NEPTUNE Canada

The NEPTUNE Canada network would not be possible without the support of our major funders, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF), the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education (BC AVED), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Canada’s advanced internet development organization, CANARIE. 

Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

CFI is an independent corporation established by the Government of Canada in 1997 to fund research infrastructure (e.g. equipment, buildings, laboratories and databases). CFI provided $31.9 million in initial funding for NEPTUNE Canada in 2003, an additional $8 million in 2006, and $4.2 million in 2008 toward initial operating costs.

British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF)

The B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, administered through B.C.'s Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, provides capital funding for research infrastructure for the province’s public post-secondary institutions, teaching hospitals and affiliated non-profit agencies. BCKDF provided $30.5 million in initial funding for NEPTUNE Canada in 2003, and an additional $8 million in 2006.

British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (BC AVED)

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development creates and develops educational, professional and economicopportunities for B.C.’s adults, by providing and supporting a widerange of post-secondary programs and encouraging relationships betweeneducational institutions, business and industry. The Ministry provided $4.4 million in 2008 toward initial operating costs.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

NSERC is the national instrument for making strategic investments inCanada's capability in science and technology. NSERC supports bothbasic university research through discovery grants and project researchthrough partnerships among universities, governments and the privatesector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people. NSERC provided $4.2 million to NEPTUNE Canada in 2008 toward initial operating costs.

CANARIE Inc. (CANARIE)

CANARIE Inc. is Canada's Advanced Research and Innovation Network. Established in 1993, CANARIE manages an ultra high-speed network, hundreds of times faster than the internet, which facilitates leading-edge research and big science across Canada and around the word. More than 39,000 researchers at nearly 200 Canadian universities and colleges use the CANARIE network, as well as scientists at many research institutes, hospitals, and government laboratories throughout the country.

The advanced networking capability provided by CANARIE enables researchers to analyze massive amounts of data and find 'needles in haystacks' that can lead to important discoveries, such as cures for deadly diseases, new energy sources, and more effective ways to predict natural disasters.

CANARIE also supports the development of new tools and software that enable researchers to analyze and share very large amounts of data, collaborate more effectively, and apply research results in innovative ways. CANARIE works with researchers and developers in many scientific disciplines, across 12 regional networks in Canada, and with 100 international peer networks in more than 80 countries. These collaborations stimulate research, innovation and growth, which deliver economic, social, and cultural benefits to Canadians.

CANARIE is a non-profit corporation supported by membership fees, with major funding of its programs and activities provided by the Government of Canada.

CANARIE support for NEPTUNE Canada

• In 2006, CANARIE provided $1.1 million to NEPTUNE Canada for development of new software design and architecture technologies.
• In 2007 it provided $2.4 millions for the NEPTUNE Canada backhaul line between the shore station in Port Alberni and UVic.
• In 2008 it granted $1,397,000 for the development of Oceans 2.0, a Web 2.0 environment.
• In 2009, CANARIE granted $980,000 for development of an innovative Data from the Deep, Judgements from Crowds project which will establish a satellite observatory for NEPTUNE Canada and VENUS at Brentwood College School on Vancouver Island, where students will help analyze and annotate audio and video data.

University of Victoria (UVic)

The University of Victoria, as host institution for NEPTUNE Canada, has provided extensive in-kind support for the project, including facilities, administrative, legal and communications support, and other services valued at $1.4 million.