Canadian electronic components and systems (ECS) partnering mission to EFECS in Amsterdam—November 24 to 25, 2022

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is pleased to invite Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research organizations and industry partners to submit an expression of interest to join the Canadian partnering mission to the European Forum for Electronic Components and Systems (EFECS) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which will take place November 24 to 25, 2022.

1. Mission objective

This mission is focused on establishing industrial co-innovation opportunities in the electronic components and systems (ECS) value chain between Canadian and foreign organizations with the aim of forming collaborative research and development (R D) partnerships that lead to projects under Eureka's Xecs Cluster.

2. Sectors of focus

Micro/nano-electronics and photonics with applications in any of the following industrial sectors:

• Agrifood and natural resources
• Digital industry
• Digital society
• Energy
• Health and wellbeing
• Mobility

3. Key dates

• Registration deadline: October 14, 2022
• Expression of interest deadline: October 21, 2022
• Notification of results: October 28, 2022
• Preparation workshop to be given to selected participants: November 4, 2022 (TBC)

4. Canadian delegation profile

Canadian SME participants should meet the requirements below in order to be part of this initiative:

• Be an incorporated, profit-oriented SME 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 human resources to undertake a multi-year research and development 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 15 full-time equivalent employees;
• have at least $500,000 CAD in annual revenue;
• have commercialized 1 or more products domestically or internationally.

Note: Canadian SME applicants must be eligible for funding as NRC IRAP clients before they can be considered for funding through this partnering mission. For more information on NRC IRAP eligibility and becoming an NRC IRAP client, please contact NRC IRAP at 1‑877‑994‑4727.

5. Mission description

The European Forum for Electronic Components and Systems 2022 (EFECS) is a partnering event held in conjunction with the Xecs 2022-23 call for proposals. More than 600 attendees from over 32 countries are expected to attend. Participants can use the ECS Collaboration Tool to showcase their project ideas.

EFECS provides participants with the opportunity to:

• present and learn about project ideas in a poster session and during project idea pitch sessions;
• discuss project ideas in working group sessions;
• connect with companies and potential partners from all over Europe and beyond;
• learn from existing project consortiums and the Xecs Office about the project process, best practices and how organizations can take part.

In addition to participating in the EFECS partnering event on November 24 to 25, the Canadian partnering mission program will include an online pre-mission orientation day on November 4, 2022. An outreach program to visit innovative companies and research organizations in and around Amsterdam may also be organized by NRC IRAP in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service for November 22 to 23, 2022.

6. Background

Xecs is a new cluster under the Eureka Clusters Program and builds on top of the highly successful Euripides² and Penta programmes. This cluster is managed by the AENEAS Industry Association, with strategic focus provided by AENEAS and its partners Inside and EPoSS (for more information see the ECS Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda). AENEAS is supported by key industry players including Adimec, Airbus, ASML, Bosch, CEA, Fraunhofer, IBS, Imec, Infineon, IU.Net, LPE, muRata, NXP, Philips, Recif Technologies, STMicroelectronics, Soitec, Thales, Volkswagen Group and Zeiss.

Xecs is a transnational and industry‑driven research, development and innovation program that enables a global and knowledgeable community of large industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start‑ups, academia and customer organizations to collaborate on funded projects that turn innovative ideas into new business, jobs, economic growth and benefits for society.

Xecs provides networking tools and organises ECS community events where participants can generate and present project ideas, build consortia and find projects.

7. Financial support

Project funding through NRC IRAP will only be available to eligible Canadian SMEs. Other organizations will need to secure funding from other sources or self-fund.

Canadian SMEs selected by NRC IRAP for participation in this mission 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.

8. Contact information

For more information, contact the NRC IRAP International Office or Kasturi Narayanan, Xecs National Program Lead for NRC IRAP.

9. How to apply

1. Interested candidates for this mission must first register with NRC IRAP by clicking the "Register" button below.
2. An expression of interest form will be provided to potentially eligible applicants. The expression of interest form will request additional information about the applicant, organization, technology and co-innovation opportunities of interest.
3. All participants will also need to register for the EFECS event directly: EFECS Registration. There is a participation fee of 280 EUR (VAT excluded, non-refundable). If registering after October 24, 2022, this fee is 400 EUR. This fee is not included as part of NRC IRAP financial support.

10. Registration

If there is no "Register" button visible below this line, it means that registration for this partnering mission has closed.