Canada – Israel 2020-21 collaborative industrial research and development call for proposals

1. Application deadlines

2. Sectors of focus

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

• Health and bio-sciences, including healthy ageing, mental health, biomedicine and biomedical engineering
• Digital technologies, including cyber security, smart cities and smart mobility
• 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 waste water management

3. 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:

1. The project consortium must include at least:
   • 1 incorporated Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), defined as a for-profit company with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
     • Participation of Canadian research institutes/universities, large enterprises and other companies are welcome as additional participants on a self-funding basis or subcontractors
   • 1 eligible Israeli R&D-performing company
     • Participation of Israeli research institutes/universities are welcome as subcontractors
2. The project partners that form the consortium must:
   • be capable of implementing the project including funding their respective share
   • agree in advance on intellectual property rights and a commercialization strategy
   • not be related in terms of corporate ownership
3. The project must focus on co-developing a product, process, or technology-based service that:
   • is highly innovative
   • has significant commercial potential
   • has outcomes that can be realized within 2 years of completion of the project, and
   • does not involve R&D related to products, processes, or technological-based services with military or non-peaceful applications
4. The project must demonstrate:
   • the unique scientific and technological contribution that each organization brings to the project
   • an obvious advantage and added value for each project partner resulting from the collaboration, such as an increased knowledge base, an access to R&D infrastructure or new fields of application or a solutions for commercial needs
   • an adequate balance and significance for all project partners, defined as no more than 70% of the project budget contributed by any one organization or country

In addition to the above eligibility requirements, each applicant must meet their country-specific requirements, outlined below:

3.1 Canadian eligibility requirements

Canadian applicant(s) must also meet the following criteria.

1. The Canadian SME must have a technology that is:
   • competitive in global markets, differentiated, and protectable, such as a unique or novel patentable technology that may alter the industry or market
2. The Canadian SME must be committed to:
   • pursuing growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, processes or technological-based services
   • aggressive growth through global market expansion
3. The Canadian SME must be ready, and have the resources to:
   • make a serious new market entry push, typically having more than 10 full-time equivalent employees and $1 million CAD in annual revenue
   • complete a collaborative project with international partners

3.2 Israeli eligibility requirements

For Israeli companies, the application process is detailed in the incentive program for bilateral R&D (in Hebrew and in English).

4. 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.

NOTE: 1 country and/or project partner cannot represent more than 70% of the total project budget.

Additional country-specific funding parameters are outlined below:

4.1 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 $600,000 CAD over 12 to 24 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 1 opportunity or who have ongoing NRC IRAP projects should speak to their NRC IRAP representative for more information.

4.2 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 companies may receive up to 50% of the Israeli R&D cost and regional (development zones) incentives. Please consult the IIA call for proposals announcement for funding parameters.

5. 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 their respective national funding body and meet its due diligence process requirements.

Not meeting these requirements may cause the 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:

5.1 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 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. 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. EUREKA project application form, outlining the:
   • project consortium
   • collaborative project
   • expected outcomes
   • expected project cost and calendar
2. 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
3. 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 make up of the project consortium
   • information related to the structure of the project

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.

5.2 Israeli application processes

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.

6. Contacts

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

6.1 Canadian contact

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

6.2 Israel contact

Yifat Hadaya
North America Desk
Israel Innovation Authority
NA@innovationisrael.org.il

7. Registration