About CRTI

The Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) is part of Canada's response, helping to sharpen the focus of our scientific and security communities on the areas that are the most relevant to today’s realities.

Launched on May 10, 2002, as part of the federal government’s security agenda, CRTI began as a $170-million, five-year initiative to significantly enhance Canada’s capacity to deal with potential chemical, biological, radiological-nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) threats to public security. Since then, it has proven to be an extremely effective model for bringing together Canada's national science and technology (S&T) and security communities and applying their collective knowledge and capabilities towards common goals. Owing much to this success, CRTI’s mandate was extended for an additional five years in October 2006.

CRTI is now a program within the Centre for Security Science (the Centre). The Centre was created in March 2006 as a joint endeavour between DRDC and Public Safety (PS) Canada to deliver S&T services and support to address national public safety and security objectives. The Centre manages both CRTI and the Public Security Technical Program (PSTP). CRTI and the PSTP administer the programs and funding that support research in their respective mission areas. Through CRTI, the Centre can leverage existing S&T strengths with new resources to produce a broader and more profound impact.