Canadian partnering mission to the EUREKA Global Innovation Summit

Request for expression of interest

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) and Global Affairs Canada are pleased to invite Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to submit an expression of interest to join a partnering mission to Manchester, United Kingdom. This partnering mission will take place from May 13 to 17, 2019, and includes participation at the EUREKA Global Innovation Summit, site visits with British companies, and special EUREKA-wide partnering events focused on the industrial and operational application of artificial intelligence (AI).

1. Mission objective

To connect EUREKA innovators with Canadian businesses working to integrate AI into operational industrial products and processes as they scale-up and grow, leading to future economic benefits. Collaborative projects will be able to access the EUREKA network process, a proven international public funding platform of which both Canada and the UK are members, along with 40 other economies.

2. Sectors of focus

The intent of the Canadian Partnering Mission is to work with other national EUREKA program leads to focus directly on the adoption of AI and Big data in global value chains, for example:

1. Clean growth: AI-optimised resource utilization
   (e.g., smart energy, factory, supply chain in a circular economy).
2. Aging society: AI-enhanced medicine at scale
   (e.g., smart diagnosis, biomechanical rehabilitation, personalised treatments).
3. Future mobility: AI-enabled communities
   (e.g., smart communities, infrastructure, and logistics).

3. EUREKA

EUREKA is an international network for market-driven industrial co-innovation that includes over 40 economies from Europe, Israel, South Korea, South Africa, Chile, and Canada. Through Canada's associate membership in EUREKA, Canadian innovators have an advantage in accessing technology, expertise, and markets in Europe and beyond. The NRC is the Canadian contact point for EUREKA. Projects may be partly funded through national public and private funding mechanisms, including NRC IRAP for Canadian SMEs.

4. Canadian delegate profile

Canadian participants should meet the requirements in one of the categories below to participate in this initiative:

• Aggressive growth-oriented SMEs developing technologies related to the application of AI with significant potential for international commercialization.
• Already have commercialized products in domestic or other markets.
• Have financial and technical capacity and interest to undertake an up to 2-year co-innovation collaboration with European Union or other EUREKA partners, and commercialize the results.

5. Canada at the EUREKA Global Innovation Summit

The EUREKA Global Innovation Summit is an annual networking event that showcases the EUREKA network and provides opportunities for companies to initiate collaborative projects with companies from Europe and beyond. This year's event is hosted by the United Kingdom, the current Chair of EUREKA.

The themes of this year's Global Innovation Summit are AI and Big Data, Clean Growth, Aging Society, and Future Mobility. The event will include insights on business and technology developments within related industries; keynote and business case presentations; support for B2B matchmaking and meetings; an exhibition with examples of past co-innovation projects; views on the future outlook of European co-innovation programs; and information sessions about EUREKA funding instruments. More than 1,500 participants from Europe and beyond are expected to attend the EUREKA Global Innovation Summit.

In addition to existing, well-established EUREKA programs, collaborations identified through this event may be eligible for funding via a Globalstars/EUREKA call for proposals involving 10 EUREKA partner nations, due for publication in May 2019.

Preliminary (draft) mission agenda

• Day 1 – Monday May 13:
• EUREKA Academy (learn about EUREKA);
• Canadian networking reception
• Day 2 – Tuesday May 14:
• EUREKA Global Innovation Summit
• keynote presentations on European collaboration programs;
• innovation pitches in Clean Growth and Future Mobility;
• collaborating with Africa;
• B2B meetings
• Day 3 – Wednesday May 15:
• EUREKA Global Innovation Summit
• plenary presentation on scale-up;
• innovation pitches on AI and data, and healthy aging;
• EUREKA clusters;
• collaborating with Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America;
• B2B meetings
• Day 4 – Thursday May 16:
• EUREKA Global Innovation Summit
• plenary session on innovation through diversity;
• EUREKA clusters;
• accessing global value chains;
• B2B meetings
• Day 5 – Friday May 17:
• Canada-UK operational AI site visits

6. How to apply for participation

Canadian applicants must first register online to receive an Expression of Interest form. Please click on the Register button below to complete the online registration form with all required information.

Expressions of Interest must be received by April 7, 2019.

NRC IRAP will select companies to participate in the mission. Successful applicants can expect to be notified no later than April 12, 2019.

7. Financial support for participants

Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), selected for participation, will be invited to apply for up to $3,000 for reimbursement of travel and accommodations costs associated with the mission. Selected participants will be sent instructions and information about this support. Non-SME applicants are required to finance their own participation.