Edmonton, Alberta – The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), today officially announced a Government of Canada commitment of $3.8 million to the University of Alberta for the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT)'s Innovation Centre. The centre will be located on the fourth floor of the National Research Council (NRC) National Institute for Nanotechnology.
The NINT Innovation Centre will attract and facilitate commercialization of nanotechnology and other technologies that benefit from being in proximity to NRC and the University of Alberta nano-scale facilities. Nanotechnology applies atomic, molecular science to develop or create structures, devices and systems that have innovative properties given their minute size. A nanometer is one billionth of a metre.
The Government of Canada's investment in the NINT Innovation Centre is aimed at building Canada's national system of innovation and fostering development of community-based technology cluster, which will draw in more national and international investment and attract highly skilled professionals to Alberta.
“The NINT Innovation Centre presents an excellent opportunity for new and existing companies to grow and gain access to emerging markets through new nano-applications,” said Minister McLellan. “The commercialization of intellectual property developed at the centre will enable further research and, in doing so, increase prosperity in the across Western Canada.”
"Taking great ideas and creating new products and services is a key goal of Alberta's long term strategy for unleashing innovation in the province," said Victor Doerksen, Minister of Alberta Innovation and Science. "The NINT Innovation Centre is a welcome addition to our province's strong foundation of world-class researchers and facilities."
The National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) is a partnership initiative between the National Research Council, the University of Alberta, the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta. This partnership was created to bring together the discovery-based research from the University of Alberta with the managed innovation and commercialization approach of the National Research Council.
“The Innovation Centre will build on NRC's long history of helping commercialize research. Having this Centre as part of the first class facilities at our National Institute for Nanotechnology, will help Canada realize the full potential of our investment in this key sector,” said Dr. Pierre Coulombe, President of the National Research Council (NRC).
"We welcome this investment and commend the Minister for his vision," said Dr. Indira Samarasekera, president of the University of Alberta. "The Innovation Centre is a vital link in transferring the knowledge of our researchers to the community, where it can benefit society."
Western Economic Diversification Canada's $3.8 million investment will go towards finishing construction and designing of the fourth floor of the NINT Building, as well as outfitting and furnishing for-lease offices and labs.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in Budget 2005.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Kinley
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 495-6892
E-mail: donna.kinley@wd.gc.ca
Renée Gillen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport)
Tel: (613) 954-1110
Lynn Hutchings-Mah
Communications
Alberta Innovation and Science
(780) 415-6186
Sandra L. Halme
Media Relations, Public Affairs
University of Alberta
(780) 492-0442
Shannon Jones Communications Advisor National Institute for Nanotechnology National Research Council[780] 492-8636
WD Toll-Free Number
1 888 338-WEST (9378)
World Wide Web Site:
English: http://www.wd.gc.ca
French: http://www.deo.gc.ca
Backgrounder
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
Western Economic Diversification Canada works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and diversify Western Canada's economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national economic policy.
WD is announcing a $3.8 million contribution to the National Institute for Nanotechnology's (NINT) Innovation Centre, which is located on the fourth floor of the NINT building at the University of Alberta. This investment will go towards finishing construction and designing of the floor, as well as outfitting and furnishing the space for-lease offices and labs.
WD's investment is aligned with the Government of Canada's commitments to make Canada a world leader in developing and applying 21 st century technologies and increasing commercialization of innovative technology.
National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT)
Established in 2001, NINT is operated as a partnership between the National Research Council and the University of Alberta, and is jointly funded by the Government of Canada's National Research Council, the Government of Alberta and the University of Alberta.
The National Institute for Nanotechnology is an integrated, multi-disciplinary institution involving researchers in physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, informatics, pharmacy and medicine.
The NINT building will be one of the world's most technologically advanced research facilities and will house laboratory space that will provide optimal conditions for nano-scale research, including “quiet” lab space, lab space with ultra-low vibration and minimal acoustical noise or electro-magnetic interference.
NINT occupies 15,000 square metres of the six-story building. The institute will include specialized spaces for laboratories in chemical and biochemical synthesis and analysis of the material structure at the atomic scale, as well as a Class 1000 Clean Room for the production of nanostructured systems. NINT is purchasing the latest generation of scientific equipment including electron and scanning probe microscopes, and chemical and material analysis instruments .
Nanotechnology is defined as the science of developing new materials and processes by manipulating molecular and atomic particles. A nanometre is one billionth of a metre, that is, about 1/80,000 of the diameter of a human hair, or 10 times the diameter of a hydrogen atom.
NINT Innovation Centre
This centre will be positioned to attract newly formed ‘nano industry' enterprises for research and development of nanotechnology for commercialization activities.
Given the proximity of the Innovation Centre to over $50 million worth of world-class nanoscale characterization facilities located on the University of Alberta campus, companies that lease space in the NINT Innovation Centre will be able to access and leverage Canada's most intensive nanotechnology environment.
Start-up and existing companies will be able to find partners and collaborators within the Centre and on campus, which will enhance their own abilities to develop nano-enabled products for their existing value chains.
Non-local companies and international organizations will have an opportunity to lease space and set up physical labs, offices, or business presence.
Given the proximity to a high concentration of nanotechnology expertise, companies will have access to training, opportunities to engage with highly qualified people as prospective new hires, and gain access to mentorship services through TEC Edmonton.
History
WD has invested more than $29 million to over 75 projects with the University of Alberta. Of this amount, more than $12 million, including the $3.8 million announced today, has been directed towards nanotechnology-related initiatives. These projects include:
$2.17 million for the Microsystems Technology Research Institute
$4.2 million for the Nanofabrication facility
$1.8 million for the Centre of Excellence in Integrated Nanotools
$335,000 for other nano-related activities
In August 2001, the Prime Minister and Premier of Alberta announced the creation of the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) to be built at the University of Alberta. The total budget NINT is estimated at $120 million over a five-year period.
The National Research Council (NRC) is a federal government council that creates real economic value through its research capabilities, and its ability to commercialize its new discoveries in order to help businesses move new products from the lab to the market. NRC contributed $60 million to be used for equipment purchases and operating costs over 5 years.
The Government of Alberta is providing $47.4 million for the NINT building. From that total, $40 million is being directed towards construction costs and the remainder is to be allocated to purchasing equipment.
The University of Alberta contributed $12.6 million, which includes the value of the land upon which the NINT building is located, as well as equipment costs.
Project Costs & Funding
WD's $3.8 million investment in the NINT Innovation Centre has been directed towards finishing construction and designing of the fourth floor, as well as outfitting and furnishing for-lease offices and labs.
The Province of Alberta contributed $1,897,500 towards construction of the fourth floor.
The total project funding for the NINT Innovation Centre is $5,683,040.
