Yukon Research, Innovation and Commercialization Conference
Rick Warner NSERC Pacific January 23, 2012
Slide 2
Agenda NSERC - A Many Splendored Agency Overview of NSERC
Colleges and Community Innovation Program University: Industry
programs Industrial Scholarships and Fellowships NSERC Value
Proposition Questions
Slide 3
Vision, Mission and Goals
Slide 4
NSERC: Implementing the Federal S&T Strategy People
Advantage Attract, retain and grow base of knowledge workers.
Entrepreneurial Advantage Translate knowledge into wealth, wellness
and well-being Knowledge Advantage Build on research strengths,
generate new ideas NSERC >1,800 company partners 29,500 students
11,800 professors People Discovery Innovation
Slide 5
NSERC Multi Year Budget
Slide 6
NSERC Investments 2010-11 Total: $1.08 billion
Slide 7
RPP Budget 2011-2012 ($282.1M)* Commercialization Program
(2.5%) Industry-Driven Collaborative R&D Program (39.2%)
Strategic Partnerships Program (39.9%) *Does not include Networks
of Centres of Excellence Training in Industry Program (7%) College
and Community Innovation Program (11.4%)
Slide 8
The Five Major Programs in RPP UniversitiesColleges Strategic
Partnership Program Industry-Driven Collaborative R&D Program
Commercialization Program Training in Industry Program Colleges and
Community Innovation Program (CCI) Strategic Project Grants (SPG)
Partnership Workshops (PWP) Idea to Innovation (I2I)Industrial
Undergrad Student Awards (i- USRA) Applied Research and Development
(ARD) Grants Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP)
Interaction Grants (IG) Centres of Excellence for Commercialization
& research (CECR) Industrial R&D Internships (IRDI) Applied
Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) Grants Auto. Partnership
Canada (APC) Engage Grants (EG)Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships
(IPS) Innovation Enhancement (IE) Strategic Network Grants (SNG)
Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) Industrial R&D
Fellowships (IRDF) Technology Access Centres (TAC) Network of
Centres of Excellence (NCE) Industrial Research Chairs (IRC)
College-University Idea to Innovation (CU-I2I) Business-Lead
Network of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE) Industrial Research
Chairs for Colleges (IRCC)
Slide 9
Tri-Council Program The CCI Program is managed by NSERC in
collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
(CIHR) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of
Canada (SSHRC). CCI program is open to proposals across the
spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering, humanities
and/or health
Slide 10
College Growth 10 Pre-20072007200820092010 2011 (As of Dec)
CCI-Eligible Colleges1321365267 81 Eligible Colleges that have
received at least one CCI Grant 668304856 ACCC report indicates
that: (i)3,795 companies participated in applied research projects
at Canadian colleges in 2009-10. This represents a sevenfold
increase over 2005-06; and (ii)private sector investment in Canadas
colleges increased tenfold over the last four years from $4 million
to $45 million in 2009-10. Polytechnics Canada report indicates
that between 2008-09 and 2009-10: (i)active applied research
projects during the year increased by 39%; and (ii)faculty/staff
engaged in applied research increased by 34%.
Slide 11
Universities and Colleges in Pacific Region Universities BC
Institute of Technology The University of BC University of the
Fraser Valley University of Northern BC Royal Roads University
Simon Fraser University Thompson Rivers University Trinity Western
University Vancouver Island University University of Victoria
Colleges Camosun College College of New Caledonia College of the
Rockies Douglas College Emily Carr University Justice Institute of
BC Kwantlen Polytechnic University Langara College North Island
College Okanagan College Selkirk College Yukon College
Slide 12
Colleges and NSERC NSERC views the colleges as: Closely linked
with industry locally and regionally Playing an important and
growing role in advancing innovation Having a unique role distinct
from that of universities NSERCs goal: Assist the colleges in
advancing innovation (existing programs and new mechanisms)
Slide 13
CCI Suite of Grants College and Community Innovation program
(CCI) Innovation Enhancement Grants (IE) (Entry-Level and Five-
Year) Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grants Applied
Research Tools and Instrument (ARTI) Grants Technology Access
Centre (TAC) Grants (pilot) College University Idea to Innovation
(CU-I2I) Grants Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges (IRCC)
Grants
Slide 14
Objectives of CCI Increase innovation at the community and/or
regional level by enabling Canadian colleges to strengthen their
capacity to work with local companies, particularly SMEs Support
applied research and collaborations that facilitate
commercialization, as well as technology transfer, adaptation and
adoption of new technologies
Slide 15
Who are eligible partners? Businesses, colleges, hospitals,
public utilities, associations and government agencies
Universities, and other organizations, as collaborators Who is
eligible to apply? College employees, preferably an administrator
or a manager who has experience in managing grants
Slide 16
What Do Companies Typically Need? SMEs Quick and easy cash and
financing Short term projects to solve specific problems HQP for
expertise but limited resources to train students Access to
specialized equipment/facilities Large Firms Have more $ for
R&D but spend less as proportion of other investments HQP
important (recruitment) Whats on the horizon? Med/long term
projects Access that is: Fast and easy Access to: Future, talent,
world-class
Slide 17
Innovation Enhancement Grant (IE) Entry-Level IE Grants
(funding of up to $100,000 per year for two years) Five-Year IE
Grants ($2-3M base funding of up to $500,000 per year for the first
three years and up to $400,000 for years 4 and 5) Anticipated
Impacts : Encourage colleges and industry partnerships Professors
and Students participating in applied R&D activities on real
industry problems Increase applied research capacity and TT
activities New technologies and processes adopted by local
companies and other organizations
Slide 18
Applied Research and Development Grant (ARD) provide Canadian
companies access to the knowledge, expertise and capabilities
available at colleges support well-defined applied research and
development projects undertaken by college researchers with their
private-sector partners No deadline Project duration: 6 months to 3
years
Slide 19
Three levels: 1.Up to $25K (six months) Requires a new
relationship, in kind contribution (no cash) internal review, 4-6
week turnaround 2.Up to $75K per year (up to 3 years) Private
sector partner(s) contribute 1/3 of project costs in cash and/or
in-kind External peer review 3.$75K to $150K per year (up to 3
years) Private sector partner(s) contribute of project costs in
cash and/or in-kind (match NSERCs contribution) External peer
review and committee review Applied Research and Development Grant
(ARD)
Slide 20
Technical merit Applied research competence Potential for
innovation impact Private-sector support Contribution to the
training of HQP Benefit to Canada Applied Research and Development
Grant (ARD) Selection criteria:
Slide 21
ARD update as of January 10, 2012 21
Slide 22
22 ARD update as of January 10, 2012
Slide 23
Applied Research Tools and Instrument grants (ARTI) support the
purchase of research equipment and installations to foster and
enhance the ability of colleges to undertake applied research,
innovation and training in collaboration with local companies
($7,000 to $150,000) Technology Access Centre grants (TAC) enhance
the ability of companies, particularly SMEs, to become more
productive and innovative by enabling them to readily access
college expertise, technology and equipment. This access to college
capabilities is intended to enhance the productivity,
competitiveness and innovation of the participating SMEs (pilot in
progress) Other CCI Grants
Slide 24
Industrial Research Chairs (IRCC) IRCC supports applied
research leaders and the development of business-focused applied
research programs at colleges (5 year terms, $100,000 - $200,000
per year) Other CCI Grants (contd) College - University Idea to
Innovation (CU-I2I) develop and strengthen research links between
colleges, universities and businesses to accelerate the development
of existing company technologies and promote their
commercialization (3 year grants, up to $250,000)
Slide 25
IRCC Update Launched program on October 5, 2011 Application
deadline was November 30, 2011 IRCC budget is ring-fenced (if funds
are not used specifically for IRCC, they must be returned to TB)
Received 45 IRCC applications Can award up to 18 Chairs in 2011-12,
the remainder will be allocated through competition(s) in 2012-13
No further competitions planned until 2016-17 25
Slide 26
IRCC Applications by Region 26
Slide 27
CU-I2I Update Technology pull objectives (name causing
confusion) Possible University draw -> no cash requirements
Launched program on November 15, 2011 No application deadline.
Apply at anytime. No official applications yet. Some are in
preparation. CU-I2I budget is ring-fenced (if funds are not used
specifically for CU-I2I, they must be returned to TB) Can fund $1M
in 2011-12, $2M in 2012-13, and $3M for subsequent years 27
Slide 28
The Five Major Programs in RPP UniversitiesColleges Strategic
Partnership Program Industry-Driven Collaborative R&D Program
Commercialization Program Training in Industry Program Colleges and
Community Innovation Program (CCI) Strategic Project Grants (SPG)
Partnership Workshops (PWP) Idea to Innovation (I2I)Industrial
Undergrad Student Awards (i- USRA) Applied Research and Development
(ARD) Grants Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP)
Interaction Grants (IG) Centres of Excellence for Commercialization
& research (CECR) Industrial R&D Internships (IRDI) Applied
Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) Grants Auto. Partnership
Canada (APC) Engage Grants (EG)Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships
(IPS) Innovation Enhancement (IE) Strategic Network Grants (SNG)
Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) Industrial R&D
Fellowships (IRDF) Technology Access Centres (TAC) Network of
Centres of Excellence (NCE) Industrial Research Chairs (IRC)
College-University Idea to Innovation (CU-I2I) Business-Lead
Network of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE) Industrial Research
Chairs for Colleges (IRCC)
Slide 29
Collaborative Research & Development Grants (CRD) Apply any
time Up to 5 years (most are 2-3 years) Average grant about $50,000
(can be up to $1M) Company contributes cash (at least half of
NSERC) Companys internal capacity is key 85% success rate
Slide 30
Engage Grants Program New collaboration between company and
researcher Up to $25,000 from NSERC No cash from company IP stays
with company Straightforward application No deadline 3-4 week
turnaround to decision Objective is to foster a long-term
collaboration (though this may not be the outcome)
Slide 31
Industrial Scholarships and Fellowships Example Undergraduate
Student Research Award Industrial USRA-I - $4500 (NSERC) -$1125
(Company, min) -16 week placement at company -undergraduate
bachelors student in science or engineering
Slide 32
NSERC provides a wide variety of programs that meet the varying
needs of business, from short-term to long-term R&D projects.
NSERC invests over $300 annually million in funds to support more
than 1,500 industry-academic R&D partnerships. Value
proposition
Slide 33
1) By cost-sharing with NSERC, Canadian businesses can fund
relevant R&D for as little as 17 cents on the dollar when
combined with tax credits for R&D investment. Value
proposition
Slide 34
CRD Tax Example
Slide 35
2) Researchers who undertake applied research in partnership
with companies are often at the forefront of their respective
specialties often with recent state of the art equipment available.
Companies benefit from their insights and advances. Value
proposition
Slide 36
3) All major R&D funding proposals are reviewed by experts
and this can help companies ascertain whether there may be any
technical or feasibility concerns/issues. Value proposition
Slide 37
4) Links to universities and colleges can be a plus for
businesses seeking investment capital, especially from private
sources. Value proposition
Slide 38
5) NSERC's industrial scholarships and fellowships allow
companies to hire, at substantial savings, the appropriate level of
expertise for almost any R&D task. From undergraduate students
for short-term problem solving to postdoctoral fellows for longer
term, and sometimes game- changing research, these highly skilled
people make important contributions to their employers. Value
proposition
Slide 39
6) Since 1997, the federal government and its partners have
invested more than $4 billion in university and college research
infrastructure and equipment. Many of these well-equipped
facilities are one-of-a- kind and would be too costly for any
single company to set up and operate. University and college
technical staff are on hand to help companies maximize the use of
these facilities. Value proposition
Slide 40
Jack Deyirmendjian 613-996-2145 jack.deyirmendjian@nserc-
crsng.gc.ca Marie Thibault (ARD, TAC, CU-I2I) 613-996-9402
[email protected] Patrick St-Pierre (IE, IRCC)
613-944-7533 [email protected] Rick Warner
604-666-8811 [email protected]@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
Suzanne Liou (ARD) 613-996-5984 Suzanne.liou@nserc- crsng.gc.ca
Creed Millman (IE, ARTI) 613-996-4894 creed.millman@nserc-
crsng.gc.ca Questions & Contacts
