Eureka 2021-2022 multilateral call for proposals on hydrogen

1. Introduction

Eureka has launched a multilateral call for proposals for joint research and development (R&D) projects on hydrogen. Participating countries include Canada, Belgium (Flanders), Finland, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands.

2. Application deadlines

3. Sectors of focus

The primary focus of the call is the development of technologies that support infrastructure for transporting hydrogen, including the following sectors:

• Clean technologies and low-carbon economy technologies, including renewable energy, energy storage, smart grids, smart meters and sensors
• Advanced manufacturing and materials for clean fuels
• Digital industries, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, electronic systems and components, internet of things, modelling and simulation technologies

Projects could also address related topics including batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen generation and industrial use of hydrogen.

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:

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
   • 1 eligible foreign partner
   • the parties listed above must be unrelated parties (i.e. no direct, indirect, beneficial or constructive ownership interest between these parties)
2. The project partners that form the consortium must agree on a plan addressing intellectual property rights and intent to commercialize
3. 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
4. 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 75% of the effort contributed by any one partner or country)

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

4.1 Canadian eligibility requirements

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

The Canadian SME 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 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 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 Foreign eligibility requirements

Please consult the Eureka call for proposals announcement for 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 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 75% of the total project budget.

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 36 months.

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

Funding will only be provided to labelled projects that are positively evaluated by all participating funding bodies. Funding of project partners is subjected to budgetary availability and national funding conditions stipulated by each funding body. Please consult the Eureka call for proposals announcement for more information.

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 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:

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. Eureka projet 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

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 Eureka application process

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

7. Contacts

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

Andrew Bauder
NRC IRAP Program Call Lead
National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
Andrew.Bauder@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Eric Holdrinet
Eureka Deputy National Program Coordinator
National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
Eric.Holdrinet@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

8. Registration

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