Canada has invested in automotive innovation. The Canadian Government is investing CA$34 million in automotive research and development. The AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence applauds the Government for the investment as Canada's automotive sector relies on the knowledge and technology generated by the country's automotive research community. “Investment in automotive research provides economic, environmental and safety benefits for all Canadians,” says Dr Peter Frise, AUTO21 CEO and scientific director. “Collaborative research between companies and Canada's top academic researchers moves knowledge and technology from the lab to the marketplace. [The] announcement is good news for Canada's automotive sector and its automotive research community.” The six projects support technologies that will provide lighter material alternatives for cars and significantly enhance battery efficiency for vehicles. The funding includes just under CA$19m through the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative and nearly CA$15m from industry and other partners. The partnerships will be supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and National Research Council Canada (NRC).