A three-year, $1-million pilot Strategic Workshops Program (SWP) has been launched by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. Designed to enhance collaboration between academic researchers and end-user organizations in government and industry, the program will award 40 one-time grants of up to $25,000 on an annual basis. The workshops are intended to generate collaborations that will result in funding proposals, a novel approach to stimulating multi-sector and interdisciplinary research projects. The SWP is aimed at several priority areas including biomedical technologies, advanced communications and management of information, competitive manufacturing and value-added products and processes, healthy environment and ecosystems, quality foods and novel bioproducts, safety and security and sustainable energy systems. Each workshop must be championed by one university and one non-academic leader and will be by-invitation only. They can be held in conjunction with other events and held within one year of the award announcements. A written report on the event must be submitted within 90 days, followed by an impacts update within 18 months. Details can be found at www.nserc.gc.ca/professors_e.asp?nav=profnav&lbi=toc_b....