The objective of CIHR is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians; more effective services and products; and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Harnessing our investments in health research is key to improving the health of our citizens, building sustainable, evidence-based, leading-edge health care and public health systems, and developing the transformative new technologies of tomorrow. To facilitate this process, CIHR has developed a dynamic and innovative strategy for the commercialization of health research, based on four thematic drivers: Research, Talent, Capital and Linkages.

CIHR currently offers a suite of commercialization initiatives that encourage the capacity of universities and teaching hospitals to interact with partners responsible for delivering the benefits of health research. It offers vehicles to support seed funding for pre-competitive research development of projects deemed to possess commercial potential, provides opportunities for entrepreneurial training and provides support for technology transfer process elements and infrastructure.

As the Government of Canada's agency for health research, CIHR will work with all partners in a concerted effort to move research more effectively through the marketplace to caretakers and ultimately patients that will benefit from innovations and discoveries. Through its focus on commercialization, CIHR is playing a central role in encouraging innovation that will result in solutions to the health problems that concern Canadians most as well as contribute to economic growth, investment and high-quality jobs.

CIHR partners with leading R&D corporations

CIHR has partnership agreements with 12 of Canada's Top 100 corporate spenders in R&D, according to national rankings recently published by Re$earch Money. We are proud to collaborate with leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to put research results in the hands of patients.

Top 100 Corporate R&D Spenders List 2009
(CIHR Partners)

Rank	Company	Year Established Partnership
9	Apotex Inc.	2008
10	sanofi-aventis Canada	2007
13	GlaxoSmithKline Canada	2006
15	Pfizer Canada Inc.	2007
19	Hydro-Québec	2008
21	Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.	2007
22	Merck Frosst Canada Inc.	2008
23	AstraZeneca Canada Inc.	2007
29	Wyeth Pharmaceuticals	2007
57	Bayer Inc.	2008
91	Vifor Pharma, Aspreva International Ltd	2008
98	Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.	2007

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