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Alberta Research Council

The Alberta Research CentreThe Alberta Research Council (ARC) was founded in 1921 and is recognized as the first and largest provincial research organization in Canada. Originally known as the Scientific and Industrial Research Council of Alberta (SIRCA), the organization was established to document Alberta's mineral and natural resources for industry. Since that time, ARC has continued to be a key driver of Alberta's economic diversification. ARC's original headquarters were located on the campus at at the University of Alberta, but were moved to separate facilities in the late 1950s as the organization grew and became more focused on industry. Since 1986, ARC's headquarters have been located in the Edmonton Research Park.

ARC develops and commercializes technology to give their customers a competitive advantage in the marketplace. A leader in innovation, ARC operates in a number of facilities in Edmonton, Calgary and Vegreville, providing its customers with access to world-class research tools. The organization is widely known for providing solutions globally to the energy, life sciences, agriculture, environment, forestry and manufacturing sectors. 

Alberta Chamber of Resources

The Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR) was founded in 1935 as the Alberta and Northwest Chamber of Mines, representing the private sector's mining interests in Alberta and the two northern territories. In 1977, the organization changed its name to the Alberta Chamber of Resources, focusing exclusively on Alberta and began to represent the tar sands in addition to the historical coal and mining mineral interests.

ACR continues to work with Alberta's resource industries to offer solutions and seek a balance for the orderly development of Canadian resources. There are 160 member corporations representing Alberta's industrial activity including: coal, oilsands, oil and gas, petrochemicals, pipeline, forestry, metallic minerals, industrial minerals, utilities, banks, equipment suppliers, transportation systems and service providers. ACR is primarily associated with the private sector, acting as a unified voice on industrial concerns and representing these concerns to the provincial and federal governments.

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research

The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research administers the State of the Science Reviews program, which summarizes health services scientific literature and provides an overview of the research base.The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research supports top Alberta scientists whose research improves the health of Albertans and people throughout the world. Founded in 1980 by a grant from the Government of Alberta, AHFMR has contributed to the Alberta research environment, attracting a large number of top scientists involved in all aspects of medical research.

The goals of AHFMR focus on improving the standard of healthcare and healthcare related research in Alberta. AHFMR does not have its own research facilities. The foundation serves as an administrative head for universities, hospitals and affiliated institutions. One interesting mandate of the AHFMR is the commercialization of innovations created by the project. Profits from an innovation are shared by the researcher, the company that commercializes the innovation and the host university.

Alberta Inno-Centre

Inno-centre Alberta provides support for a number of start-up ventures in the province.The Alberta Inno-Centre is dedicated to promoting advanced technology in Alberta by helping entrepreneurs start up commercial advanced technology ventures. The Inno-Centre in Alberta is one of three provincial centres; the others are located in Ontario and Quebec. Each of these branches operates under the jurisdiction of the Inno-Centre’s national branch.

The Inno-Centre’s advanced technology start-up program helps its clients over a period of two years with a number of beneficial services

  • Securing the intellectual property of a firm
  • Validating the commercial potential of an emerging technology
  • Establishing a business model
  • Completing and validating a company's management team
  • Helping to make strategic and administrative decisions
  • Identifying and completing commercial partnerships

The Inno-Centre is involved in a number of diverse advanced technology fields

  • Information Technologies—telecommunications, microelectronics, multimedia solutions, software, optics/photonics, geomatics
  • Biosciences—biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic products, medical devices, agrifood
  • Industrial Technologies—materials, automation, processes, nanomaterials

The Inno-Centre has helped many Alberta businesses to properly establish their niche in the highly competitive arena of advanced technology. According to one professor at the University of Calgary, "I believe that the Inno-Centre is an ideal concept to provide coaching, reduce risks for entrepreneurs, and assist in attracting venture capital."

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum

The CIM LogoFounded in 1898, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (CIM) is the leading technical society for professionals in the minerals, mining, materials and energy industries with over 12,000 members. CIM was the result of individuals involved with mining lobbying for safety laws and worker protection, as well as establishing a network of communication amongst similar trades. In 1998, CIM celebrated its centennial and growth from a small association to Canada’s leading professional association for the minerals and related industries.

One of CIM's major objectives is the exchange of knowledge and technology. CIM has established and conducted conferences, publications and awards to promote an atmosphere for research and development amongst its members. CIM cites its members and their strong sense of community as the foundation for technological innovation across the country. Their emphasis is on membership and community which contributes to information sharing and advancements in research and development.

Syncrude

Hydrotransport pipeline leads to the Aurora Primary Separation Vessel. Syncrude Canada is the world's largest producer of crude oil from tar sands and provides approximately 13 percent of Canada's petroleum needs. Before Syncrude could begin producing oil from the tar sands, a team of scientists and engineers worked diligently to discover the most efficient means to develop and utilize the resource. Syncrude's research and development, focused around the tar-sands project, has created a profitable venture for Alberta and created thousands of jobs for the province.

Syncrude was recognized by the Financial Post as amongst the top 50 research and development firms in Canada with expenditures of over $30 million CDN per year. This money is used to invent new technologies and processes to reduce operating costs, increase production and protect the environment. Syncrude also supports the process of public dissemination. An inventor’s full description of his invention is given to the Canadian government for public use in exchange for exclusive rights to the invention., which is sharing new inventions and discoveries with all Canadian citizens.



"Decades of Discovery" by Ken Fisher

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