Corporate overview

Governance

The NRC is an agency of the Government of Canada, reporting to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. It is governed by a council of appointees drawn from its client community.

President’s mandate letter

View the mandate letter to Mr. Iain Stewart.

Organizational structure

View the NRC organizational chart.

The NRC is comprised of four integrated R&D divisions, each guided by advisory bodies composed of industry leaders. Under these four umbrella R&D divisions, we have 12 integrated and consolidated portfolios focused on key industry sectors, or our areas of R&D. These portfolios represent areas of strategic importance and economic value for Canada. Within each portfolio we have a variety of programs focused on addressing specific business-identified priorities and challenges through a unique offering of technical and advisory services, research facilities, licensing opportunities and programs and partnership opportunities.

R&D Divisions	Areas of R&D (Portfolios)
Emerging Technologies - Platforms	Information and Communications Technologies Security and Disruptive Technologies
Emerging Technologies - National Infrastructure and Future Technologies	Measurement Science and Standards NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics
Life Sciences	Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Human Health Therapeutics Medical Devices
Engineering	Aerospace Automotive and Surface Transportation Construction Energy, Mining and Environment Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering

To complement this broad array of R&D capabilities, NRC's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) brings together a diverse network of organizations, services and programs to help Canadian SMEs develop and exploit technologies in the competitive, global knowledge economy.

As a world-leading RTO, NRC is investing strategically in competencies and technology platforms that enable our researchers to remain ahead of the curve in their areas of specialty, while constantly scanning for emerging disciplines for possible future investment, to ensure ongoing relevance and value to Canadian industry.

NRC Council

The NRC Council (comprising the Chair, the President, and up to ten other members) reviews the strategic directions, oversees the performance of the organization and provides a challenge function with respect to the work of the President and senior management. Members bring an independent perspective based upon knowledge and expertise in fields of importance to the NRC's mandate. The President is the chief executive officer of the National Research Council (the body corporate) while the Chair is responsible for providing effective leadership to "the NRC Council" (the Council comprising the Chair, the President and up to ten other members) and for all matters pertaining to organization and functioning of the NRC Council meetings.

The President is appointed for a term of up to five years, while all other members are appointed for terms of up to three years.

Appointment opportunities notice

The Government of Canada is currently seeking applications from diverse and talented Canadians from across the country who are interested in the following positions: NRC Council Members – part-time positions.

Short biographies of the NRC Council members