Name of Transfer Payment Program: NRC-Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)

Start date: April 1, 2008

End date: March 31, 2010

Description: NRC-IRAP provides customized value-added advice, information, referrals and financial assistance to Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and builds effective regional innovation system relationships for the benefit of SMEs. As well, the program supports the placement of graduates in SMEs through its participation in the delivery of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES).

Strategic Outcome: An innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through research and development, technology commercialization and industry support

Results Achieved:

NRC-IRAP funded 3,827 innovation projects that supported 11,928 jobs and 781 recent graduates. These results were delivered through this transfer payment program plus additional funding of $15.9 M received by financial arrangement with Industry Canada. For further details, see the main body of the Departmental Performance Report.

Program Activity:
($ millions)

	Actual Spending 2007-2008	Actual Spending 2008-2009	Planned Spending 2009-2010	Total Authorities 2009-2010	Actual Spending 2009-2010	Variances
Total Contributions	86.1	86.5	82.2	217.6	215.1	(132.9)
Total Program Activities	86.1	86.5	82.2	217.6	215.1	(132.9)

Comments on Variances: The Planned Spending amount of $82.2 M represents the best known forecast amount at the time the Main Estimates were prepared prior to Budget 2009. The Total Authorities includes Planned Spending, amounts from Budget 2009, amounts from Supplementary Estimates, and other statutory authorities. The difference between the Planned Spending and the Total Authorities is $135.4 M ($100.0 M for Canada's Economic Action Plan for NRC-IRAP and $27.5 M for a transfer from Industry Canada for FedDev Ontario, a $7.7 M internal transfer to NRC-IRAP, other $0.02 M). The $2.5 M difference between the Total Authorities and the Actual Spending is principally due to a lapse in the contribution budget for NRC-IRAP.

Audit completed or planned: 2010-2011

Evaluation completed or planned: 2011-2012

Name of Transfer Payment Program: TRIUMF

Start date: 1976

End date: Continuing

Description: TRIUMF functions as Canada's national laboratory for research in subatomic physics and as Canada's gateway to international subatomic physics. It is operated as a joint venture by a consortium of more than 11 Canadian universities. TRIUMF houses a particle accelerator that produces energetic beams of subatomic particles for fundamental research in nuclear and particle physics and in nuclear medicine. This research lays the foundation for new technologies in the physical and life sciences, the facility being a unique and major contributor to advanced materials research in Canada and abroad. TRIUMF also operates four smaller cyclotrons used for medical research and to produce medical isotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Strategic Outcome: An innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through research and development, technology commercialization and industry support

Results Achieved:

General

• Provided training and employment opportunities for 113 graduate and undergraduate students.
• The graduate accelerator science course taught at University of British Columbia (UBC) by TRIUMF accelerator scientists was extended to the University of Victoria.
• 676 external scientists visited TRIUMF one or more times.
• 88 users from 26 different companies and institutions used TRIUMF's beams for research, medical and commercial activities. The company D-Pace, a TRIUMF spin-off, was recognized as a Canadian Innovation leader by NRC-IRAP.
• 202 publications in scientific journals.
• TRIUMF signed memoranda of understanding with the national atomic research centres of India and of Japan to collaborate in accelerator-based science and technology. These international connections have already resulted in multi-million dollars in sales to India for the Canadian-based PAVAC Industries Inc.

Nuclear Science and Particle Physics

• TRIUMF's Tier-1 Data Analysis Centre was launched as Canada's largest academic computer, putting Canada at the forefront of grid technology.
• In collaboration with Toyota Laboratories, borohydrides were studied for their ability to take up and release hydrogen. The results revealed practical consequences for application in hydrogen power systems.

Nuclear Medicine

• Provided radioisotopes to help alleviate the critical global shortfall.
• Supplied approximately 300 patient doses per month of Fluorine-18 to the BC Cancer Agency for medical imaging.
• TRIUMF proton beams treated 15 patients with otherwise incurable ocular cancer.
• Initiated a collaboration agreement with GE Global Research on developing Carbon-11 labeled amino-acids for medical testing.

Program Activity:
($ millions)

	Actual Spending 2007-2008	Actual Spending 2008-2009	Planned Spending 2009-2010	Total Authorities 2009-2010	Actual Spending 2009-2010	Variances
Total Contributions	51.5	43.5	44.1	44.1	44.0	0.1
Total Program Activities	51.5	43.5	44.1	44.1	44.0	0.1

Comments on Variances:

Audit completed or planned: NRC prepares a multi-year risk based audit plan that is updated and approved annually. The TRIUMF Transfer Payment Program was assessed as low risk, so no internal audit is planned.

Evaluation completed or planned: 2013-2014

Name of Transfer Payment Program: International Telescope Program

Start date: 1978

End date: Ongoing

Description: NRC, in partnership with other international bodies, provides financial contributions that support the management and operation of observatories maintained by the Canadian government and participates in the oversight and direction of the facilities and research.

Strategic Outcome: An innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through research and development, technology commercialization and industry support

Results Achieved:

• 4 million files of astronomical data comprising 120 terabytes were downloaded from the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre.
• 307 scientific papers were published based on Gemini data and on research done at the Canada-France-Hawaii and at the James Clerk Maxwell telescopes. This included a landmark paper in Nature, which was covered widely by national and international media.
• NRC initiated a collaboration agreement with Lyrtech Signal Processing of Quebec City and the University of Victoria on developing advanced electronic systems for controlling large-scale adaptive optics systems demanded by future observatories, such as the Thirty Meter Telescope. The work has broad applications with potential commercial applications in wireless communications and multi-beam radar.

Program Activity:
($ millions)

	Actual Spending 2007-2008	Actual Spending 2008-2009	Planned Spending 2009-2010	Total Authorities 2009-2010	Actual Spending 2009-2010	Variances
Total Contributions	9.2	10.5	13.2	11.4	10.7	2.5
Total Program Activities	9.2	10.5	13.2	11.4	10.7	2.5

Comments on Variances:

Audit completed or planned: NRC prepares a multi-year risk based audit plan that is updated and approved annually. The Telescope Transfer Payment Program was assessed as low risk, so no internal audit is planned.

Evaluation completed or planned: 2010-2011