Together, the two groups will establish a new research facility at McMaster Innovation Park that will build synergies between the work being done by government, industry and academia. CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory is the nation's leading structural materials research facility. Its relocation to Hamilton, which is home to the country's leading materials and manufacturing university, puts it in the centre of Canada's automotive, steel and other metal manufacturing industries and universities.

"[This agreement] describes how we will work collaboratively on the construction of a new state-of-the-art research facility, the sharing of scientific equipment and the establishment of a national cooperative research effort on materials and manufacturing," said Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources.

In the fall of 2007, the groups will select a building design company, and in summer 2008, they will finalize comprehensive design. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2008, with the building ready for occupancy by the spring of 2010. The project will reach its end in fall 201, when all staff and equipment will be moved from Ottawa.