Collaboration with Canadian Industry

In 2008, CMC delivered CDN $14.9 million of cash and in-kind value to Canadian universities and enabled 285 university interactions with Canadian companies. 

Province	Number of Collaborations	Total $ Value of Support
Alberta	24	$1,000,000
British Columbia	24	$870,000
Manitoba	9	$600,000
New Brunswick	4	$160,000
Newfoundland	11	$430,000
Nova Scotia	4	$170,000
Ontario	122	$7,200,000
Québec	80	$4,200,000
Saskatchewan	7	$270,000
Total	285	$14,900,000

In 2008, CMC commissioned a survey of a set of companies identified by registered faculty members. 282 companies have been mapped with respect to their match to the products and services supplied through the NDN, i.e., the degree to which microsystems are important in their business, and their position in the value chain from system level to materials. Although this is not a comprehensive list of all companies in Canada with microsystems products, it does begin to illustrate the magnitude of activity underway.  Specifically, the information illustrates the receptor capability of industry that is being tapped into by NDN-supported researchers as companies look to sponsor promising research, seek university expertise to advance their industrial R&D efforts or hire the graduating students.


 

 Figure 1: Significance of Microsystems for Companies

 
Figure 2: Canadian Revenues of Mapped Companies

Microsystems companies are active in all sectors of the economy. In Figure 3, the sizes of the circles represent the number of companies in each area. It can be seen that the value add across all industrial sectors is at the system products and platform component level for most of the companies. Since lower level components and materials are essential for overall success this indicates that many of the system level companies import components and technologies at the lower levels either because they are part of an international group or there is a lack of availability in Canada. It also indicates that opportunities exist at the level of materials and devices. A further conclusion is that such companies work with Canadian researchers in order to fill gaps in their knowledge or make sure that qualified people are available.

 Figure 3: Distribution of “Core” Companies by Value Chain Level 

Note: A single mapping is equivalent to one value chain level entry per sector. Companies whose products fall into multiple levels or sectors are included at all levels and sectors for which they have been mapped.