March 23, 1999 For Immediate Release

The Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) has contributed $240,595 to the University of Northern British Columbia over the next three years to enhance the University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO).

UILO is a new office at the University and supports interaction and partnership building with industry and communities to ensure that university research has real-world applications. "While similar offices at other universities tend to focus on creating patents and spin-off companies from university research, the UNBC office is currently geared to using research to improve local economies and quality of life," says Dan Lousier, UNBC's first University-Industry Liaison Officer. Dr Lousier has a background in forestry research and has already created a research group to focus on issues in northern forestry.

The UILO will be involved with the following projects, and others:

• Development of the UNBC Technology and Business Park
• Planning and construction of the Enhanced Forestry Laboratory
• Development of a Rural and Remote Health Research Institute
• Support for the UNBC Child Welfare Research Centre, Institute for Social Research and Evaluation, and Northern Land Use Institute
• Development and management of UNBC's research forests

Private sector partnerships are integral to much of the research activity at the University. For example, municipalities, First Nations, fisheries companies, forestry companies, and health/social service agencies have all engaged in research partnerships with UNBC faculty and students.

The NSERC investment will support an additional staff member in the UILO and some operating expenses.