Networks of Centres of Excellence

What Networks of Centres of Excellence does

Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) is a Canadian federal research funding program established in 1989 and headquartered in Ottawa. It is jointly administered by three statutory federal research granting agencies—the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)—and operates through an NCE Secretariat with 11–50 staff. The program does not develop proprietary technology or commercial products; its function is to mobilize multi-disciplinary research capacity across natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and health sciences by distributing non-dilutive grant funding to large-scale, academic-led research networks.

The NCE portfolio comprises six interconnected programs: the core NCE program, NCE Knowledge Mobilization (NCE-KM), the Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence (CIRCE), International Knowledge Translation Platforms (NCE-IKTP), Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR), and Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE). Through these programs, NCE has historically funded networks spanning aging and technology (AGE-WELL), biotherapeutics for cancer (BioCanRx), cardiac arrhythmia (CANet), glycomics (GlycoNet), children's brain health (KBHN), nanomedicines (NMIN), Arctic research (ArcticNet), manufacturing acceleration (REMAP), youth homelessness social innovation (Making The Shift), and mountain research (CMN). Funding is delivered through competitive grant processes administered via the three federal granting agencies; no fees or commercial pricing apply.

The program is in managed transition. Per Budget 2018, CECR and BL-NCE are being consolidated into the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Per the December 2018 NCE Program announcement, core NCE Program funding is being gradually transferred to the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) administered by SSHRC. The NCE Secretariat has confirmed it will not conduct future calls for proposals, although currently funded networks continue operating until their funding agreements conclude. Recent major funding actions include the 2020 renewal of $80.7M across five networks and 2019 commitments of $91.9M to seven new networks, $18M to Exactis Innovation, and $10M to ReMAP.

Name

Networks of Centres of Excellence

Legal name

Networks of Centres of Excellence

Website

https://nce-rce.gc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) is a Canadian federal research funding program established in 1989, jointly administered by CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC. It distributes competitive grant funding to multi-disciplinary research networks across natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and health sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NCE is a Canadian federal research funding program that manages a suite of national programs to mobilize Canada's best research, development, and entrepreneurial expertise. It funds and coordinates large-scale, academic-led research networks across natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and health sciences, bringing together universities, industry, government, and not-for-profit organizations to address critical Canadian challenges and move discoveries from research to commercialization.

Product overview

Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) is a suite of national research funding programs managed by the NCE Secretariat, an initiative of CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC. The portfolio consists of six interconnected programs: the core Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program, three NCE initiatives (Knowledge Mobilization, Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence, and International Knowledge Translation Platforms), plus two commercialization programs (CECR and BL-NCE). Together these programs support the full innovation continuum from basic research through commercialization, addressing Canada's needs to focus critical mass of research resources on social and economic challenges, commercialize homegrown research breakthroughs, increase private-sector R&D, and train highly qualified people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE): Main program mobilizing multi-disciplinary research capacity across Canada
• NCE Knowledge Mobilization (NCE-KM)
• Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence (CIRCE)
• International Knowledge Translation Platforms (NCE-IKTP)
• Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR)
• Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE)

Products and services

• Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program The primary NCE program that mobilizes multi-disciplinary research capacity from across Canada to accelerate the creation of new knowledge in specific research areas, creating large-scale academic-led research networks that engage partners from academic institutions, industry, government, and not-for-profit organizations. Targeted at Canadian universities, researchers, industry partners, and government agencies.
• NCE Knowledge Mobilization (NCE-KM) Initiative focused on working with end users to facilitate the application of knowledge and increasing collaboration between researchers in Canada and abroad. For researchers, end-user organizations, and knowledge mobilization specialists.
• Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence (CIRCE) International initiative facilitating research collaboration between Canada and India in areas of mutual strategic interest. For Canadian and Indian academic researchers and research institutions.
• International Knowledge Translation Platforms (NCE-IKTP) Initiative supporting international knowledge translation platforms to accelerate the application of research findings across borders. For researchers and end-user organizations engaged in cross-border knowledge translation.
• Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) Program that bridges the gap from innovation to commercialization by matching clusters of research expertise with the business community, offering flexible models including centres that act as investors, incubators, service providers, or product development centres. For Canadian research clusters and commercialization partners (currently being transitioned to the Strategic Innovation Fund).
• Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE) Networks led by not-for-profit industry consortia that respond directly to R&D challenges facing Canadian industrial sectors, allowing industry partners to propose network-funded research projects conducted at their own facilities. For Canadian industry consortia and their R&D partners (currently being transitioned to the Strategic Innovation Fund).

Quantifiable outcome

• High-paying jobs, competitive industries, increased productivity, better healthcare, sustainable development outcomes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIHR is one of three federal research funding agencies that jointly deliver the NCE programs. CIHR focuses on health research excellence and provides funding through the NCE program to health-related research networks.
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSERC is one of three federal research funding agencies that jointly deliver the NCE programs. NSERC focuses on natural sciences and engineering research and provides administrative support for NCE grants.
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSHRC is one of three federal research funding agencies that jointly deliver the NCE programs. SSHRC focuses on social sciences and humanities research excellence and provides funding through the NCE program.
• Strategic Innovation FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs per Budget 2018, the CECR and BL-NCE programs are being consolidated and transferred to the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
• New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs per December 2018 NCE Program news, funding for the NCE Program is being gradually transitioned to the New Frontiers in Research Fund administered by SSHRC.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/networks-of-centres-of-excellence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Networks of Centres of Excellence