OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 6, 2016) - On the occasion of the National Research Council of Canada's (NRC) 100th anniversary, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, made the following statement:

"I am honoured to mark the National Research Council's centennial celebration. For 100 years, the NRC has been the Government of Canada's premier organization for research and development. As such, the NRC has played a defining role in Canadian history.

"Established on June 6, 1916, the NRC began as a committee of university and industry leaders to mobilize science and technology at the national level. Through times of war, economic uncertainty and intense globalization, the NRC has made a name for itself as the "go-to" research and technology organization in Canada. Among its achievements are the development and construction of the Canadarm, the invention of synthetic insulin and the first flight of a civil jet powered by 100 percent unblended biofuel.

"From its early days in military research to its contemporary research challenges like the future of renewable energy, the NRC has made, and will continue to make, a tangible difference in the lives of our citizens.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate the NRC on today's momentous milestone. I pay tribute to the thousands of scientists and researchers whose achievements have helped push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. And I look forward to the many scientific discoveries that are bound to be made by the NRC over the next 100 years."

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