Canadian companies at the forefront
Since March 2020, the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) has been mobilizing to support small and medium-sized technology and innovation businesses (SMEs) that can contribute to the collective COVID-19 effort, and protect those struggling in the face of the pandemic to ensure Canada can emerge from this global crisis with its best foot forward.
Collaborating beyond borders: Canada at forefront of global COVID‑19 research and development response through Eureka network
Through a strong network of engaged international partners, in less than 3 weeks the NRC was able to mobilize the engagement of 12 Eureka participating countries in 2 calls for proposals
Portable negative isolation units for the safe management of COVID 19 patients (MACH32 Inc.)
MACH32 has developed the Aerosol Containment Tent (ACT), a lightweight and portable solution to help frontline medical professionals provide care to COVID-19 patients, while limiting their risk of contamination or exposure to the virus.
Learn more about portable negative isolation units for the safe management of COVID-19 patients
Wearable devices for social distancing and contact tracing (Phenomena VR)
Phenomena created a device that promotes social distancing measures in the workplace, while simultaneously respecting user privacy.
Learn more about wearable devices for social distancing and contact tracing
The NRC is the first to announce an Innovative Solutions Canada Phase 2 success
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) launched the "Made in Canada filtration material for the manufacture of N95 respirators and surgical masks" COVID-19 challenge—under the Innovative Solutions Canada program.
Learn more about the NRC is the first to announce an Innovative Solutions Canada Phase 2 success
NRC IRAP Innovation Assistance Program
In addition to advising and supporting our small and medium-sized business clients, the Government of Canada provided NRC IRAP with an additional $250 million to launch the Innovation Assistance Program. This emergency wage subsidy program, which launched in April 2020 and ended in March 2021, supported innovative Canadian businesses that were not eligible for other COVID-19 support programs.
Helping Canadian industry produce ventilators
Canadian businesses mobilized their efforts by coming together under different national and provincial consortia to accelerate the production of 40,000 ventilators requested by the federal government.
Learn more about helping Canadian industry produce ventilators
Leading a global COVID-19 research and development response with the Eureka Network
The NRC International Innovation Office EUREKA team rapidly recognized the opportunity to leverage the Eureka network members to combine forces and work together to develop solutions for COVID-19.
Learn more about leading a global COVID-19 research and development response with the Eureka Network
All hands on deck- responding to Canada's need for sanitizer
With support from NRC IRAP, Acenzia Inc. of Tecumseh, Ontario, was able to quickly respond to COVID-19 supply shortages by producing much-needed hand sanitizer.
Learn more about all hands on deck- responding to Canada's need for sanitizer
Increased collaboration in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is proud to support Government of Canada efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic increasing collaboration with industry to build domestic capabilities to fight future pandemics.
Learn more about the increased collaboration in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic
Expanding production to include health and medical personal protective equipment
Top Dog Manufacturing (TDM) looked to NRC IRAP for advisory services and funding to expand its operations to add a line of certified health and medical personal protective equipment for frontline health care workers.
Learn more about expanding production to include health and medical personal protective equipment
Testing COVID-19 decontamination equipment
The NRC purchased 20 decontamination devices from Beamsville, Ontario company Clēan Works Inc. to send to hospitals as part of a Pandemic Response Challenge Program study.
Remote monitoring platform for COVID-19 (SeamlessMD)
With support from NRC IRAP, SeamlessMD was able to adapt its existing digital technology to develop an infectious disease patient monitoring platform, notably for COVID-19.
Learn more about remote monitoring platform for COVID-19 (SeamlessMD)
Producing lipid nanoparticle technology for vaccine delivery (Acuitas Therapeutics)
Vancouver-based Acuitas Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company that works with partners to develop therapeutics to address unmet clinical needs. The company specializes in the development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology – a key component of vaccine delivery that protects messenger RNA (mRNA) and ensures it is delivered inside human cells to help fight viruses.
Learn more about producing lipid nanoparticle technology for vaccine delivery