Canada – Israel 2023-2024 collaborative industrial research and development call for proposals

1. Introduction

Working together, the governments of Canada and Israel aim to foster and support collaborative industrial research and development (R&D) projects with a high potential for commercialization. This call for proposals is open to organizations from Canada and Israel who wish to form project consortia to perform collaborative projects focused on developing innovative products, processes, or technology‑based services.

2. Application deadlines

3. Sectors of focus

Although this call invites proposals related to any technological or market area, special attention is being given to the following sectors:

• Agricultural technologies and agri food technologies
• Clean technologies and low carbon economy technologies, including materials for clean fuels, clean transportation/mobility, climate resilient building/infrastructure, renewable energy, water and wastewater management
• Digital technologies, smart cities and smart mobility
• Environment protection technologies, including transportation infrastructure, renewable power sources, energy storage, eco-friendly energy, eco-friendly vehicles, smart environmental solutions and soil remediation technologies
• Health and biosciences, including brain health, healthy aging, aging technologies, mental health, biomedicine, biomedical engineering, medical devices, digital health, digital therapeutics, diagnostics and decision support
• Quantum computing technologies, including sensing and timing, simulation, communications, imaging, and artificial intelligence

4. Eligibility requirements

To be considered for funding, applicants must form a project consortium and develop a collaborative research and development (R&D) project that meets the following criteria:

4.1 Canadian applicant

• The Canadian applicant must:
  • 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 with commercial potential 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 15 full‑time equivalent employees
  • have commercialized 1 or more products domestically or internationally
  • have greater than $500,000 CAD in annual revenue

4.2 Consortium

• The project consortium must include at least:
  • 1 eligible Canadian SME, and
  • 1 eligible Israeli R&D‑performing company
  • The parties listed above must be unrelated parties (i.e. no direct, indirect, beneficial or constructive ownership interest between these parties)
• The project partners that form the consortium must agree on a plan addressing intellectual property rights and intent to commercialize.

* In addition to the Canadian SME, other Canadian organizations (research institutes, universities, research and technology organizations, large enterprises and other companies) may participate on a self‑funded basis or as subcontractors.

** In addition to the Canadian SME, other Canadian organizations (research institutes, universities, research and technology organizations, large enterprises and other companies) may participate on a self‑funded basis or as subcontractors.

4.3 Project

• The project must focus on co‑development, adaptation, and/or validation of an innovative product, process, or technology‑based service that has:
  • substantial commercial potential and outcomes that can be realized within 2 to 3 years of completion of the project
  • a civilian (non‑military) purpose
• The project must demonstrate:
  • a complementary technological contribution from each partner
  • an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants
  • a balanced contribution between project partners and countries (i.e. no more than 70% of the effort contributed by any 1 partner or country)

4.4 Israeli eligibility requirements

Israeli applicants must meet the criteria outlined on the Israeli incentive program for bilateral R&D webpage.

5. Funding

Eligible project participants in collaborative projects selected through this call for proposals may receive funding from their respective national funding body. Funds will be provided in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, rules and procedures established by the relevant national funding body, country, jurisdiction and/or program.

Non‑eligible project participants (e.g. universities, research institutes, etc., and participants from other countries) are welcome to participate on a self‑funded basis or as sub‑contractors to funded participants, according to each country's funding regulations.

Additional country‑specific funding parameters are outlined below:

5.1 Canadian funding

In Canada, this call for proposals is offered through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). NRC IRAP is responsible for delivering this call for proposals and for managing any resulting funding agreements.

Eligible Canadian SMEs may receive up to 50% reimbursement of eligible project costs up to a maximum total funding amount of $500,000  CAD over 12 to 24 months (an extension of 12 months may be considered if sufficiently justified and accepted by both countries).

Canadian SMEs may also participate in a collaborative project on a self‑funded basis.

5.2 Israeli funding

In Israel, this call for proposals is offered through the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA). IIA is responsible for the delivery of this call for proposals and the management of any resulting funding agreements.

Financial support may be provided to eligible Israeli companies in support of industrial research or technological development activities. Eligible Israeli applicants may receive up to 50% of the Israeli R&D cost.

Israeli applicants should consult the funding parameters outlined on the IIA call for proposals announcement webpage.

6. Application process

This call for proposals is being hosted by the Eureka Network program. Each project consortium must complete and submit a Eureka project online application form. Please consult the Eureka project application form webpage for instructions on how to complete and submit the Eureka project application form.

In addition to the project consortium submitting a Eureka project application form, each project partner seeking funding must submit all required documents to, and meet the due diligence process of, their respective national funding body. Failure, at any point or for any reason, to do so may cause the entire collaborative project application to be considered incomplete or ineligible and render the entire project consortium ineligible for funding through this call for proposals.

Application processes and evaluations will be performed independently by each national funding body in accordance with their national and institutional laws and regulations. Once each national funding body has evaluated the submitted applications, a final joint project selection will be performed.

Information on respective application processes follows below:

6.1 Canadian application process

The Canadian application process has 4 phases:

1. Registration
2. Expression of interest
3. International consortium project proposal
4. National funding body proposal and funding agreement

Step 1: Registration phase

Each Canadian applicant must register using the Register button at the bottom of this page. Basic information about the applicant and the organization will be required upon registration.

NRC IRAP will review registrations for this call for proposals and contact applicants if more information is required. Qualifying applicants will proceed to the next phase and be invited to submit an expression of interest form.

Step 2: Expression of interest phase

During this phase, each Canadian applicant seeking funding must submit an expression of interest (EOI) form outlining basic information on the applicant and the collaborative project.

While completing the EOI form, each Canadian applicant is encouraged to contact their NRC IRAP representative to discuss their project idea and receive guidance on preparing their submission.

It is recommended that applicants submit the EOI as early as possible. EOIs will be evaluated by the applicant's NRC IRAP representative and the NRC IRAP International Office. Qualifying applicants will be invited to submit the more detailed international consortium project proposal in collaboration with their project partners.

Step 3: International consortium project proposal phase

During the international consortium project proposal (ICPP) phase, all project partners work together to complete and submit an international consortium project proposal (ICPP) package.

In this call for proposals, the Canadian ICPP application package consists of:

1. a Eureka project application form, outlining the:
   • project consortium
   • collaborative project
   • expected outcomes
   • expected project costs and calendar
2. an NRC IRAP Canadian Annex form containing additional information required for the NRC IRAP assessment of the project including:
   • information about the Canadian SME
   • information about makeup of the project consortium
   • information related to the structure of the project
3. a draft international consortium agreement containing descriptions of the following:
   • roles and responsibilities of each consortium member
   • project management framework
   • division of intellectual property rights
   • confidentiality and publication agreements, and liability clauses

NRC IRAP will evaluate Canadian ICPP applications. Only Canadian participants of selected proposals will be invited to submit a NRC IRAP funding proposal.

Step 4: National funding body proposal and funding agreement phase

During the national funding body proposal and funding agreement phase, all eligible project partners work independently to complete funding proposals and sign legally binding funding agreements with their respective national funding body. Canadian applicants will work with their NRC IRAP representative to prepare an NRC IRAP funding proposal and contribution agreement.

6.2 Israeli application process

For information related to application stages, requirements, instructions, ICPP application packages, and national funding body proposals and funding agreements, please consult the IIA call for proposals announcement.

7. Contacts

For questions, concerns, or for more information, please contact the appropriate call for proposals representative listed below.

7.1 Canada

Wei Ning
Israel National Program Coordinator for NRC IRAP
National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
Wei.Ning@nrc‑cnrc.gc.ca

7.2 Israel

Yifat Hadaya
Programs Manager
North America Desk
International Collaboration Division
Israel Innovation Authority
NA@innovationisrael.org.il

8. Registration

Canadian SME participants must be registered 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, the lead Canadian applicant must register for this opportunity by clicking the Register button.

If there is no Register button visible below this line, it means the call for proposals has closed. Please contact the Contact listed or the NRC IRAP International Office for more information.