Saskatchewan Research Council

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

• Innovation Place Research Park
• University of Saskatchewan Academics

Notes

External links

• Saskatchewan Research Council
• Project CLEANS