Mobilizing research and innovation for the benefit of Canadians is what the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) have been helping the country's best and brightest do for the past 20 years. And, as all governments know, doing things better is the innovative mettle that brings sustainable economic growth and a better quality of life for its citizens. This is even more important during challenging economic times.

The networks and centres play a strategic role in this innovation mosaic as part of the federal government’s science and technology (S&T) strategy. They act as catalysts in mobilizing and energizing skilled individuals and teams from across the country to translate promising research into practical solutions that address many of our country’s greatest health, environmental, societal and economic challenges.

The NCE continued to address Canada’s S&T priority areas this past year with the approval of three new networks that mobilize the nation’s research excellence to help children with developmental brain disorders, to lessen the impact of fossil fuels on the environment, and to exploit social media to improve education and skills development. The NCE also launched a third round of the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program in 2009, with 11 applicants short-listed to apply for three to four new centres.

Training the next generation of skilled workers continues to be a priority for the NCE, which has become the country’s largest university training program in applied research. In addition to the nearly 2,000 graduate and post-graduate students supported this past year through the networks, the Industrial R&D Internship program supported another 1,000 students, providing them with opportunities to work on-site with companies to address pressing industry problems.

Strengthening Canadian innovation also depends on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—the lifeblood of Canada’s economy—investing more in R&D. That is why the NCE established a special fund to encourage SMEs to partner with Business-Led Networks in R&D and pre-commercialization activities. Such partnerships will help to create, expand and retain homegrown companies that are able to capture new markets with new innovations.

The NCE continued to increase its focus on commercialization this past year under the guidance of its Private Sector Advisory Board (PSAB). Although still early days for the CECR and BL-NCE programs, PSAB concluded in its 2009 impact report that the importance of these programs cannot be overstated, particularly given Canada’s current innovation and commercialization climate. A separate evaluation of the CECR program in 2009 noted that the selection process “was widely praised as a key mechanism to ensure that funded centres will achieve the program’s intended research and commercialization outcomes.”

The NCE’s success depends on the participation and support of the private sector, universities, not-for-profit organizations and all levels of government. It also relies on the skilled contributions from its expert panels and PSAB. This hard work and commitment to the NCE mission is greatly appreciated.

Of course, none of what the NCE have accomplished would have been possible without the vision and continued support of the Government of Canada. The results of this past year, and the past 20 years, are proof that the government’s investment in the NCE is producing valuable returns.