Canada-São Paulo cooperation in industrial research and innovation

1. Call description

Working together, the Government of Canada and the State of São Paulo, Brazil, aim to foster and support collaborative industrial research and development (R&D) projects with high potential for commercialization. This call for proposals is open to companies from Canada and São Paulo who wish to perform joint R&D leading to technology commercialization focussed on developing innovative products, processes or technology-based services in all technological and application areas which have strong market potential.

In Canada, this bilateral program is managed in Canada by Global Affairs Canada in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) and in Brazil by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

2. Key dates

3. Sectors of focus

This call for proposals is open to projects in all sectors that are civilian in nature and have emphasis on the following themes:

• Artificial intelligence and manufacturing
• Clean technology, green energy, and sustainable environments
• Health and life sciences
• Internet of Things and digital transformations
• Nanotechnology
• Ocean science and technology

4. Eligibility

Proposals must be prepared collaboratively and submitted by applicants in Canada and in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, according to the following eligibility criteria:

• The project consortium must include at least one Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) and one São Paulo, Brazil SME. Research institutes are welcome to participate as additional participants or subcontractors according to each country's funding regulations.
• Project duration should not exceed 2 years. An extension of 1 year may be considered if sufficiently justified by the applicants and accepted by both countries.
• The products and/or processes to be developed must be highly innovative and with significant commercial potential.
• The partners in Canada and in São Paulo, Brazil must agree in advance on an intellectual property rights agreement and on a commercialization strategy for the product or process.
• The partners in Canada and in São Paulo, Brazil, must be capable of implementing the project and funding their respective share.
• The project should demonstrate the scientific and technological contribution of the participants from both countries.
• The project must demonstrate adequate balance and significance for both partners, and no more than 70% of the project budget for any one SME.
• Project results should be commercially realized within 2 to 3 years of completing the joint project.

Projects involving research and development of products, processes or technologies with military or non-peaceful applications are not eligible for funding.

4.1 Canadian requirements

Canadian applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be an incorporated, profit-oriented SME registered in Canada, with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
• Be ready to collaborate with their Brazilian partner on an industrial R&D project, including having the capacity to co-develop technology with international partners
• Plan to pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes
• Be committed to aggressive growth through global market expansion
• Have sufficient working capital and non-financial resources to make a serious new market entry push
• Have world-class, differentiated, protectable technology which may already be commercialized in Canada

4.2 Brazilian requirements

• Researchers associated to a small business (less than 250 employees) established in the State of São Paulo
• Be ready to collaborate with the Canadian partner on an industrial R&D project

Note: Proposals submitted to the FAPESP must follow the rules of the FAPESP's Small Business Innovative Research (PIPE), except if explicitly indicated in this call for proposal.

5. Funding

Selected R&D projects will be eligible to receive funding from the Government of Canada's Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) and the FAPESP in the State of São Paulo.

Funds will be provided in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations, and procedures established by each organization, and/or each jurisdiction and/or country. Although the type and value of individual contributions allocated to a R&D project may vary, one country cannot represent more than 70% of the total project budget.

The FAPESP and NRC IRAP will jointly select proposals according to the norms, conditions, and funding limits of each of the parties' respective programs, and as presented in Section 5.1 (NRC IRAP) and 5.2 (FAPESP).

5.1 Canadian funding

Canadian SMEs may receive up to 50% of their part of eligible project costs through NRC IRAP to a project maximum of $600,000 over 12 to 24 months. An extension of 12 months may be considered if sufficiently justified by the applicants and accepted by both countries.

Canada will fund projects under the Canadian International Innovation Program's terms, conditions, and funding limits. This call for proposals will be managed by NRC IRAP.

Canadian SME applicants must be registered as NRC IRAP clients to be considered for funding. If your organization is not already an NRC IRAP client, please contact NRC IRAP at 1-877-994-4727.

5.2 Brazilian funding

The FAPESP will fund projects under the terms, conditions and funding limits of the FAPESP's Small Business Innovative Research – Phase 2 in the State of São Paulo. Funding to be granted is for Principal Investigators associated to Small Businesses. Under this call, the FAPESP will not fund fellowships for the Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigators.

6. Application process

Important: Each applicant must follow the process of their respective National Funding Body (NFB). In Canada this includes contacting their NFB before beginning a project application. Applicants who do not follow the process as defined by their NFB may be ineligible for support through this call for proposals.

All project participants must submit a proposal to their respective NFB. Failure to submit all required documents to NRC IRAP or the FAPESP will result in the project consortium being ineligible for funding.

6.1 Canadian registration and Expression of Interest

Canadian applicants must first register online in order to receive an Expression of Interest (EOI) form by the registration date listed in Section 2 Key Dates and Milestones. Please click on the REGISTER button below to complete the online registration. Once registered the applicant will be contacted by an NRC IRAP representative within 2 business days about next steps.

Canadian applicants who meet the registration screening criteria will be invited to submit an EOI application form to NRC IRAP by the EOI deadline (see Section 2 Key Dates and Milestones). The NRC IRAP International Office will provide applicants with the EOI form.

EOIs will be reviewed to determine if the applicant organization, project, and consortium meet the FAPSEP and NRC IRAP eligibility guidelines for the call for proposals. Only those who are eligible will be invited to the next stage of the application process.

6.2 Brazilian proposal

Applicants from the State of São Paulo are required to submit a proposal containing the items described on the SAGe System, according to the instructions on the FAPSEP website. The project must be submitted to FAPESP in English.

6.3 International Consortium Project Proposal

All consortia must submit International Consortium Project Proposals (ICPPs) to their respective NFB by the ICPP deadline (see Section 2 Key Dates and Milestones) as explained below:

Joint requirements

The international consortium must submit the following items to both FAPSEP and NRC IRAP:

1. ICPP / Joint Proposal Application Form, prepared jointly in English (legally signed by all partners participating in the project). The NRC IRAP International Office will provide the ICPP form and submission instructions to eligible Canadian participants.
2. Brazilian participants are to access materials and instructions via their assigned account on the SAGe System.
3. A draft International Consortium Agreement (not yet signed) that regulates the terms of cooperation between all partners (in English). The minimum requirements for the Consortium Agreement are:
   • names of all project partners;
   • description of the project aims and the differentiation of subprojects by each partner, including brief work plans with effort estimated in person-months;
   • identification and naming of any third party contractors required in the project;
   • regulation of intellectual property rights (background and arising);
   • basic regulation of joint commercialization and apportioning of benefits;
   • if research organizations from either country are involved, mutually agreed publishing rights.

Upon request, NRC IRAP can provide an International Consortium Agreement template as a guideline for preparing the Consortium Agreement.

6.4 Evaluation, project selection, and funding agreements

Each NFB will carry out independent evaluations of eligible applications in accordance with their national and/or institutional laws and regulations.

A proposal will be considered selected under this call for proposals only if all NFBs jointly decide to approve and fund it.

Applicants whose proposals are selected will be required to complete a funding agreement with their NFB. Instructions will be provided to selected applicants.

7. Contact information

Canada

Ronda Gosselin
NRC IRAP CIIP Brazil Program Lead
National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
Ronda.Gosselin@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Brazil

Patrícia Pereira Tedeschi
FAPESP
Chamada_nrc@fapesp.br

8. How to apply

All interested Canadian applicants must register by clicking the REGISTER button below.

9. Register