canada-uk call for proposals on enhanced industrial productivity 2019
project proposals must be prepared and submitted together by companies in canada and the uk according to the following eligibility criteria.
project eligibility
to be eligible through this call, projects must contribute to the development of commercial products, processes and/or technical services within 2 to 5 years of the completion of the project. note: in the case of the enabling technologies theme, the commercialization horizon may be relaxed.
project proposals must demonstrate:
- a clear game-changing and/or disruptive innovative idea leading to new products, processes, or services
- a team, business arrangement or working structure with the necessary skills and experience to run the project successfully and complete on time
- awareness of the main risks the project will face (including contractor or equipment failure) with realistic management, mitigation, and impact minimization plans for each
- sound, practical financial plans and timelines
- good value for money
- a clear exploitation/commercialization plan for the project and the project partners
- considerable potential to positively impact both the uk and the canadian economy
- the benefit of participants from the two countries working together
- an adequate balance and significance for both partners
- alignment with the respective priority themes identified in this call for proposals and fit within the definition of industrial research and experimental development
- clear definitions of where intellectual property can be used and how it will be shared between the participants and countries (this information needs to be included in a collaboration agreement submitted as part of the project proposal).
projects must comply with the following requirements:
- applicants should ensure that funded work is discharged within the national boundary from which they are in receipt of funding unless approved by prior agreement with the respective national funding agency.
- organizations from other eureka member states may also participate provided they arrange their own funding and the project meets the eligibility participation criteria of canadian and uk organizations.
- participation by all organization types (research institutes/universities/smes, larger companies) is welcome.
projects involving research and development of products, processes or technologies with military and/or non-peaceful applications are not eligible for funding.
consortium eligibility
in order to be eligible for funding through this call for proposals, project consortia must include, at the minimum, participants as described below.
theme 1: enabling technologies
an enabling technologies project consortium must include at a minimum 4 participants:
- 1 researcher from the national research council of canada who will be undertaking project research activities through the nrc's ai for design program and whose research activities have been approved by the ai for design program leader
- 1 canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (sme), research and technology organization (rto), or academic research organization
- 1 uk sme
- 1 uk rto
and must be led by 1 of these 4 participants.
theme 2: enhanced productivity
an enhanced productivity project consortium must include at a minimum 2 participants:
- 1 canadian sme
- 1 uk sme
and must be led by 1 of these 2 participants.
definition of participant types
eligible participant types are defined below. the specific eligibility for each organization under theme 1 or theme 2 should be confirmed with your national funding body (innovate uk or the nrc) as appropriate.
- canadian sme: entity legally incorporated in canada with 500 or fewer employees
- uk sme: entity legally incorporated in the uk with 250 or fewer employees
- nrc researcher: researcher at the national research council of canada
- academic researcher: researcher at an accredited academic institution (e.g. university)
- rto: the european association of research and technology organizations (earto) defines research and technology organizations (rtos) as non-profit organizations "which as their predominant activity provide research and development, technology and innovation services to enterprises, governments and other clients."
any partner whose cooperative industrial r&d project is consistent with the aforementioned requirements can apply to the present call for proposals in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures in effect.
the aim of the joint canada-united kingdom (uk) call for proposals on enhanced industrial productivity is to foster and support eligible uk and canadian organizations in pursuing collaborative projects that will deliver enhanced competitiveness via the development and application of novel technologies, including artificial intelligence (ai), advanced manufacturing, and food production.
funding to foster enhanced industrial productivity projects is available for eligible consortia of canadian and uk organizations and researchers as outlined below. project results are expected to contribute to the development of commercial products, processes and/or technical services.
this eureka bilateral call for proposals is managed by innovate uk and the national research council of canada (nrc), including the nrc industrial research assistance program (nrc irap).