Springboard To Sign MOU With NSERC To Further Research And Innovation Capacity In Atlantic Canada
October 19th, 2016
“This partnership with NSERC is instrumental in providing ongoing support to institutions and the private sector for research and commercialization efforts across the region,” says Springboard CEO Chris Mathis. “NSERC has been a big supporter of research efforts across Atlantic Canada and this formalized agreement will allow us to continue to work together to develop and fund collaborative projects and events.”
The MOU outlines that projects could include Research and Development opportunities, talent support, training and student employment programs as well as other related programs that encourage partnerships between academic institutions and industry provided there is an economic benefit to the region.
“Together, NSERC and Springboard Atlantic will be able to expand our networks, deepen connections between academia and industry and boost collaborative research,” says Bettina Hamelin, Vice-President of Research Partnerships, NSERC. “By coordinating our efforts, we will build on synergies for a stronger, more vibrant research and innovation ecosystem in Atlantic Canada and help strengthen Canada’s global leadership position.”
The four-year partnership will begin October 1st.
Springboard Atlantic (www.springboardatlantic.ca) was created with funding through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Atlantic Innovation Fund. Springboard is a network of 19 Atlantic universities and colleges committed to commercializing research and transferring knowledge and technology to the region’s private sector. Springboard’s network members work to connect publicly-funded research with industry through a range of programs and services. Springboard also connects experts in academia and industry to create new collaborations.
NSERC invests over $1 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. Our investments deliver discoveries – valuable world-firsts in knowledge claimed by a brain trust of over 11,000 professors. Our investments enable partnerships and collaborations that connect industry with discoveries and the people behind them. Researcher-industry partnerships established by NSERC help inform R&D, solve scale-up challenges, and reduce the risks of developing high-potential technology.
NSERC also provides scholarships and hands-on training experience for more than 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows. These young researchers will be the next generation of science and engineering leaders in Canada.