Collaboration definitely has many benefits, not the least being the efficiency of the effort. When we have collaboration, we use facilities and also experts to their utmost. And we also have a chance to bring in the very cutting edge when we do that. So any programs that facilitate that sort of collaboration end up being the best programs, in fact.
We also have a long history with that, and I think agricultural scientists have a long history of working collaboratively with industry. Part of it is that those who are involved in agriculture tend to be fairly practical and pragmatic, and want to see an end use to the work they do. So they have a lot in common with their colleagues in industry.
What's also true for us is that we focus very heavily on the training of graduate students, highly qualified personnel, most of whom end up working in the industry. And so we know these people quite well. They're colleagues of ours.
We welcome the science and innovation strategy tools that may help these sorts of collaborations. Again, I stress the success that we've had with the co-locations, for example. We're very happy also with other federal programs that may not be led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada but are important, such as science programs like collaborative research and development, and CRD programs through NSERC, as well as the NSERC industrial research chairs program.
I have to say we were a little disappointed recently when we found out that our application to use the Hensall District Co-Operative's contributions towards an NSERC industrial research chair for Peter Pauls was denied. We were a little surprised about that. Nonetheless, Peter is working hard at making sure we match that money through a CRD program.
Those are just a few comments, all in agreement with the things you were saying.