Initiatives for industry
The German-Canadian Centre for Innovation and Research brings together research-oriented companies from both countries.
How can innovations help companies in Germany and Canada to move forward together? Since 2009, the German-Canadian Centre for Innovation and Research (GCCIR) has been addressing this question from its headquarters in the Canadian city of Edmonton. GCCIR is a bilateral initiative for the development of German-Canadian research and business relations that has already brokered a number of partnerships between German and Canadian companies – for example, the collaboration between Boreal Laser Inc. in Edmonton and the German firm Nanoplus, which began in April 2013. Using quantum cascade lasers, the two companies will develop new atmospheric pollution monitoring technology. Another round of funding is currently under way at GCCIR, this time with the support of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology’s Central Innovation Programme for SMEs. Future focuses of cooperation are already emerging, says Cornelia Sarwas, manager at GCCIR: “We see a keen interest in cooperation in medical and clean technology, information and communication technology as well as nanotechnology and optics.” ▪