It is essential for most businesses to partake in some form of research and development in order to allow their business to grow and expand into new markets. However, R&D projects often require a great deal of equipment and expertise in order to yield promising results. In some cases, Canadian SMEs do not have access to the equipment or expertise required for the projects they undertake which is why the Canadian Government has released several business funding grants for research collaboration with post-secondary institutions. For the majority of these grants, the business will have to approach an eligible research institution with a proposed project or issue. The partner research institute will then manage Canadian Government funding which in some cases has to be matched by the participating business through cash or in-kind contributions.
Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation (CONII)
- Funding Amount/Type: Research institutions will receive up to $20-25K of Canadian government funding per-project.
- Eligible Projects: Resolving research challenges related to solving a particular problem faced by the business, the development or modification of products or services.
- Eligible Activities: Proof of principle projects and testing, industrial design, marketing & communication strategies, process and prototype development, commercialization services.
- Eligible Research Institutions: Ontario Colleges
- Timeline: Projects have around 12 months to be completed.
NSERC Engage – Government Funding for Research and Development
- Funding Amount/Type: Research institutions receive up to $25K. The business is required to contribute in-kind contributions most often through equipment or facility provisions.
- Eligible Projects: R&D regarding specific technical issues that are experienced by a business.
- Eligible Activities: Technical problem solving, software customization and alteration, technical discoveries, technology acceleration.
- Eligible Research Institutions: Canadian Universities.
- Timeline: Projects must be completed within 6 months of the start date.
NSERC CRD – Collaborative Research and Development Funding
- Funding Amount/Type: Research Institutes receive up to 10% or $200,000 of total direct research costs from Canadian Government funding.
- Eligible Projects: R&D projects that focus on the development of new technologies, software, processes & methods that will increase productivity and promote prosperity within Ontario.
- Eligible Activities: Product and process applied research, engineering design, technology acceleration, product testing, certification, piloting and demonstration, problem solving, pre-commercialized and commercialization activities.
- Eligible Research Institutes: Canadian Universities.
- Timeline: 1 to 5 years to complete projects.
Note: This program could be used to follow up on projects from NSERC Engage; however, unlike Engage program the IP rights would have to be negotiated with the research institutions.
Technology Development Program
- Funding Amount/Type: Research Institutes will receive funding contributions of 50% or up to $20 million per project and 50% from the business.
- Eligible Projects: R&D and commercialization projects for innovative and market-driven breakthrough technologies that will strengthen Ontario’s economy.
- Eligible Activities: Product and process applied research, engineering design, technology acceleration, product testing, certification, marketing studies, proof of concept, piloting and demonstration, problem solving, pre-commercialized and commercialization activities.
- Eligible Research Institutes: Not-for-profits and Southern Ontario Post-secondary institutions (Universities and Colleges)
- Timeline: Projects must be completed by March 31, 2014.
MITACS Accelerate Ontario Program
- Funding Amount/Type: Research Institutes receive up to $10,500. The contributed amount is matched by the participating private enterprise
- Eligible Projects: R&D projects towards the development of tools, models, technology, or solutions to support challenges.
- Eligible Activities: Product and process applied research, process and product testing and development, engineering design, technology acceleration, technical problem solving.
- Eligible Research Institutes: Canadian Universities.
- Timeline: 4 month periods, available to apply 2 times within the year.
Next Steps for Post-Secondary Collaboration
Businesses who are interested in collaborating with a post-secondary institution through research and development funding programs are recommended to contact their prospective universities and government funding representatives before applying. Companies can also collaborate with educational institutes through several Canadian Government Funding Programs for Hiring. For assistance and advice with these application processes, please contact Mentor Works, the Canadian Government Funding Experts. Followers can also keep up-to-date with the latest Canadian government funding for small business by signing up for our new E-Newsletter.