Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), established in 1978, is the federal government instrument for strategic investments in Canadian science and technology. NSERC supports basic university research through grants and project research through partnerships of universities with industry, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people in both areas. More than 11 000 Canadian university professors benefit from NSERC support each year, and 23 000 university students and postdoctoral fellows are supported by an NSERC scholarship or fellowship. NCSERC has also encouraged some 1300 Canadian companies to invest in university research, training and innovation, and $6 billion over the last 10 years has gone to fund basic research, joint projects of industry and universities and the training of the next generation of Canadian innovators in the sciences. NSERC is responsible to Parliament through the minister of industry and has a governing body comprising a full-time president and up to 21 members selected from private and public sectors, and universities, and appointed for terms of up to 3 years.