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Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence

Supporting private sector innovation

If the 11 Centres of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECRs) represent the foundation of the NCE program's efforts to build Canada's entrepreneurial advantage, the Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence will be the cornerstone.

The $46-million initiative, announced in Budget 2007, will fund large-scale, collaborative networks that support private sector innovation. Starting in 2009, five new networks – each led by private sector consortia – will commence a four-year funding cycle to help sharpen Canada's competitive edge. It is anticipated that they will generate technologies and products that produce “knowledge economy” jobs and opportunities.

The new networks will focus on research in five priority areas:

Environmental science
Natural resources and energy;
Health and related life sciences and technologies;
Information and communication technologies; and
Business, management and finance.

From the36 Letters of Intent received by the January 30, 2008 deadline, ten applicants were invited to submit full proposals. The NCE Secretariat expects to announce the winners in early 2009.

Did You Know?

A research team led by PrioNet researcher Dr. David Westaway discovered the first new prion protein since 1985. The prion protein, called Shadoo, had been theorized in previous research, but had not been proven to exist until 2007.

Source: PrioNews, July-September 2007.