The Office of Commercialization, Industry, and& Innovation (OCII) is seeking researchers interested in applying for partnered NRC-IRAP CTO grants for 2024-2025. 

Program summary: To provide technical advice to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to assist in advancing SME-specific applied research and development challenges that may lead to future collaborations.

Eligible applicants: UPEI faculty

Available funding: A maximum of $5,000 per project

Guidelines:

1. Project must initiate a new relationship with an industry partner and have a reasonable potential to lead to future collaborations.
2. Project must provide scientific and technical advice to an industry partner to solve an industry-specific challenge.
3. Industry partner must be a for-profit SME within Canada that can further develop or implement the technical advice into their operations.
4. Typically, one project is allowed per faculty member and only one project per industry partner – with the expanded allocation, these limits may be increased to encourage additional partnerships.*

Project Information:

1. Project duration is a maximum of two months.
2. Type of activities may include, but are not limited to, literature review, prototype/laboratory testing, or computational evaluation. Inquire with OCII for clarification on proposed project suitability.
3. Eligible expenses are professional fees only.

Application:

1. A two-page application form must be completed by the industry partner and the faculty member. Faculty members should contact Dr. Rebecca Mok (rsmok@upei.ca) to obtain an application.
2. The completed application should be emailed to Dr. Mok.
3. OCII and NRC IRAP will review the application, and the decision on funding will be provided within two weeks. Prior to making any funding decision, NRC-IRAP will contact the industry partner to confirm that the project assists with an industry-specific challenge.
4. Applications will be accepted until February 28, 2025, or until the allocated funds have been used.
5. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2025.

Reporting Requirements:

• A final report is due at the end of the project.
• A copy of the final report should be provided to the industry partner and OCII.
• Funding will be issued after the final report has been submitted and funds received from NRC-IRAP.

For more information contact:

Rebecca Mok, PhD, Business Development Officer, OCII

rsmok@upei.ca; 902-620-5032

*Exceptions may apply and are subject to evaluation and approval by OCII. If existing funds are underutilized or additional funds are granted, faculty/industry partners may be eligible for additional projects.