Formation during World War I The National Research Council was established as the Honorary Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in June 1916, under the pressure of
World War I. In both Britain and Canada, the onset of the war had disrupted scientific and industrial supply chains, and drawn political and public attention to a perceived failure of government to coordinate research and development. Following the founding of the British
Committee for Scientific and Industrial Research in 1915, the Honorary Council was founded to advise the Canadian government on matters of science and industry. Within its first years, the Council, chaired by
University of Toronto Biochemist
Archibald Macallum, focused on scientific solutions to manufacturing, agricultural and energy issues connected to impact of the war. In 1918, The Honorary Council completed a report on the state of Canadian research which criticized the lack of central organization and funding available to Canadian researchers, and proposed a National Research Institute with its own government-run laboratories to conduct research.
Interwar period Early on, the Council was commonly referred to as the National Research Council (NRC), and it adopted this as its official name in 1925.
Henry Marshall Tory served as the first NRC President from 1928-1935. Early projects for the NRC included research into the fungal grain disease
Wheat Rust, the resistance of concrete to deterioration, and the use of
lignite coal as a viable fuel source. The Council also provided funding for university scientists conducting research. In 1932, laboratories were built on
Sussex Drive in
Ottawa and the Medical Research Committee was formed with Dr.
Frederick Banting as the inaugural Chair.
World War II With the impetus of
World War II, the NRC grew rapidly and for all practical purposes, became a
military science and weapons research organization. It undertook a number of important projects, which included participation with the
United States and
United Kingdom, in the development of chemical and germ warfare agents, the explosive
RDX, the proximity fuse,
radar, and submarine detection techniques. Many inventions and innovations during this period and beyond drew upon the skills of engineer
George J. Klein, who is often touted as the most productive inventor in Canada during the 20th century. A special branch, known as the Examination Unit, was involved with cryptology and the interception of enemy radio communications. According to the
Canadian Security Intelligence Service website, the NRC headquarters in Ottawa "was a prime espionage target" during the
Cold War. The NRC was also engaged in
atomic fission research at the
Montreal Laboratory, and later the
Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario.
Post-World War II Post-WWII, the NRC reverted to its pre-war civilian role, and a number of wartime activities were spun off to newly formed organizations. Military research continued under a new organization, the
Defence Research Board, while inventions with commercial potential were transferred to the newly formed
Canadian Patents and Development Limited; and atomic research went to the newly created
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Foreign signals intelligence gathering officially remained with the agency when, by Order in Council, the Examination Unit became the Communications Branch of the NRC in 1946. The CBNRC was transferred to the
Department of National Defence in 1975, and renamed the
Communications Security Establishment. During the 1950s, the medical research funding activities of the NRC were handed over to the newly formed
Medical Research Council of Canada. On 1 May 1978, with the rapid post-war growth of Canadian universities, the NRC's role in university research funding in the natural sciences was passed under the GOSA Act to the
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. In the 1980s, the NRC was responsible for selecting
the first Canadian astronauts. The first Canadian in space,
Marc Garneau, flew on the
Space Shuttle Challenger on mission
STS-41-G in October 1984. The NRC's role in the space program was transferred to the
Canadian Space Agency following its foundation in 1989. Budget increases for the NRC were capped at 5%-per year as part of the
Expenditure Control Plan of the
1990 federal budget.
21st century From 1994 to 2004, the NRC was led by
Arthur Carty whose "energetic leadership and clear vision have made the Council a major player in the development and expansion of new frontiers of scientific exploration." In 2004, Carty was chosen by Prime Minister
Paul Martin to serve as the first
National Science Advisor of Canada. He was succeeded at NRC by Pierre Coulombe. In April 2010,
John McDougal was appointed President of the NRC by the
Harper government The tenure of
John McDougall was marked by budget cuts and controversies (see "Controversies" below). Under his, and
Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear's leadership, the NRC became a "toolbox for industry" with dented basic-research infrastructure, according to a former
Clerk of the Privy Council. In 2015,
Kirsty Duncan was installed as Minister of Science in the new
Trudeau government. The focus of the NRC shifted toward partnerships with private and public-sector technology companies, both nationally and internationally. John McDougall left suddenly in 2016 and
Iain Stewart became the new President of the NRC. In August 2020 under
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains and President Iain Stewart, the NRC announced it was building the
Biologics Manufacturing Centre, a facility that can produce vaccines and other biologics. The construction of the facility was started as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Canada's inability to produce COVID-19 Vaccines. In September 2020, President Iain Stewart was shuffled to the troubled
Public Health Agency of Canada, and in December 2020 Bains named Mitch Davies to fill the vacancy. In October 2021, Iain Stewart returned to his position as President of the National Research Council. In January 2024,
Mitch Davies was appointed as President of the National Research Council following the retirement of Iain Stewart. See also: Complete list of
NRC Presidents. == Organizational structure ==