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Alberta Ingenuity Fund

Earth & Sky is an award winning daily science radio series for kids, launched by the Alberta Ingenuity Fund.Established in 2000, Alberta Ingenuity is the trade name for the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Science and Engineering Research. Similar to the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Alberta Ingenuity is funded by the Alberta government and operates exclusively in research. The mandate of Alberta Ingenuity is promotion of knowledge and its application for the benefit of all Albertans. Alberta Ingenuity supports researchers primarily at the Universities of Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge but also provides funding for several public colleges and technical institutes.

One of Alberta Ingenuity's main objectives is promoting young Albertans to explore careers in science and engineering research. They have launched a number of programs to encourage youth and student involvement in the sciences. The Earth and Sky radio program provides information on interesting and relevant scientific facts for both adults and students in two, two-minute segments. Alberta Ingenuity also sponsors summer camps at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary to discover the excitement of science and engineering.

CISTI: Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technological Information 

"Canadian Medicinal Crops"; by Ernest Small and Paul M. Catling is a product of the NRC Research Press, the publishing arm of the CISTI. The Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (CISTI) was established in 1924 as the library for the National Resource Council of Canada (NRC). In 1957 the library was renamed to the National Science Library and by 1974 became the Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technological information to reflect the wide range of services provided and the increasing role of digital information and service to the science and technology community within Canada. CISTI is one of the world's largest for information in science, technology, engineering and medicine.

CISTI's major focus is to ensure that Canadian researchers have immediate access to scientifically valid information, from any source and in any form. Information is essential in the creation, improvement and development of new products and new innovations and the CISTI library, with over 20 kilometres of shelves filled with publications of all sorts, provides this information to all Canadians. CISTI is committed to the Canadian Innovation Strategy, and its emphasis on strengthening Canada's knowledge-based economy.

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is an operating agency of Industry Canada. CIPO administers the intellectual property system in Canada and distributes and processes intellectual property information. Intellectual property, as defined by CIPO, is ideas, designs and creativity—the keys to a prosperous and thriving society. CIPO believes that the orderly exchange of ideas and information within a society is as equally important as the flow of money or goods and services.

CIPO issues legal recognition for original ideas, designs or creations to protect the intellectual property of innovative Canadians. CIPO provides government protection and legal rights similar to owning a piece of land. These government protections are known as patents, trademarks and copyrights. CIPO considers these protections to be incentives for innovation and invention in Canada. By providing legal protection and exclusive rights, CIPO ensures that citizens can use their intellectual property to make money.

Edmonton Innovation Centre

The Edmonton Innovation Centre assists emerging knowledge-based business by providing them with the skills and resources needed to commercialize their products. This organization is affiliated with the National Research Council (NRC) and uses NRC laboratories and institutes to assist local businesses. The centre acts as a vehicle to promote innovation in the community by bringing stakeholders, clients, organizations and associations with common technological interests together.

Established as a joint venture between the National Research Council, Western Economic Diversification, Alberta Economic Development, Alberta Research Council, Economic Development Edmonton and the University of Alberta, the Edmonton Innovation Centre is a government-sponsored enterprise and receives the majority of its funding from Alberta Innovation and Science. The Edmonton Innovation Centre also provides an Innovation Business Centre, designed to provide emerging technology companies with the proper facilities to promote their growth and expansion.

Industry Canada

Canadian Industry Minister Allan Rock shakes hands with Osamu Watanabe, Chairman & CEO of the Japan External Trade Organization, after signing the E-Marketplace agreement to Facilitate Trade between Canada and Japan at Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, April 17, 2003.Industry Canada's primary objective is to foster a growing competitive, knowledge-based Canadian economy. Industry Canada is a department of the federal government and works with Canadians throughout the country to improve conditions for investment and innovation as well as increase trade and establish a healthy, proficient economy. The department functions in a number of areas, which include developing industry and technological capability, promoting scientific research, setting telecommunication policy, promoting investment and trade, promoting tourism and small business development and supporting the development and stability of the marketplace.

One of Industry Canada's major platforms is innovation. The department has recognized innovation as a critical factor for success in all areas of commerce. Their mandate promotes an innovation culture to transform Canada into the world's leading innovator. They propose that a co-operative effort between government, academia, the research community and the private sector will increase the level of productivity and innovation in the country and establish Canada with a potent knowledge-based economy.

National Research Council of Canada 

The Obstacle Awareness System radar system is just one of many NRC project in development. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) was established over 80 years ago as Canada's premier organization for research and development. The NRC now includes 19 different institutes and national programs covering a number of fields and disciplines. NRC institutes and programs are organized into two key areas: technology and industry support and the Research and Technology Development Program. Technology and support focuses on the industrial or commercial concerns assisting emerging technological firms (similar to Edmonton Innovation). The Research and Technology Development Program is focused on fundamental science, the more traditional branch of research and development.

OASys technology was developed with financial assistance from the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).The protocol for the National Research Council has been outlined by the Canadian government in the National Research Council Act. According to this mandate, the NRC is responsible for undertaking, assisting or promoting scientific and industrial research in a variety of fields. The major contribution of the NRC to the Canadian public is communication, providing a central resource for the sharing of information between research and industrial communities.

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