OTTAWA, June 27 -- The National Research Council Canada Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (NRC-CPFC), Canada's first fully integrated photonics prototyping and fabrication facility, was opened last week in Ottawa. The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and Carleton University participated in the official opening of the $43 million facility, which is a partnership between NRC and Carleton University to support the growth of the photonics sector. It offers companies, universities and other institutions access to fabrication services to develop photonic devices. The Canadian government and the province of Ontario contributed $30 million and $13 million, respectively, to the capital cost of the building and equipment. NRC will assume the operating costs of the facility, which is located at the NRC laboratories. The center will help firms tap into the expertise and capabilities of the Canada's capital region and will provide photonics prototyping and design facilities for industry. It will include a training component led by Carleton University. For more information, visit: www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca