National Research Council 3.7

The National Research Council is the primary national research and technology organization of the Government of Canada, in science and technology research and development. The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development is responsible for the National Research Council . The transformation of the NRC into an RTO that focuses on "business-led research" was part of the federal government's Economic Action Plan. On 7 May 2013, the NRC launched its new "business approach" in which it offered four business lines: strategic research and development, technical services, management of science and technology infrastructure and NRC-Industrial Research Assistance Program . With these services, NRC intends to shorten the gap between early stage research and development and commercialization. NRC now has over 30 approved programs.MandateNRC is a Government of Canada organization. Its mandate is set out in the National Research Council Act.Under the Act, NRC is responsible for: Undertaking, assisting or promoting scientific and industrial research in fields of importance to Canada; Providing vital scientific and technological services to the research and industrial communities; Investigating standards and methods of measurement; Working on the standardization and certification of scientific and technical apparatus, instruments and materials used or usable by Canadian industry; Operating and administering any astronomical observatories established or maintained by the Government of Canada; Establishing, operating and maintaining a national science library; and Publishing and selling or otherwise distributing such scientific and technical information as the Council deems necessary.