About Us

VISION: To enable and assist laboratories and other high-technology facilities attune to the balance of the natural world by:

• Fostering national and international cooperation and collaboration as a member of the Global Sustainable Laboratory Network;
• Promoting the education and advancement of the common objectives and goals of the global laboratory industry; and,
• Encouraging a sustainable “whole building” approach when designing and operating laboratories and advance high-technology facilities.

MISSION: To provide a national forum for the exchange of knowledge and information on advancements in technology that supports the sustainability of Canadian laboratories by:

• Teaching, sharing and promoting the development of technologically advanced, energy-efficient, environmentally responsive and sustainable high-performance facilities through partnerships across Canada and worldwide;
• Facilitating resource-effectiveness and environmental responsibility in designing, engineering, constructing and operating laboratories and similar advanced high-technology facilities; and,
• Supporting professional development, knowledge exchange and interactive discussion on issues affecting the sustainability of laboratories in Canada by organizing workshops, seminars and webinars.

The Federal Government alone has almost 200 laboratory sites across Canada where scientific research is being conducted in over a dozen major fields of scientific interest. Almost every Province and Territory directly owns and operates one or more research facilities. There are over 80 degree granting Universities in Canada, all of whom have research facilities on campus. There are nine major Research Parks across Canada, which include both public and private owned research facilities. There are at least 40 Research Hospitals across the country who collectively generate over C$2 billion in research income annually.

The total annual spending on scientific and industrial research in Canada is in excess of C$30 billion or about two percent of the GDP. Canadian corporations spend over C$16 billion on research and development each year, again representing about half of all R&D expenditures in Canada and an amount equal to about one percent of the GDP.

• International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL)
• Global Sustainable Laboratory Networks (GSLN) which includes I2SL, EGNATON (European Association for Sustainable Laboratories) and The MAITE Foundation (Labs*S in Spain)
• S-Lab
• The Real Property Institute of Canada