The CFI believes that supporting partnerships between researchers, institutions and the private and public sectors will increase the return on CFI investments by fostering dynamic interaction between sectors and facilitating the flow of research knowledge into the innovation system.
To this end, the CFI created the Research Facilities Navigator, an online directory of research facilities in public research institutions across Canada where businesses and other organizations find the cutting-edge infrastructure and expertise to help meet their research and innovation needs.
To help establish partnerships and gain broader exposure to potential collaborators from government, academia, and other private and public sector organizations, some institutions aim to maximize their participation in the Navigator. Institutions listing facilities in the Navigator have been:
- Encouraging facilities large and small - with the interest and capacity to work with external partners, to participate in the directory;
- Proactively updating their profiles to ensure Navigator users are accessing the most complete and updated information about the labs, equipment, expertise and services in the facility;
Actively promoting their participation in the Navigator, and highlighting profile of their facilities through social media, institutional and researcher websites and other relevant forums.
Here are examples of these practices:
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa updates its existing Navigator profiles every year to make sure the information is complete and current. In the process, the university sends another callout to eligible facilities to become part of the Navigator.
Contact:
Brigit Viens
Director, Office of Strategic Development Initiatives
Research Services
Email: bviens [at] uottawa.ca (bviens[at]uottawa[dot]ca)