Jean-Claude Gavrel is stepping down as head of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program after 12 years. Gavrel joined the NCE in 2000 as program director and was appointed associate VP of the program in 2007. Under his leadership, the NCE program became renowned internationally as a model for research commercialization and knowledge mobilization. It was also dramatically expanded, with the addition of the Business-Led NCE program and the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program. Prior to the NCE, Gavrel worked with several research- and innovation-focused organization such as PRECARN Associates, Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, Computer Research Institute of Montreal and the Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit program. In the private sector, he was also an advisor to a tech-focus venture capital fund and president of Ottawa-based IVS Canada….