Successes highlighted at the NRC’s awards ceremony

Dr. Paul Corkum

Dr. Paul Corkum is a distinguished and preeminent scientist. He started to work at the NRC as a postdoctoral student in 1973. Throughout his career, he has won almost every major photonics and laser science prize in the world. He is recognized in the science community as the "father" of the attosecond laser science field, which is now associated with the NRC and Canada. Some of the world’s brightest laser scientists come to Canada in order to work with him. In a time when we often talk about brain drain, he brings ideas and people into Canada. Dr. Corkum’s research is characterized by deep physical insight accompanied by elegant models and supported by highly original experiments. His work has repeatedly been the starting point for other experimental scientists and the foundation for the development of rigorous new physics theory. Dr. Corkum was recently awarded the NRC’s Schneider medal, the highest distinction bestowed upon employees.

Developing the Hia vaccine

Developing vaccines is a long and complex process. In critical situations, such as the recent outbreaks of Haemophilus influenzae type a (Hia) in some of Canada’s northern communities, time is of the essence. Hia is an emerging bacterial pathogen causing significant mortality and morbidity, particularly in children under the age of two. Recognizing the importance of responding quickly and maximizing on the expertise gained with the development of the meningitis vaccine, the NRC and Public Health Agency of Canada collaborated to tackle the development of an innovative vaccine solution with support from the Federal Vaccine Research and Innovation Development Committee. The Hia vaccine was the first to benefit from this integrated approach. From research to proof of concept, the developers of the Hia vaccine were supported by a multi-disciplinary team enabling them throughout the process by providing scientific and business expertise in a timely manner.

Developing a high-efficiency electric motor

A team of scientists specializing in the formulation of metallic powders at the NRC saw an opportunity in the area of electric transportation to develop new, more affordable electric motors with a wider operating range. Using their expertise in metal powders, as well as their connections in the field of materials and electric mobility, NRC experts brought the interested parties together. The collaboration of three Canadian companies and the NRC resulted in TM4 being able to commercialize an innovative electric motor offering enhanced performance and a 40 per cent reduction in production costs. TM4 was able to deliver over 6,000 electric bus motors to China throughout the year using the technology developed during the collaboration.

Printable electronics

To ensure Canada plays a leading role in the fast-paced and emerging field of printable electronics, the NRC established the Printable Electronics Consortium which brought together members from the public and private sectors. The combined research and development expertise of consortium members offered Canadian companies a unique opportunity to expedite time to market, not only giving them an upper-hand but allowing them to maximize their revenue potential through licensing opportunities. This was the case for GGI, a Canadian company specialized in human machine interface products. With the help of the NRC, GGI was able to create a high-performing conductive ink, which can be used in numerous electronic applications including improving smartphone functionalities. This patented technology was recently licensed to the world’s largest ink manufacturer. During the last five years, while working with the NRC and the consortium, GGI has doubled in size.

Developing a multiple flight simulator

With expertise in advanced flight testing techniques and data validation algorithms, the National Research Council of Canada partnered with CAE, a world-renowned Canadian company specializing in flight simulation and training, to pioneer the development of full-mission helicopter simulators with a proprietary cockpit design. Until now, flight simulators have been designed to reproduce the cockpit environment and flight experience of a single aircraft model, at a cost of millions of dollars apiece. CAE’s innovative design can accommodate multiple helicopter types within the same physical simulation environment, not only allowing CAE to offer a unique and cost-saving alternative to their clients but ultimately resulting in improved aviation safety in Canada.

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