In 2007, the Government of Canada invested $285 million over five years to create the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program. This innovative model creates centres to advance research and facilitate commercialization of technologies, products and services within the four priority areas identified in the federal Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy. The four areas are: Environment; Natural Resources and Energy; Health and Life Sciences; and Information and Communications Technologies.

The currently active CECRs focus on biotechnology, digital media, drug research and development, energy efficiency, personalized medicine, green chemistry, cancer treatment, ocean observatories, and prostate cancer research, as well as many other areas.

Building on the success of the original Networks of Centres of Excellence program which funds research, the CECR program supports the operating expenses of a centre, and the commercialization of such research. The CECR program helps bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization, allowing new products and technologies to go to market more easily.

Impacts of the CECR program

The CECRs stimulate multi-million dollar contributions each year both in cash and in-kind. Major partners include the private sector and provincial governments.
The CECR program is an innovative model of the ability to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization. The centres lead the world in the novel concept of taking a product or technology beyond the development stage, all the way to marketing and commercialization.
The CECR program has led to the attraction and retention of top commercialization talent (including internationally recognized business leaders) to Canada.
CECR funding is complemented by matching funds from (primarily) industrial partners. As such, centres have attracted large numbers of investments, including foreign direct investment and venture capital from individuals and organizations interested in helping to grow companies.
To ensure maximum return on research and development dollars, the CECR program covers costs that are not normally eligible under other federal research funding programs.
More specific impacts can be found in the NCE’s Annual Reports