minister ofIndustry, the Honourable Allan Rock,Minister of Health and the HonourableRon Duhamel, Secretary of State forScience, Research and Developmentand his successor, the HonourableGilbert Normand. Their recognition and support have helped ensure thatthe NCEs continue to grow in impor-tance in Canada's innovation system.

Photography by Tony Scullion

2 — Powerful Partnerships for Innovation

“19.93 In addition to our audit criteria,we assessed the NCE grants using thefive selection and evaluation criteria forthe program, namely: excellence of theresearch program, highly qualified per-sonnel, networking and partnerships,knowledge exchange and technologyexploitation, and network management.

19.94 We concluded that due diligencehad been exercised in the grants weaudited under the Networks of Centresof Excellence. We found that for eachproposal submitted, there was a com-plete description of the network and itsplanned research activities, and thefiles included all relevant information.Each proposal was assessed by anexpert panel and examined by theselection committee for final approvalby the steering committee.

Excerpts from the 1999 AuditorGeneral’s Report

19.95 All the networks provide regularreports on the progress of the projectsand site visits are done. Every agree-ment defines intellectual propertyownership.

19.96 Finally, a 1997 evaluation con-cluded that the Networks of Centres of Excellence program had succeededin all of its objectives. While the reportdid not consider all of the basic evalua-tion issues, it suggested that theprogram will provide substantial neteconomic benefits.”

NCE Program at a Glance


As Canada is a huge country with a small population, our research institutions and resources are widelydispersed. Because our centres ofresearch excellence are spread acrossthe country, we require a networkapproach to create critical masses of research capacity for dealing withlarge problems.

At the same time, the NCE Programreinforces the scientific capacity of Canada's regions— a pre-requisite forthe development of strong localeconomies. It allowslocal companies todraw on engineeringand scientific exper-tise available locallyacross Canada.

More recently, and from an internationalperspective, innovation has becomecritical in the new global, knowledge-based economy. The NCE Programputs research groups at a competitiveadvantage in Canada while allowingthem to link up with their counterpartselsewhere in the world.

These activities respond to Canada'sneed to compete and co-operate inter-nationally. As the Department ofIndustry's Advisory Committee onScience and Technology recentlystated, ''For Canada to take full advan-tage of this knowledge, talent and

technology in atimely fashion, it is imperative and urgent that Canadianresearchers, universities andcompanies becomeintegral partners inthe internationaleffort in S&T.”

Most networks areincreasingly active

on the international scene and have ini-tiated collaborations with more than200 organizations from 20 countries ina variety of spheres ranging from post-doctoral exchanges to technologytransfer.

Networks’ Competitive Edge inCanada and Abroad

''For Canada to take full advantageof this knowledge, talent and

technology in a timely fashion, it is imperative and urgent that

Canadian researchers, universities and companies

become integral partners in the international effort in S&T''.

Department of Industry Advisory Committee on Science and Technology


NCE Participating Organizations

903 Canadian Partners208 Foreign Participants

Participating Institutions 1999-2000

Northwest TerritoriesBritish ColumbiaAlbertaSaskatchewanManitobaOntarioQuebecNew BrunswickNova ScotiaPrince Edward IslandNewfoundland and LabradorTotal CanadianTotal ForeignGrand Total

Federal Hospital Industry Other Provincial University Total

05301

228130

245

752

04000

1618

010

039

746

18452

415

180108

12110

8475

88563

63017

43

8746

110

8203

63266

11912

96

1617

020

486

086

05422

1419

341

1554398

8147

881927

335216

1722

1

23903208

1111

8

14788

1927

335 216

1722

1

23


Multiplying the Benefits of“Discovery” Research

The mission of the NCE program is to mobilize Canada's research talent in the academic, private and public sectors and apply it to the task ofdeveloping the economy and improvingthe quality of life of Canadians.

How do NCEs fulfil their mission?NCEs conduct pre-competitive or “discovery” research that benefits manyorganizations in many sectors such asinformation and communications tech-nology; health and biotechnology;engineering; natural resources and theenvironment; agri-food; aquaculture, as well as transportation, trade,finance, and commerce. Once the NCE research is sufficiently advanced,outside organizations can use its

results as the basis for their productand process development activities.Many companies can use the findingsof an individual NCE research programthereby multiplying the impact — andbenefits — of the original research.Companies are proving willing tofinance an appropriate portion of thecost of the discovery research phase,and most or all of the cost of the com-mercialization phase, in line with thebalance between risk and reward.

In 1999-2000, the NCE partners' contributions, both in-kind and in-cash,amounted to more than $70 million,including more than $41 million fromthe private sector.

Paths Through Which NCE ProgramFunds Flow to the Networks

Total Funds = $65,741,076


Contributions to the NCE Program

Post Network Employment by Sector

18 NCEs, each having its own Board of Directors


A Unique Approach to ProgramAdministration

The NCE program is jointly administeredby Canada's three granting agencies,the Medical Research Council (MRC),the Natural Sciences and EngineeringResearch Council (NSERC) and theSocial Sciences and HumanitiesResearch Council (SSHR), in partner-ship with Industry Canada. The uniquerelationship with the three grantingagencies and Industry Canada helpsensure both the requisite collaborativeand responsive features of the NCEs.

The program is managed by a SteeringCommittee comprised of the threeagency presidents and the DeputyMinister of Industry (or their delegates).The NCE Directorate, the majority ofwhose staff is from the three agencies,undertakes day-to-day programmanagement and communications.

Governance StructureIndustry Canada

Industrie Canada

Health Canada

Sant� Canada

NCE

Steering Committee

Presidents from theThree Granting

Agencies

Deputy Minister,Industry Canada

Secretariat

Program Staff and Communications

International,Peer andSelection

Committees

NSERC / CRSNG

SSHRC / CRSH MRC / CRM


NCEs Foster CollaborativeManagement

Networks successfully manage many diverse interests as they form aconsortium of researchers, companies,universities, federal and provincial governments, as well as other organizations.

A Board of Directors is responsible foroverall policy, management direction,and financial accountability of the network. It is accountable to the NCE Steering Committee.

The Scientific Director provides scientificleadership, promotes collaboration andoften chairs the Research ManagementCommittee, amongst various functions.The Network Manager directs daily busi-ness, ensuring control and accountability, as well as internal and external commu-nications. The Host Institution, normallya university, hospital or other partner,provides suitable space for the network'sAdministrative Centre.

A Typical NCE Organization Chart

Program Highlights for1999–2000


Discovery, Innovation andTraining Benefits for Canada

During the fiscal year 1999-2000, theNCE program continued to produce significant research discoveries andinnovations, while ensuring their rapidtransfer to potential industrial users andpublic policy-makers in areas of strate-gic importance to Canada. Indeed, 31patents were awarded, 71

licences were granted and 14 spin-offcompanies were created.

Canada has derived both social andeconomic benefits from the commer-cialization of specific marketableproducts and processes originatingfrom the networks.

Network Accomplishments1999 – 2000

Patents Filed: 66Patents Awarded: 31

Licences Under Negotiation: 43Licenses Granted: 71

Spin-Off Companies Created: 14

The NCEs also effectively facilitatedcritical public and private sector collab-oration. The latter made cash andin-kind contributions in excess of $41million of a total $134 million NCEannual budget. Such private sectorfinancial commitment is critical ifCanada is to reach the science and technology goals it has set.

The NCE program is also trainingyoung researchers to ensure

Canada's expertise throughout the current century. Of the more than5,000 personnel involved in the NCEprogram, 3,600 are research associates,postdoctoral fellows, graduate andsummer students. One thousand onehundred and seventy NCE graduatesfound directly related industry employ-ment. These figures bode well for thefuture of innovative Canadian researchand development.


Regional Distribution of NCE Researchers,Highly Qualified Personnel and Funds

One thousand five hundred researchersand 98 universities both in Canada andabroad were involved in NCE projects,initiating and augmenting variousdynamic synergies.

The 18 networks reported partnershipswith 200 foreign organisations from theuniversity, industry, hospital and gov-ernment and other sectors.

An NCE researcher is a researcher from the academic, public or private sector responsible for certain aspectsa network-funded research project.

Highly Qualified Personnel includes research associates, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and summer students.

The regional Distribution of NCE Funds shows only reported expenditures by each participating institution for 2000-2001.

��

Regional Distribution of NCE Researchers and Highly Qualified Personnel for 2000–2001

Regional Distribution of NCE Personnel and NCE Funds for 2000-2001


A Program That Supportsthe Best

In open competitions, potential appli-cants submit proposals in any area. In targeted competitions, a list of rele-vant and timely topics is approved byCabinet. In either case, a “blue ribbon”Selection Committee reviews Letters of Intent to determine which applicantsshould be invited to develop full applications. Only those applicantswhose letters of intent demonstrateexcellence are asked to develop full proposals.

Other criteria upon which applicationsare assessed include:

The Selection Committee subsequentlyreviews the full applications taking alsointo account the reports of ExpertPanels, one for each application or target area. This committee makes its funding recommendations to theSteering Committee, which approvesthem if there is no reason to questionthe integrity of the evaluation process. All recommendations are subject tofunding approval from the TreasuryBoard of Canada.

Network progress is assessed in thefourth year of operation as a conditionof funding. The seven-year period offunding may be extended to fourteenprovided the network succeeds in anational competition.

the ability to develop and retainHighly Qualified Personnel

the building of critical massthrough nation-wide multi-disciplinary and multisectoral university/ industry and government partnerships

the acceleration of knowledgeexchange and technology transferto the receptor community and

efficient network management.

Innovation in Photonics

The budget increase in February 1999made it possible to fund another net-work that had been recommended bythe 1998 Selection Committee : theCanadian Institute of PhotonicInnovations (CIPI). CIPI is actively harnessing and developing the talentsof researchers in 19 universities, 34 industries and 14 government departments and agencies to ensurethat Canada is at the forefront of photonic research.

Photonics is associated with generat-ing, transmitting and detecting light.Historically, this new science comes outof the vast field of modern optics thatemerged at the beginning of the 1960'safter the invention of the laser.

Thus photonics is a broad field encom-passing various aspects of optics suchas lasers, fibre optics, image and infor-mation processing, and ultrashort andultraintense optical pulses to name afew. It is a field that is revolutionizingcommunication.


Three More Networks

In addition to the funding of the newnetwork in photonics, the NCE Programlaunched a competition for new net-works in any discipline.

Twelve groups (from among 45 lettersof intent) were invited to submit fullapplications. After careful deliberationby a Selection Committee, three new networks were announced onFebruary 11, 2000.

The Best in Aquaculture

AquaNet's goal is to help secure thefuture of the Canadian aquacultureindustry by increasing the efficiency of

production through species diversifica-tion, biotechnology, environmentalsustainability and training of HighlyQualified Personnel.

Innovative Vaccines and Stroke Treatments

The Canadian Stroke Network(CSN) aims to break the barriers ofstroke treatment by developing innova-tive prevention and recovery strategiesthrough multidisciplinary and multisec-toral research. The network proposes a broad approach which would link education, prevention strategies forrecovery and rehabilitation, andresearch to further our understanding of brain injury, repair and functionalrecovery after a stroke.

The Canadian Network forVaccines and Immunotherapeu-tics (CANVAC) specializes in thefields of immunology, virology and molecular biology. In partnershipwith Canadian biopharmaceutical companies, it aims to develop safe and effective vaccines to protect people from cancer and life-threateningviral infections, such as hepatitis C and AIDS.

Looking AheadIn addition to the open competition, the1999 NCE budget facilitated a TargetedCompetition for up to four new net-works. A call for new applications wasmade January 12, 2000 in the followingareas critical to our economic future,the well-being of our children and thesafety of our environment:

the automobile of the 21st century

genomics technologies and society

meeting environmental challengesfor clean water

the impact of early child develop-ment on society.


NCE Selection Committees

Stage 1: Letters of Intent – June 21 and 22, 1999

Chair

Martin Godbout President, Hodran Inc.Quebec, PQ

Members

Ruth ArnonProfessor, Weizmann Institute ofScienceRehovot, Israel

Gérard DuhaimeDirector of GÉTIC, Laval University, Beauport PQ

Richard FuchsFutureworks Inc. Torbay NF

Pierre TremblayPresident, Tecta Inc.Chicoutimi PQ

Bill CheliakDirector, Progressive Genetics Systems Ltd.Ottawa ON

Ian DowdeswellPresident, Delian Consultants Ltd.,West Vancouver BC

Mark W. RosenbergProfessor, Department of GeographyQueen's UniversityKingston ON

Eva TurleyDivision of Cardiovascular ResearchThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto ON


Stage 2: Full Proposals – January 13 and 14, 2000

Chair

Martin Godbout President, Hodran Inc.Quebec PQ

Members

Ruth ArnonProfessor, Weizmann Institute ofScienceRehovot, Israel

Brian GarsidePresident, Opto-Electronics Inc., Oakville ON

Richard FuchsFutureworks Inc.Torbay NF

Gilles BrassardDépartement d'information et deRecherche opérationnelle, Universitéde MontréalMontréal PQ

Bruce SmithChairman, Smith InstituteGuilford SURREY UK

Camille LimogesPrésident, Conseil de la science et dela Technologie du QuébecSainte-Foy PQ

Bill CheliakDirector, Progressive Genetics Systems LtdOttawa ON

Ian DowdeswellPresident, Delian Consultants Ltd., West Vancouver BC

Mark W. RosenbergProfessor, Department of Geography,Queen's UniversityKingston ON

Eva TurleyDivision of Cardiovascular Research,The Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto ON

David B. ShindlerPresident and CEO, Milestone MedicaCorporationToronto ON

David OwenDirector, Industrial Collaboration &Licensing, Technology Transfer GroupMedical Research CouncilLondon UK


Health and Biotechnology

Eighteen Networks of Centres of Excellence

Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN)www.arthritisnetwork.ca

Funding Cycle: 1998 - 2005NCE Award in 1999 - 2000: $3.2 MNetwork Researchers1: 106Highly Qualified Personnel: 174Universities2: 26Industries2: 34Government departments, agenciesand others2: 49

Canadian Bacterial DiseasesNetwork (CBDN)www.cbdn.ca

Funding Cycle: 1989 - 2005NCE Award in 1999 - 2000: $3.8 MNetwork Researchers1: 27Highly Qualified Personnel: 223Universities2: 18Industries2: 50Government departments, agencies

and others2: 39

Canadian Genetic Diseases Network (CGDN)www.cgdn.generes.ca


and others2: 60

Canadian Network for Vaccines andImmunotherapeutics (CANVAC)www.canvacc.org

Funding Cycle: 1999 - 2003NCE Award in 1999 - 2000: $4.7 MNetwork Researchers1: 85

Highly Qualified Personnel: 116Universities2: 13Industries2: 22Government departments, agencies

and others2: 24

Canadian Stroke Network (CSN)www.canadianstrokenetwork.ca

Funding Cycle: 1999 - 2003NCE Award in 1999 - 2000: $4.7 MNetwork Researchers1: 145Highly Qualified Personnel: N / AUniversities2: 24Industries2: 22Government departments, agencies

and others2: 39

HEALNet – Health EvidenceApplication and Linkage Networkhttp://healnet.mcmaster.ca/nce


and others2: 81

Protein Engineering Network(PENCE)www.pence.ca


and others2: 24


Information Technology

Network Researchers1: 268Highly Qualified Personnel: 176Universities2: 29Industries2: 33Government departments, agencies

and others2: 28

Institute for Robotics and IntelligentSystems (IRIS)www.precarn.ca


and others2: 18

Micronet – Microelectronic Devices,Circuits and Systemswww.micronetrd.ca


and others2: 3

Natural Resources

AquaNet www.aquanet.ca

Funding Cycle: 1999 - 2003NCE Award in 1999 - 2000: $3.6 MNetwork Researchers1: 72Highly Qualified Personnel: N / AUniversities2: 18Industries2: 26Government departments, agencies

and others2: 12

Mechanical Wood-Pulps Network www.ppc.ubc.ca/wood-pulps

Funding Cycle: 1989 - 2002NCE Award in 1999 - 2000: $2 MNetwork Researchers1: 38Highly Qualified Personnel: 96Universities2: 15Industries2: 32Government departments, agencies

and others2: 9

Canadian Institute for PhotonicInnovations (CIPI)www.cipi.ulaval.ca


and others2: 16

Canadian Institute forTelecommunications Research(CITR)www.citr.ece.mcgill.ca

Funding Cycle: 1989-2002NCE Award in 1999- 2000: $2.5 MNetwork researchers1: 57Highly Qualified Personnel: 221Universities2: 18Industries2: 17Government departments, agencies

and others1: 2

Geomatics for Informed DecisionsNetwork (GEOIDE)www.geoide.ulaval.ca

Funding Cycle: 1998 - 2005NCE Award in 1999 - 2000: $2.6 M


Sustainable Forest ManagementNetwork (SFM)www.ualberta.ca/sfm

Funding Cycle: 1995 - 2002NCE Award in 1999 - 2000: $3 MNetwork Researchers1: 103Highly Qualified Personnel: 337Universities2: 26Industries2: 12Government departments, agencies

and others2: 5

Infrastructure

Intelligent Sensing for InnovativeStructures (ISIS)www.isiscanada.com


and others2: 25

Human Resources

TeleLearning NCEwww.telelearn.ca


and others2: 103

1 Includes Canadian and foreign researchers from all sectors2 Includes Canadian and foreign organizations

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