Strategy for Partnerships And Innovation

1. Strategy for Partnerships And Innovation

2. Engage Grants University of Alberta Frank Nolan February 7, 2012

3. Interaction Grants • Engage Grants • Eligibility Criteria • Application requirements • Brief discussion of the new CU-I2I grants • Answer your questions My Goals Today

4. …give companies that operate from a Canadian base and researchers from Canadian universities an opportunity to meet and identify a company-specific problem they could solve by collaborating in a subsequent research partnership. • Maximum of $5,000 for 3 months Interaction Grants

5. Engage Grants • …foster the development of new research partnerships between academic researchers and companies that have never collaborated before. The grants support short-term R&D projects that address a company-specific problem. • Six-month projects - max of $25,000 from NSERC • The partner owns the IP

6. Eligibility – Principal Investigator • P.I. must be eligible to receive NSERC funding – assistant, associate or full professor at an eligible institution. Adjuncts are eligible only if they work at the university • Must have received a peer-reviewed grant in the last six years in a natural sciences or engineering (NSE) field. • Researchers working in a health-related field must have received an NSERC Discovery Grant in the past six years. • Candidates are limited to two Engage Grant awards per fiscal year

7. Eligibility – Industry Partner • The industry partner must be a for-profit company that operates from a Canadian base • Start-ups must have been incorporated for at least one year • Producer associations funded through industrial subscriptions (not gov’t sources) may also be eligible • The partner must demonstrate the capacity and intention to further develop and apply the results for the benefit of the Canadian economy • The company must be at “arm’s-length” from the applicant – no past or present relationship

8. Eligibility – Research Project • The proposed research must be in natural sciences or engineering fields • It must be aimed at solving the company-specific problem through the generation of new knowledge, or the application of existing knowledge in an innovative manner. • For health-related projects, check the guidelines on the Science.ca website, “Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency”

9. Eligibility – Research Project

10. Engage Grant Application • Form 101 • Personal Data Form 100 • Letter of Support from the company • Completed Form 183A from the company

11. Engage Grant Application • The best way to ensure that your Engage Grant application is successful is to follow the instructions

13. The Proposal • Part of Form 101 • Two single-sided pages to describe the project • Headings correspond to the selection criteria

14. Proposal Headings (Selection Criteria) • Overview of the company-specific problem • Research project • Research competence • Contribution to the technology transfer • Benefit to Canada

15. Overview of the Company-specific Problem • Problem must be in an NSE field • Describe the company-specific problem to be addressed and the extent to which the company will benefit from scientific or technical advances, or the innovative techniques, processes or products that will be developed in the proposed project

16. Research Project • Outline the underlying challenges, the scientific issues, research problems or technical complexities associated with solving the company problem • Outline the methodology proposed to resolve the problem and demonstrate its innovative nature. Identify the milestones and deliverables, and provide a work plan • Describe how the company will be involved in the project; an in-kind contribution from the company is required to demonstrate its engagement

17. Research Competence • Explain how the knowledge and experience of the applicant relates to the expertise needed to accomplish the project objectives • Explain also how the contributions of the team members (including, if applicable, company personnel) will be integrated into the project objectives

18. Contribution to the Technology Transfer • Describe how communication between the university research group and the company staff will occur and be managed, and how the results will be transferred to the company • Include how often the research group and the company will meet to discuss the project – by phone, video conference, or in-person

19. Benefit to Canada • Outline any additional economic, social and environmental benefits that could be realized in Canada within a reasonable time

20. Budget • Proposed project expenditures must conform to the Use of Grant Funds guidelines (part of the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide) • It is not a requirement to have grad students work on the project • Engage Grant funds cannot be used for: • Expenses related to publications and conferences • Travel expenses for company personnel

21. Budget Justification • All budget items must be detailed and justified • Major pieces of equipment (significant portion of the budget) are not eligible • Computer equipment requires additional justification if the price is greater than $2,000 and if laptops are included • Maximum of $250 allowed for office supplies/printing

22. Company Contributions • A cash contribution is not required, but an in-kind contribution reflecting the company’s involvement in the project is required • All contributions must be included in the “Contributions From Supporting Organizations” table, and must be fully justified • In-kind contributions must follow the Guidelines on Eligibility and Value of In-Kind Contributions

23. Company Documents • Letter of Support from Company • Needs to reaffirm the company problem, how the project will solve it, and how the company expects to benefit from the results • Needs to describe the company’s involvement in the project, including their cash and/or in-kind contributions • Completed Form 183A • Confirm cash and/or in-kind contributions • Must be completed in full

24. Evaluation Process • P.I. submits application online to RGO • RGO approves application once all internal documentation is received • RGO submits application online to NSERC • NSERC Ottawa distributes applications to the Engage Grants Evaluation Committee • First Reader is local RIDO; Second Reader is a Manager from a different Regional Office • A decision is made by the Engage Grants Evaluation Committee (4-6 weeks turnaround)

25. After the Engage Project Ends • Company problem solved – no further research required • Further research needed; partners would like to continue the collaboration. Options? • Research contract between the company and university • Other NSERC Partnerships grants (CRD, Strategic, etc.) • NSERC Industrial Scholarships & Fellowships • Other agencies

26. Provide advice on eligibility of P.I. or industry partner • Review draft applications/proposals • Meet with researchers individually or in groups, either in-person or over the phone • Provide advice on options for continuing a collaboration after an Engage project ends The NSERC Prairies Regional Office How we can help:

27. Connect researchers and companies • Example 1: A company that processes used motor oil would like to find a researcher who could help them address any or all of the following challenges: • Improving efficiency of clay filtration • Non-catalytic alternatives to desulphurisation at the micro-refinery scale • Researching the impact of different regional/industry waste oil feedstock on refining efficiency and fuel quality • Improving efficiency of the thermal cracking and quenching phase The NSERC Prairies Regional Office How we can help:

28. Connect researchers and companies • Example 2: A small power systems company is interested in collaborative research around improving portable fuel cells, including: • Extended environmental operating conditions • Water/heat storage • Improved operating efficiencies • Extended stack life The NSERC Prairies Regional Office How we can help:

29. …develop and strengthen research links between colleges, universities and businesses to accelerate the development of promising technologies and promote their commercialization into the Canadian marketplace. • Projects focus on improving or extending existing • company technology, commercial products, processes, • and/or services • Must include College, University, and eligible company • partner(s) • Open competition; apply anytime College-University Idea to Innovation (CU-I2I)

30. Awards of up to $250,000 per year for college and university • participants and can span up to three years • Company partner must contribute to the direct project costs with • cash, in-kind contributions or a combination of both. • Company contributions can be matched at a max. level of • 1:1 for both college and university participants • (e.g. If partner contribution is $100,000, NSERC can award up to • $100,000 for college participants and $100,000 for university participants.) College-University Idea to Innovation (CU-I2I)

31. Irene Mikawoz Manager Frank Nolan Research and Innovation Development Officer Lisa Marquardson Research Partnerships Promotion Officer Roxanne Balcaen Administrative Officer The Prairies Regional Office Team

32. Frank.Nolan@nserc-crsng.gc.ca • 435 Ellice Avenue, Suite 430 • Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1Y6 • 204-984-0426 Questions?