CELTIC-NEXT—ICT and telecommunications Autumn 2023 call for proposals

CELTIC-NEXT, the Eureka cluster focused on information and communications technology (ICT) and telecommunications, has launched their autumn call for collaborative research and development project proposals.

1. Sector of focus

ICT and telecommunications with the following key technology application areas:

• 5G/6G infrastructure technologies
• 5G/6G use cases

2. Application deadline

Deadline to submit the full project proposal: November 10, 2023

3. How to apply

To apply, applicants must register through CELTIC's online project portal.

4. Related events:

• CELTIC Launch Event (online): September 7, 2023
• CELTIC-NEXT proposers' brokerage day: October 5, 2023

5. Project 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 or program.

Each project participant should contact their national funding agency early in the process and follow their advice regarding national funding applications in parallel to the proposal submission.

Non-eligible project participants (e.g., universities, research institutes 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.

6. Canadian funding eligibility

Canadian SMEs

In Canada, this call for proposals is offered through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). NRC IRAP funding is only available for eligible Canadian small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Project participants who are not eligible for funding are welcome to participate on a self-funded basis.

To be eligible for funding, a Canadian SME applicant must:

• be an incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized enterprise (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 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 Canadian SME applicants who:

• have a minimum of 15 full-time equivalent employees
• have commercialized one or more products domestically or internationally
• have greater than $500,000 CAD in annual revenue

Canadian SME applicants must be eligible for funding as NRC IRAP clients before they can be considered for funding through the 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.

Note: Canadian SME applicants may apply to more than one NRC IRAP funded call for proposals simultaneously. However, NRC IRAP may limit the number of funded projects per applicant. Canadian SME applicants who are applying to more than one opportunity or who have ongoing NRC IRAP projects should speak to their NRC IRAP representative for more information.

Other Canadian organizations

Other types of Canadian organizations may participate in CELTIC-NEXT projects but need to secure funding from alternative sources or self-fund their project participation.

7. More information

Eureka's CELTIC-NEXT cluster, a transnational and industry-driven research, development and innovation program focusing on information and communications technology (ICT) and telecommunications, launches 2 calls per year for joint research and development (R&D) projects.

The CELTIC core group consists of 19 members from 10 countries mainly in the European telecoms industry, including:

• Adva
• British Telecom
• Cellnex
• Deutsche Telekom
• Ericsson
• Eurescom
• Imec
• Indra
• Italtel
• Netas
• Nokia
• Orange
• RAD Data Communications
• SES
• Telefonica
• Telenor
• Thales
• Turkcell
• Turk Telecom

8. Contact

To learn more about CELTIC-NEXT and this call for proposals, please visit the CELTIC-NEXT general call information page or contact Kasturi.Narayanan@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.