Supplementary Information Tables: 2026–27 Departmental Plan

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• Details on transfer payment programs
  • Assessed Contribution to the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM)
  • Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC)
  • Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program (CSTIP)
  • National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
  • Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC)
  • International Affiliations Program
  • International Astronomical Observatories Program
  • TRIUMF

Details on transfer payment programs

Assessed Contribution to the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM)

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: Canada signed the Metre Convention and became a member state of the BIPM in 1907
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2018–19

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Funding Agreement
• Type of transfer payment: Contributions
• Type of appropriation: Estimates

Purpose and objectives

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: The assessed contribution to the BIPM is an obligation accepted by Canada as a signatory to the international treaty known as the Metre Convention. By representing Canada on the international metrology stage through its affiliation with the BIPM and associated regional metrology organization Sistema Interamericano de Metrología (SIM), the NRC can effectively and efficiently respond to its mandated responsibility for maintenance of national measurement standards, as articulated in the NRC Act and the Weights and Measures Act.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups: International organizations and foreign countries. BIPM is an annual assessed contribution reflecting Canada's status as a state party to the Metre Convention since 1907.

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s):

• Scientific and technological knowledge advances
• Innovative businesses grow
• Federal priorities are delivered through research and innovation

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Metrology

Expected results: By maintaining international recognition in measurement science through its interactions with the BIPM and SIM, the NRC will continue to provide metrology research and services that help transform ideas into market-ready technologies that benefit Canadian society, the economy and the environment.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2028–29

Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC)

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: April 2023
• End date: March 2033
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022–23

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Funding Agreement
• Type of transfer payment: Contributions
• Type of appropriation: Estimates

Purpose and objectives

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: The Biologics Manufacturing Centre is an end-to-end Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) biomanufacturing facility located on the NRC's Royalmount campus. Unique to Canada, this biomanufacturing facility was built to fulfil a public-good mandate—to produce biologics that would not otherwise be available for Canadians and to pivot during a public health emergency to produce cell-based vaccines or other drugs needed to keep Canadians safe.

The facility is operated by Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, with its own board of directors and management team to oversee the corporation and its public-good mandate.

The NRC plays an important oversight and stewardship role on behalf of the Government of Canada. The NRC continues to own the infrastructure and acts as the lessor of building and equipment to Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) Inc. The NRC also provides annual funding through a 10-year contribution agreement to ensure the facility is maintained in a GMP-readiness state and prepared to respond to public health emergencies in Canada.

The recipient is not required to repay funds obtained under this transfer payment program.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups: The sole recipient of this contribution is a not-for-profit corporation, Biologics Manufacturing Centre Inc., co-founded by the NRC and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) in December 2022.

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s):

• Innovative businesses grow
• Federal priorities are delivered through research and innovation

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Biologics Manufacturing Centre

Expected results: The Biologics Manufacturing Centre Inc. contributes to the following ultimate outcomes:

• Strengthen biomanufacturing talent and knowledge in Canada
• Increase GMP capacity for production and scale-up of biologic-based vaccine and therapeutic products in Canada
• Improve domestic supply of biologic-based vaccines and therapeutics in Canada
• Enhance Canada's readiness to respond to health emergencies

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2028–29

Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program (CSTIP)

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: April 2018
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2018–19

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: CSTIP terms and conditions
• Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions
• Type of appropriation: Estimates

Purpose and objectives

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Provides grant and contribution funding for external collaborators with complementary capabilities, e.g., small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), post-secondary institutions and non-profit research organizations. The program comprises the following elements:

• NRC collaborative R&D initiatives: Funding of external collaborators working with NRC researchers on projects that make up a series of large-scale collaborative R&D programs in priority areas
• Ideation Fund: Funding of external collaborators working with NRC personnel to encourage, test and validate transformative self-directed, exploratory research ideas
• Outreach initiative: Funding to support conferences, workshops, symposia or other outreach initiatives, in order to promote engagement of Canadians, particularly those in underrepresented groups interested in STEM.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups: Academic organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), not-for-profits, Canadian government departments, agencies, Crown corporations, research technology organizations as well as international organizations, social enterprises, Indigenous governments, individuals and non-Canadian recipients.

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s):

• Scientific and technological knowledge advances
• Innovative businesses grow
• Federal priorities are delivered through research and innovation

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program

Expected results:

• Support development of breakthrough technologies through targeted collaborations with strategic groups and partners.
• Enhance cross-sector collaborations between industry, academia, and government, to address national challenges, strengthen economic growth, improve quality of life, and increase business innovation.
• Strengthen Canadian innovation ecosystems in key sectors fostering sustainable growth and competitiveness.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2028–29

National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: April 1965 (original program start date)
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2025–26

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: IRAP terms and conditions
• Type of transfer payment: Contributions
• Type of appropriation: Estimates

Purpose and objectives

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: The program contributes to the growth and prosperity of Canadian SMEs by stimulating innovation, adoption or commercialization of technology-based products, services or processes in Canada. This is done through:

1. technical and related business advice and connections facilitated by a cross-Canada network of field professional staff
2. cost-shared merit-based contributions to R&D and technology innovation project activities
3. contributions supporting employment of post-secondary graduates

Funding is available through different types including Contributions to Firms and Contributions to Organizations.

NRC IRAP also supports the placement of graduates within innovative SMEs through its participation in the delivery of the Youth Employment Program sponsored by Employment and Social Development Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

The program contains broad flexibilities to reflect the different needs and realities of a variety of recipients from various industry sectors. This includes non-repayable contributions under appropriate circumstances where the benefits to Canada would be significant, and in keeping with international obligations.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups: Industry-related — For-profit businesses (SMEs) and Non-profit Organizations.

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s): Innovative businesses grow

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Industrial Research Assistance Program

Expected results:

• Stimulation of innovation in SMEs in Canada.
• Increased growth of innovative SMEs and creation of wealth for Canada.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2027–28

Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC)

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: December 2017
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: The NRC received authority for the ISED-led terms and conditions for Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) grants in 2017–18 (January 2018).

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Funding Agreement
• Type of transfer payment: Grant
• Type of appropriation: Estimates

Purpose and objectives

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: ISC is a grant and procurement program that enables participating departments and agencies to support the scale-up of Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises through early-stage, pre-commercial R&D. The program allocates a portion of departmental funding to:

• fuel the development and adoption of technological innovation in Canada
• grow Canadian companies through direct funding to support early stage, pre-commercial R&D, late-stage prototypes, and to accelerate commercialization
• encourage companies led by equity deserving groups, such as women, Indigenous peoples, youth, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ and others
• foster greater industry-research collaboration through the release of challenges for solutions that address key Government of Canada priorities
• provide federal departments and agencies with opportunities to develop new capabilities to meet their R&D needs and thereby advance government priorities

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups: SMEs

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s): ISC is an ISED-led program, with the NRC as 1 of 21 federal departments mandated to participate. Program results will be reported by ISED.

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Within the NRC, this ISED-led program is administered by NRC IRAP.

Expected results: The expected results of the ISC program are aligned with the priorities of the Innovation and Skills Plan (ISP) to grow domestic small businesses in the innovation economy and deliver on three key areas for action:

• People and Skills: The ISC program will help increase the number of science and technology-related jobs in the Canadian economy by allowing small Canadian businesses greater access to government procurement.
• Research, Technology, Commercialization: The ISC will support the ISP by increasing the value spent on business-led R&D, and increasing the number of research collaborations between industry and research institutes.
• Companies, Investment, Scale-Up and Clean Growth: The ISC program will offer opportunities for Canadian companies to grow domestically, provide wins, and gain experience to compete internationally.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: Not applicable (this is an ISED-led program)

International Affiliations Program

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: 1958
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2011–12

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Funding Agreement
• Type of transfer payment: Grant
• Type of appropriation: Estimates

Purpose and objectives

• Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Canada's membership in international science and technology organizations promotes international research and innovation, networking, advocacy, leadership opportunities as well as access to benchmarking possibilities, enabling Canadian science, technology, and industry to remain competitive.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups: International organizations and foreign countries (foreign recipients that are international science and technology organizations having 2 or more states as members. As well, non-foreign recipients are non-governmental Canadian delegates who attend related meetings hosted by these foreign recipients).

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s):

• Scientific and technological knowledge advances

Link to the department's Program Inventory: International Affiliations

Expected results:

• Strengthen the NRC's International profile and Canada's role as a global leader in science, technology and innovation (STI).
• Reinforce Canada's position as a global leader in integrative science-based policymaking.
• Nourish Canadian innovation and competitiveness by expanding market-oriented innovation possibilities for Canadian SMEs via international value chains.
• Contribute to Canadian STI leaders' development via various opportunity channels and collaborations under the International Science Council's umbrella. Reinforce inclusive approaches following the principles of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: Not applicable

International Astronomical Observatories Program

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: 1978
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2023–24

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Funding Agreement
• Type of transfer payment: Contribution
• Type of appropriation: Estimates

Purpose and objectives

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Astronomy is 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 that lead to advances in knowledge and understanding of the universe.

The 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, the twin telescopes of the Gemini Observatory, the Atacama Large Millimetre-submillimetre Array, the Thirty Meter Telescope, and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). The NRC participates in the oversight and direction of these facilities and their research capabilities. In April 2024, Canada became the 10th member of the SKAO intergovernmental organization.

International agreements governing these observatories are long-term commitments that specify contributions to support pre-construction 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. These agreements also include commitments to support the university-based user communities to ensure a fair and progressive use of these observatories.

The NRC participates in the governance of these international facilities on behalf of the Canadian astronomy research community and provides support, including management of observing-time allocation, advanced data management services, and instrumentation. Through the NRC's financial and in-kind contributions, the Canadian astronomy community is assured merit-based access to these facilities.

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

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups: Foreign states, intergovernmental organizations or corporations that operate international observatories and have entered into agreements with Canada (NRC) to support costs related to ground-based astronomical observatories. In the case of intergovernmental organizations, Canada and one or more foreign states are members. An eligible recipient can be a Canadian Crown corporation or other delivery partner.

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s):

• Scientific and technological knowledge advances
• Innovative businesses grow
• Federal priorities are delivered through research and innovation

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics

Expected results:

• Canadian astronomers have access to leading-edge facilities and technology
• Qualified students and post-doctoral researchers have access to facilities to advance their training
• Canada plays a prominent role in international scientific endeavours

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2026–27

TRIUMF

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: April 1977
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2024–25

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Funding Agreement
• Type of transfer payment: Contribution
• Type of appropriation: Estimates

Purpose and objectives

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: 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 particle and nuclear physics, accelerator science, life sciences and materials science. An incorporated non-profit with charitable status, TRIUMF Inc. is a consortium of 21 Canadian universities, with its core operations funded via 5-year contribution agreements through the NRC. TRIUMF Inc. has its own governance structure through the member universities and a management team that operate and manage TRIUMF Inc. The NRC plays an important oversight and stewardship role on behalf of the Government of Canada. The NRC, however, is not directly involved in designing and running the organization's operations.

TRIUMF is the single program funding recipient and is not required to repay funds obtained under this transfer payment program.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups: Non-profit organizations (TRIUMF).

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s):

• Scientific and technological knowledge advances
• Innovative businesses grow
• Federal priorities are delivered through research and innovation

Link to the department's Program Inventory: TRIUMF

Expected results:

TRIUMF Inc. will continue to support the Canadian and international particle and nuclear physics communities in alignment with the laboratory's 20-Year Vision and the Five-Year Implementation Plan (2026 to 2030). In 2026 to 2027, TRIUMF Inc. will work with the scientific community on the development of the next Canadian Subatomic Physics Long Range Plan.

In the second year of the 2026 to 2030 Five-Year Plan, TRIUMF Inc. will continue to deliver impact across the three dimensions of Science and Technology, People and Skills, and Innovation and Collaboration. TRIUMF Inc, in close cooperation with its Member Universities, expects to:

• Conduct world-class science across TRIUMF's core programs
• Continue to make advancements towards the completion of major research infrastructure projects, specifically the Advanced Rare Isotope Laboratory (ARIEL) and the Institute of Advanced Medical Isotopes (IAMI)
• Drive Canadian contributions in leading international research areas and major collaborations
• Enable training of students and early career researchers, as well as supporting the flow and exchange of global talent and knowledge
• Support the development of new industry and community partnerships in pursuit of economic and societal benefits for Canada
• Continue the pursuit of operational excellence across the laboratory.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2027–28