We are hosting a workshop on creating a national fuel cell and hydrogen program strategy in collaboration with NSERC, NRCan, NRC, and the Canadian Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Association. Date: June 5, 2009 Time: 8:30 - 16:00 Location: UBC (Vancouver)

The workshop aims to develop a national hydrogen and fuel cell strategy that integrates R&D across Canada, and supports the Canadian fuel cell and hydrogen industry. It builds on important efforts in the past year:

• With the help of stakeholders, Industry Canada has created an updated Canadian fuel cell commercialization roadmap.
• NRC commissioned studies to establish market, product and development opportunities and also financed two industrial technology development projects.
• NRC, NRCan and NSERC have begun to develop the first stages of a coalition to help drive a coherent vision of fuel cell development in Canada.

Aligning high-risk, high payback academic research with the long-term goals of industrial commercialization is crucial. Such coordination will aid in the design of mid-term government research, and provide a consistent platform for NSERC-supported projects. In addition, these collaborative efforts can help meet the needs of Canadian industry with breakthrough hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and with the development of highly qualified personnel.

This workshop brings together academic and non-academic researchers to create a new and stronger partnership through research and technology programs. These will coordinate and build on academic and government activities and bring industry’s needs to the forefront.

Our goal for is to seed new collaborations between NSERC Strategic Grants and NRC, NRCan and BDC. The resulting research will focus on closing technology gaps, providing a basis for future generations of fuel cells, and simplifying fuel cell system and energy pathways.

Your background and knowledge are important to this workshop and I hope you’ll be able to attend.

Regards,
Walter Mérida (on behalf of the organising team).

The keynote speaker will be Dr. David Sanborn Scott.
David is Vice-President (for the Americas) of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy. He earned his doctorate in astronautical sciences from Northwestern University.

He spent 22 years at the University of Toronto, served as chair of Mechanical Engineering and founded the Institute for Hydrogen Systems. In 1989, he joined the University of Victoria where he established the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems.

David is the author of Smelling Land: The Hydrogen Defense Against Climate Catastrophe (2008). In 2006, he received the prestigious Jules Verne award for “outstanding contributions to hydrogen physics, energy, sociology and philosophy." He lectures and consults on energy systems and the roles of hydrogen and electricity around the world.

Preregistration is required, RSVP should directed to: Marian Jones marian.jones@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca Tel. 604 221-3011

	Map to the venue: Fred Kaiser Building. Rooms 2020/2030 2332 Main Mall, UBC Campus (Vancouver)
	PARKING: Directions from Vancouver's Airport to the nearest parkade (2210 East Mall)