NGen Funding Fall 2021 Application Deadlines Announced
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) is a non-profit organization that is guiding Canada’s advanced manufacturing supercluster. NGen taps into the Innovation Superclusters Initiative (ISI) to provide industry-focused support programs and collaborative opportunities to manufacturing businesses.
“NGen is founded on the principle that the transformation to advanced manufacturing will enrich the lives of all Canadians, delivering better products and good jobs while generating the economic growth essential to a better future.”
-Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)
With the 2021 year coming to an end, NGen has upcoming assessment deadlines before the new year for two of their active program streams: the Cluster Building stream and the Pilot Projects & Feasibility Studies stream.
Cluster Building Stream
The Cluster Building stream aims to support Canadian manufacturing organizations by encouraging SMEs in an industry-lead to work together within a membership-based group to enhance the capabilities and growth of those organizations.
“Organizations forming a cluster must be inter-related in some fundamental way such that their collaboration in a cluster offers demonstrable economic benefit.”
-Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)
The Cluster Building stream works through the application of, or access to, advanced manufacturing technologies, best practices, and principles.
Funding Amount
- Up to 50% of eligible cluster project costs of up to $150,000 may be reimbursed. Capital & equipment expenses may not exceed the lesser of 10% of total project value or $15,000. The project must be completed within 12 months of contract initiation; and
- The total amount allowable for subcontracting under an NGen Cluster Building Project is not capped.
Applicant Eligibility
The following points outline some of the required criteria for eligible applicants:
- Incorporated, Canadian, SMEs (fewer than 500 employees) that are members of the Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster and must have a NGen membership;
- Must be for-profit organizations or not-for-profit organizations that facilitate and fund research and development for whom over 50% of funding is received from private-sector organizations in the form of membership fees or similar; and
- International organizations may participate as partners, but any project activity undertaken by these organizations will not be eligible for Supercluster funding.
Please take some time to review the full list of applicant eligibility requirements.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities for the Cluster Building stream should meet most of the following requirements:
- Clusters must demonstrate strategic collaborative potential for transformative change amongst participating SMEs. Clusters must also demonstrate potential improvement in advanced Canadian manufacturing, SME engagement, and short-term commercial benefits for cluster participants and other sector SMEs;
- NGen will only fund eligible costs incurred in Cluster Building activities that involve support for enhancing collaboration among Canadian SMEs in advanced manufacturing, such as:
- Staffing costs;
- Office costs;
- Legal costs;
- Travel costs; and
- Costs incurred for joint assessments, studies, and reports.
Please take a moment to review a full list of eligible activities.
Program Deadline
The Cluster Building stream assessment deadlines for the remainder of this year are September 15, 2021 and October 27, 2021.
Pilot Projects & Feasibility Studies Stream
The Pilot Projects and Feasibility Studies stream is designed to help SMEs prepare complex project plans for implementation and put manufacturing technologies in production. The stream is also designed to liaison access to industry talent, training, and equipment which is made available through NGen’s Supercluster.
NGen will invest $200 million of Supercluster funding in collaborative industry-led projects before the end of March 2023
Funding Amount
- Applicant projects ranging between $100,000 and $500,000 in costs may be reimbursed up to 50% of eligible project expenses. NGen will allot a maximum amount of up to $250,000 of funding per cluster;
- Participants should ensure that they have a plan in place for project management purposes to ensure a smooth project rollout. Moreover, milestones, timelines, and estimated costs should be well-defined and outlined for review by NGen;
- Capital & equipment spending, my not exceed 30% of total eligible project costs; and
- No single partner of each cluster group may receive more than 70% of NGen funding.
Applicant Eligibility
- Any member of NGen’s supercluster may submit an application for project funding or apply to be considered as a partner or co-investor in supercluster projects; and
- Eligible applicants should be a Canadian SME that is incorporated and has less than 500 employees globally.
Please take some time to review the full list of applicant eligibility requirements.
Eligible Applicants
- All projects should bring the development or application of an advanced manufacturing Technology or Processes to fruition;
- Projects must demonstrate that they are Collaborative, Transformative, Enduring and Applied; and
- Projects should include manufacturing and technology expertise.
Do your project plans meet the full list of eligible activities?
Program Deadline
The Pilot Projects & Feasibility Studies stream assessment deadlines for the remainder of this year are September 15, 2021 and October 27, 2021.
Find Out What Government Funding Can Do for Your Business
If either the Cluster Building stream or Pilot Projects & Feasibility Studies stream seem like a good fit for your business, we recommend you find out if you qualify today.
Learn how government funding programs may be used to leverage grants and loans for growing the manufacturing industry. If your organization is interested in government funding and is ready to move forward with an application, please speak with a government funding professional before you begin to make sure you have a strong start today.
