Knowledge is often equated to success. In forming the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority, the Alberta Government recognized that the collection and dissemination of information about state-of-the-art technology was essential to the accelerated development of Alberta`s oil sands. Since 1974, the Authority, through its work with industry, assembled a large database of technology and information on the recovery and processing of petroleum from Alberta oil sands and heavy oils. The Authority has created a unique oil sands awareness throughout the world, and interest in the technologies it developed has increased. The unique government-industry relationship established in cooperative research has attracted worldwide interest. In 1994, the Authority, the Alberta Geological Survey, and the Alberta Department of Energy`s Non-Conventional Energy Development and Research & Technology Branches were merged to form the Oil Sands and Research Division. This division`s major task is to accelerate development of Alberta`s immense resources of bitumen, oil, gas, and coal. A key part of this task is to adapt state-of-the-art technology for the gathering of data and information, and the dissemination and reporting of selected information to clients in a useful format. The effect of this accelerated transfer of knowledge is an acceleration of the developmentmore » of oil sands and heavy oils on a worldwide basis.« less