Canadian cybersecurity technologies partnering mission to Japan - November 28 to December 2, 2022
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 in a partnering mission to Tokyo, Japan. This mission will take place from November 28 to December 2, 2022, and is anchored around the Innovation Leaders Summit (ILS). The program will include pitch sessions and B2B meetings with selected top tier Japanese multinational enterprises (MNEs) focused on cybersecurity technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT).
Note: This mission is being planned as an in-person event which will require travel to Japan. However, travel must be consistent with both Japan and Canada's travel advice and advisories. If these advisories recommend against travel to Japan at the time of the mission, the mission may take place virtually. This means that all B2B meetings and speaking opportunities would be held virtually and some elements of the program may have to be cancelled. In addition, any funding approved for participant travel to the mission would be rescinded.
1. Mission objective
This partnering mission is focused on connecting Canadian SMEs to Japanese MNEs looking to integrate cybersecurity technologies including AI and IoT with the aim of forming collaborative research and development (R&D) partnerships that lead to co-innovation projects. Through this support, Canadian businesses will be better equipped to build their innovation capacity, successfully commercialize their technology and become more competitive in the global marketplace.
2. Key dates
Deadline to register: August 22, 2022
Deadline to submit expression of interest: August 29, 2022
Notification of results: September 12, 2022
3. Sector of focus
Cybersecurity technologies (including AI, IoT) in applications that may include:
- Manufacturing: automotive, aerospace, robotics, industrial control systems, operational technologies, equipment, infrastructure including public and private utilities
- Supply chain: artificial intelligence, logistics telematics, fleet tracking, asset tracking and route optimization
- Finance: records protection, cybercrime deterrent, payment security, customer data security and disinformation protection
- Health care: data protection and medical device security
4. Canadian delegation profile
In order to participate in this initiative, Canadian participants should meet the following requirements:
- be an incorporated, profit‑oriented small or medium‑sized business in Canada
- have 500 or fewer full‑time equivalent employees
- pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes in Canada
- have a differentiated and protectable technology that could become competitive in global markets
- have sufficient working capital and resources to undertake a multi‑year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results
- be committed to significant growth through international market expansion
Preference may be given to SME applicants who:
- have a minimum of 10 full‑time equivalent employees
- have commercialized 1 or more products domestically or internationally
- have greater than $500,000 CAD in annual revenue
Note: Canadian SME applicants must be eligible for funding as NRC IRAP clients before they can be considered for funding through this call for proposals. For more information on NRC IRAP eligibility and becoming an NRC IRAP client, please contact NRC IRAP at 1-877-994-4727.
5. Innovation Leaders Summit
The main event at the annual Innovation Leaders Summit (ILS) is Power Matching, a series of one-on-one innovation meetings between major Japanese companies and SMEs. Meetings will be pre-arranged based on online profiles that will be uploaded by SMEs.
The Innovation Leaders Summit was established in 2014 with major support from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI). In February 2022 over 14,000 participants attended the event including representatives from more than 100 major corporations, more than 700 SMEs and boasted more than 2,500 B2B meetings.
Examples of major corporations who will attend the Innovation Leaders Summit include Panasonic, Nikon, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toyota, Sumitomo, NTT, Fujitsu, and many more.
5.1 Preliminary mission agenda
Monday November 28:
- Preparatory session and pitch event at Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan
Tuesday November 29 to Friday December 2:
- Participation in Innovation Leaders Summit
- Site visits to Japanese organizations
- Company pitches
- Networking sessions
- B2B meetings
6. Financial support
Canadian SMEs selected by NRC IRAP for participation will be invited to apply for up to $3,000 for reimbursement of 75% of travel and accommodations costs associated with the mission. Selected participants will be sent instructions and information about this support.
Canadian SMEs that successfully develop a partnership with a Japanese MNE may receive up to 50% reimbursement of eligible activity costs up to a maximum total NRC IRAP funding amount of $75,000.
7. Contact
For more information, contact the NRC IRAP International Office at IRAP.International.PARI@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or Harvey Lam, NRC IRAP Japan National Program Coordinator at Harvey.Lam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
8. How to apply
Interested Canadian applicants must register using the register button at the bottom of this page.
An Expression of Interest form will be provided to potentially eligible applicants. The expression of interest application form will request additional information about the applicant, organization, technology and co‑innovation opportunities of interest.
9. Registration
Canadian SME participants must be NRC IRAP clients. If not already an NRC IRAP client, Canadian SMEs must contact 1-877-994-4727 to determine if they might be eligible for support through NRC IRAP.
To begin the application process, interested Canadian participants must first register online to receive an Expression of Interest form by clicking the register button.
If there is no register button visible below this line, it means that registration for this partnering mission has closed.
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From: National Research Council Canada
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