Saskatchewan Research Council

Saskatchewan Research Council
Crown Corporation
Industry Research
Founded 1947
Headquarters Saskatoon, Regina & Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Products Research
Number of employees
 475
Website www.src.sk.ca
SRC Facility

The Saskatchewan Research Council is a provincial treasury board crown corporation conducting research and business on behalf of the provincial government and private industry.[1] It focuses on applied research and development projects that generate profit.[2] Some of its funding comes from government grants, but it generates the balance from selling products and services.[3]

History

The Province of Saskatchewan established SRC in 1947.[4] SRC carried out its work through grants-in-aid to specific applied research activities at the University of Saskatchewan.[5] SRC’s first Director of Research was Dr. T. T. Thorvaldson, head of the university’s chemistry department.[6]

In 1954, SRC expanded its mandate to incorporate independent research.[7] Dr. T.E. Warren, director of the Fuels Research Laboratory in Ottawa, was appointed to oversee the construction of a new building and hire employees.[8] Under Warren’s direction, SRC opened its own laboratories in 1958 and then expanded in 1963.[9]

With newly appointed SRC President Dr. T.P. Pepper leading, in 1972 SRC changed its structure, then based on academic disciplines, to one based on industry sectors.[10] By 1973, SRC was earning more money from research contracts than it received from the provincial government.[11]

In 1983, J.P. Hutch, a former Deputy Minister of Industry and private sector engineering executive, became SRC’s president.[12] In 1986 the research and development branch of SaskOil was transferred to SRC.[13] Hutch guided SRC as it took over operating the heavy oil lab in Regina from Saskatchewan Energy and Mines.[14]

SRC has grown to 370 employees[15] and $41 million in annual revenues.[16] Its five divisions—Agriculture, Biotechnology and Food; Alternative Energy and Manufacturing; Energy; Environment and Forestry; Mining and Minerals—provide applied research and development services.[17]

Research

Since its inception, SRC has published 2,600 research reports that are available to the public.[18] It has produced another 2,700 confidential research reports for clients.[19]

SRC’s research history includes developing a residential energy conservation research report that was used in the National Building Code of Canada.[20] SRC also mapped the groundwater resources in Saskatchewan south of the Precambrian Shield.[21] Its scientists evaluated Saskatchewan’s extensive lignite (coal) resources. SRC’s GenServe Laboratories were involved in testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Mad Cow disease).[22] SRC is also known for building the Factor 9 home, which uses 90 per cent less energy and 50 per cent less water than a similar home built during the 1970s.[23]

Current research is conducted in a range of laboratories and test facilities.[24] SRC’s environmental analytical laboratories provide environmental monitoring and other tests to clients.[25] They house a SLOWPOKE-II nuclear research reactor that performs analytical tests.[26] Its geoanalytical lab provides geochemical analyses for the mineral exploration industry. SRC’s GenServe Laboratories carry out DNA-based testing for plants, cattle and other livestock.[27] Its other labs include Petroleum Analytical Laboratories, an Outdoor Testing Facility, a Biofuels Test Centre, a Fermentation Pilot Plant, a Pipe Flow Technology Centre, a 3D Virtual Reality Centre, a diamond testing facility and a natural gas vehicles facility.[28]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ SaskBiz Website: http://www.saskbiz.ca/Links.asp
  2. ↑ SRC About Us Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/index.cfm
  3. ↑ Government of Saskatchewan Webpage: http://www.finance.gov.sk.ca/paccts/paccts08/compendium/reports/oe-Sask%20Research%20Council.pdf
  4. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  5. ↑ Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan: http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saskatchewan_research_council_src.html
  6. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  7. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  8. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  9. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  10. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  11. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  12. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  13. ↑ "SASKOIL". Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan University of Regina. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  14. ↑ SRC History Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/about_src/src_history/index.cfm
  15. ↑ Industry Canada Profile Webpage: http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/ccc/srch/nvgt.do?lang=eng&prtl=1&sbPrtl=&estblmntNo=123456000775&profile=cmpltPrfl&profileId=1741&app=sold
  16. ↑ Government of Saskatchewan Webpage: http://www.finance.gov.sk.ca/paccts/paccts08/compendium/reports/oe-Sask%20Research%20Council.pdf
  17. ↑ Industry Canada Profile Webpage: http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/ccc/srch/nvgt.do?lang=eng&prtl=1&sbPrtl=&estblmntNo=123456000775&profile=cmpltPrfl&profileId=1741&app=sold
  18. ↑ Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan: http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saskatchewan_research_council_src.html
  19. ↑ Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan: http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saskatchewan_research_council_src.html
  20. ↑ Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan: http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saskatchewan_research_council_src.html
  21. ↑ Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan: http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saskatchewan_research_council_src.html
  22. ↑ Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan:http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saskatchewan_research_council_src.html
  23. ↑ CBC News Webpage, September 2006: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2006/09/05/rain-solar.html
  24. ↑ SRC Lab Facilities Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/labs_facilities/index.cfm
  25. ↑ SRC Lab Facilities Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/labs_facilities/index.cfm
  26. ↑ SRC SLOWPOKE FAQ Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/labs_facilities/analytical_labs/Neutron_Analysis/slowpoke/index.cfm
  27. ↑ SRC Lab Facilities Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/labs_facilities/index.cfm
  28. ↑ SRC Lab Facilities Webpage: http://www.src.sk.ca/html/labs_facilities/index.cfm
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