Eureka Globalstars Japan 2024-2025 call for proposals

1. Introduction

Eureka has launched a Globalstars call for proposals for joint research and development (R&D) projects in the high-tech and circular economy sectors. All consortia projects must have at least 1 eligible Japanese partner.

Participating countries include the United Kingdom, Canada, Austria, France, Singapore and Finland. This call for proposals is open to organizations who wish to form project consortia to perform collaborative projects focused on developing innovative products, processes or technology-based services.

2. Application deadlines

• Canadian registration deadline: October 17, 2024
• Canadian expression of interest deadline: October 24, 2024
• International consortium project proposal deadline: December 4, 2024

3. Sectors of focus

This call for proposals is open to projects in the following sectors, excluding technologies associated with nuclear power and drug discovery:

• aerospace
• artificial intelligence
• biotechnology
• electronics
• energy and environment
• new materials
• medical devices
• mining and other industrial technologies
• robotics
• semiconductors
• quantum

4. Eligibility requirements

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

4.1 Canadian eligibility requirements

• The Canadian 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 with commercial potential in global markets
  • have sufficient working capital (e.g. revenue, investment) 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 one or more products domestically or internationally
  • have greater than $500,000 CAD in annual revenue

4.2 Consortium

• For National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) consideration, the project consortium must include at least:
  • 1 incorporated Canadian SME*
  • 1 eligible Japanese partner
  • the parties making up the consortium 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

*Note: In addition to the Canadian SME, additional 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 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 one partner or country)

4.4 Foreign eligibility requirements

This call for proposals is being supported by government bodies in Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Austria, France, Singapore and Finland. Eligibility varies by country, please consult the Eureka Globalstars Japan call for proposals announcement for information on foreign partner eligibility requirements.

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 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 NRC IRAP. NRC IRAP is responsible for delivery of 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 over 12 to 36 months (an extension of 12 months may be considered if sufficiently justified and accepted by both countries).

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.

Note: Canadian SME applicants may apply to more than one NRC IRAP 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.

5.2 Foreign funding

This call for proposals is being supported by government bodies in Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Austria, France, Singapore and Finland. Funding is subjected to budgetary availability and national funding conditions stipulated by each funding body. Please consult the Eureka Globalstars Japan call for proposals announcement for more foreign partner funding information.

6. Application process

This call for proposals is being hosted by the Eureka's Globalstars initiative. 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. Project proposal
4. National funding body funding agreement

Step 1: Registration phase

Each Canadian applicant must register by clicking to the Register button at the end 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. As they are received, 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 (ICPP) in collaboration with their project partners. The lead Canadian consortium applicant will be provided with all the templates needed to submit an ICPP.

Step 3: International consortium project proposal phase

During this phase, all project partners must work together to complete and submit the project application package.

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

1. the 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 to assess the Canadian SME applicants and the project consortium
3. a draft International Consortium Agreement containing descriptions of the:
   • roles and responsibilities of each consortium member
   • project management framework
   • division of intellectual property rights
   • confidentiality and publication agreements, and liability clauses

Canadian ICPP applications will be evaluated by an NRC evaluation team. Next, the amalgamated evaluation results will be shared between national funding bodies to jointly select the collaborative projects that will be invited to proceed to the final national funding body proposal and funding agreement stage.

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 Foreign application processes

For information related to application stages, requirements, instructions, ICPP application packages and national funding body proposals and funding agreements, please consult the Eureka Globalstars Japan 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

Harvey Lam
NRC IRAP Japan National Program Coordinator
National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
Harvey.Lam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

7.2 Japan

Kuniko Ishigami
Director, International Affairs Department
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
dt.cofund@ml.nedo.go.jp

7.3 Other countries

Please consult the Eureka Globalstars Japan web page for country specific contact not listed above.

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 the NRC IRAP.

To begin the application process, the lead Canadian applicant must register for this opportunity by selecting 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 by email at IRAP.International.PARI@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca for more information.