Departmental Results Report 2017-2018 - Supplementary information tables

Astronomy has become a global science. The increasing cost of leading-edge observatories and the scarcity of ideal observation sites have led to a greater focus on international collaboration for large-scale astronomy projects which lead to advances in our knowledge and understanding of the universe.

NRC, in collaboration with other international bodies, provides financial contributions to support the management and operations of offshore ground-based observatories and their related facilities, including the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), the twin telescopes of the Gemini Observatory and the Atacama Large Millimetre/sub-millimetre Array (ALMA). NRC participates in the oversight and direction of these facilities and their research capabilities. NRC also represents Canada in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) consortium for the pre-construction phase of the telescope. In 2015, Canada joined the international partnership to participate in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). NRC, on behalf of Canada, provides both financial and in-kind contributions.

International agreements governing these observatories are long-term commitments that specify contributions to support preconstruction design and development, construction, operation and maintenance, capital improvements (e.g., development of new astronomical instruments and other facility upgrades) and decommissioning of the international ground-based observatories and their related facilities. In addition, they include commitments to support the university-based user communities to ensure a fair and progressive use of these observatories. NRC participates in the governance of these international facilities on behalf of the Canadian astronomy research community and provides appropriate support, including sophisticated data management services and instrumentation. Through NRC’s financial and in-kind contributions, the Canadian astronomy community is assured merit-based access to these facilities with appropriate support.

Recipients are not required to repay funds obtained under this transfer payment program.

• The Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (CADC) delivered 170 million files to users (a 50% increase over 2016), 1593 Terabytes of files to approximately 11,000 astronomers. The number of registered users (not all of whom downloaded data) was approximately 8000 in 2017.
• The CADC completed a joint project with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to unify the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archive services. This merging of the archive service reduces the staffing burden needed to support the HST archive and prepares the CADC for its role as one of three mirror sites for the James Webb Space Telescope that is expected to be launched in 2021.
• 443 scientific papers were published by users based on data obtained using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) and the Gemini Observatory. 335 scientific papers were published based on data obtained using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) Observatory.
• Demand by astronomers for telescope access continued to exceed the time available by a factor ranging from 2.6 to 7.9, depending on the telescope. This is as a reliable indicator of the relevance of the observatory and of its instrumentation.
• $3.0M in service contracts were signed with industry partners in support of astronomy technology R&D activities.
• The Honourable Kristy Duncan, Minister of Science and of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, inaugurated Canada’s newest and largest radio telescope: the CHIME (Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment) telescope, located at the NRC’s unique Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) site in Penticton, BC. This telescope will allow scientists to measure the expansion of the universe over the period between 7 and 11 billion years ago. Those measurements are expected to explain the properties of dark energy, a poorly-understood source of pressure that is thought to prevent the universe from collapsing under the force of gravity.

TRIUMF is Canada's particle accelerator centre. The laboratory is one of Canada's key investments in large-scale research infrastructure. It provides world-class facilities for research in sub-atomic physics, accelerator science, life sciences, and materials science. A consortium of 20 Canadian universities (13 full members and 7 associate members) owns and operates TRIUMF. TRIUMF receives the majority of its federal operating funding through NRC in five-year allocations via a Contribution Agreement. NRC plays an important oversight and stewardship role for TRIUMF on behalf of the Government of Canada. Recipients are not required to repay funds obtained under this transfer payment program.

World-class science and advancement of the ARIEL facility.

• TRIUMF contributed to the publication of 307 manuscripts in scientific journals to advance science and Canada’s reputation on the world stage.
• TRIUMF remained on schedule for completing construction of ARIEL by 2023. This new infrastructure will allow for the simultaneous operation of multiple experiments, opening new frontiers in science, medicine and business.
• TRIUMF participated in an international collaboration that demonstrated the first ultra-cold neutrons in Canada, achieving a major milestone in understanding fundamental physics measurement including contributing to solving the puzzle of why there is much more matter than antimatter in the universe.

New and retained talent, and continued support for international research collaborations and partnerships.

• TRIUMF hosted 875 scientific visitors, students, and users (of which 506 came from international institutions).
• TRIUMF trained 251 highly qualified personnel, including undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers.

Increased industry and community linkages for increasing the economic and societal benefit delivered to Canada.

• TRIUMF transferred new technology to ARTMS Products for producing a critical medical isotope by enabling its production using hospital-based medical cyclotrons, instead of nuclear reactors. The Canadian spinoff company has commercialized this technology globally. ARTMS received a 2017 BC Technology Association Award for the Most Promising Pre-Commercial Technology.
• TRIUMF's commercialization arm helped secure venture capital funding for two spin-off companies: ARTMS Products and CRM GeoTomography to commercialize technology for production of medical isotopes.

Enhanced operational efficiency

• TRIUMF launched a new Project Management Office to improve project governance and strengthen the overall resource planning across all projects in the laboratory.
• TRIUMF established weekly management safety walkthroughs and initiated efforts to optimize space utilization and improve work processes.
• TRIUMF recruited a Chief Operating Officer to improve operational efficiency.
• The laboratory also carried out a comprehensive safety culture assessment led by an independent expert, which ultimately found a mature safety culture in place.

NRC provides stewardship to TRIUMF, administering operational funding to the facility and monitoring all matters pertaining to the contribution agreement with the facility. Oversight of TRIUMF operations is provided by the Advisory Committee on TRIUMF (ACOT) which reports to NRC and the Agency Committee on TRIUMF (ACT), comprised of the federal funders of TRIUMF.

The Advisory Committee on TRIUMF (ACOT) is composed of international experts within disciplines that cover the research and technology activities of TRIUMF. ACOT reports its findings to NRC twice annually, making recommendations on management issues as well as reporting on the scientific and technological achievements of TRIUMF. Representatives of the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institute of Nuclear Physics and the Canadian Institute of Particle Physics are observer members who ensure that TRIUMF's directions are aligned with the research community's needs and that TRIUMF is working with all constituencies of the Canadian sub-atomic physics community.

NRC maintains an ex officio presence on TRIUMF’s Board of Management and on TRIUMF’s Audit Committee. Dialogue is maintained between NRC and the recipient to ensure that investments made by the Government of Canada are optimal, and that NRC meets the needs of its recipient as well as providing a vehicle for feedback on the transfer payment management process.

As a magnet for young minds, TRIUMF has designed numerous programs aimed at young people, students, teachers and the general public, to ensure that as many as possible benefit from the scientific program and the excitement that exists within one of Canada's premier laboratories.

The Program contributes to the growth and prosperity of Canadian small and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by stimulating innovation, adoption and/or commercialization of technology-based products, services, or processes in Canada. This is done through: 1) technical and related business advice and networking facilitated by a cross-Canada network of field professional staff; 2) cost-shared merit-based contributions; and 3) contributions supporting employment of post-secondary graduates. This Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Contributions to Firms; Contributions to Organizations; and Youth Employment Program (YEP).

NRC IRAP supports the placement of graduates in SMEs through its participation in the delivery of YEP sponsored by Employment and Social Development Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES).

Recipients are not required to repay funds obtained under this transfer payment program.

NRC IRAP is a national program managed on a regional basis with over 240 Industrial Technology Advisors (ITAs) located in approximately 100 communities across the country, who provide customized advice to technologically innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). ITAs are engaged with client SMEs throughout the entire contribution management process, from building project proposals through to project completion.

At the end of their funded project, recipients are required to complete an online Post-Project Report. This assessment captures information on the recipient's experience with NRC IRAP and, along with published service standards, is used by the program to develop continuous program improvements.

NRC IRAP has an Advisory Board composed of 10 to 12 members from the industry sector and industry associations. This Board provides advice to NRC IRAP management and brings an external perspective on the strategic directions and management of the program.

NRC IRAP is actively engaged with Treasury Board Secretariat Grants and Contributions Reform. Participation in workshops and constant alignment with recent Treasury Board Secretariat policy and guidelines has enabled the program to steadily move toward principles such as a Recipient Engagement Strategy.

CAIP funding is expected to contribute to:

• An expanded range of programs and services by funded accelerators and incubators
• Increased investment readiness of early stage firms
• Benefits to early stage firms from innovation support resources such as expertise and networks
• Wealth creation in Canada

In 2016, a formative evaluation, focusing on design and delivery was conducted. IRAP implemented the evaluation recommendation to strengthen program delivery. A summative evaluation, which assesses the extent to which the program has achieved expected results is currently underway and will be completed by December 2018.

A formative evaluation was completed in 2016-17.
A summative evaluation is planned for 2018-19.

CAIP supports SMEs' access to best-in-class business accelerators and incubators with the goal of helping these organizations expand their overall service offerings. Organizations were selected based on CAIP specific eligibility criteria and selection guidelines. CAIP is a direct result of extensive consultations, undertaken by Finance Canada in 2012, which revealed that, in addition to the availability of venture capital, entrepreneurs also require access to specialized innovation resources to succeed.