Components of Innovation

NRC has distinguished itself as an effective catalyst for cluster development, providing R&D expertise, financial advice, technical know-how and the leadership that clusters need to move research out of the lab and put it to work for Canada's economy.

Its successful approach to clustering encourages and supports local strengths, while leveraging NRC's national and international resources, science and technology capabilities, networks and partnerships. This proven approach ensures that each cluster initiative can develop according to its unique needs, opportunities and challenges.

As the clustering model above highlights, NRC is uniquely positioned to contribute to the growth of Canadian clusters by:

• Bringing the leadership needed to gather stakeholders together to define a collective vision
• Building trust within a cluster by fostering networking and collaborative R&D between firms
• Motivating other levels of government to share in the vision
• Maximizing the use of scarce resources by leveraging funds (e.g. investing in much-needed scientific infrastructure, sharing experts between universities and NRC labs)
• Establishing a focal point for the cluster by acting as a neutral ground for the private sector to meet and attract in outside investment
• Identifying bottlenecks to SME growth, and creating targeted solutions for technology transfer and commercialization
• Connecting firms and researchers across the country and around the world through its national mandate and international reputation