Rick Warner
NSERC Pacific
January 23, 2012

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NSERC helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians.
NSERC achieves this by investing in people, discovery and innovation in partnerships with industry through programs that support post-secondary research in the natural sciences and engineering on the basis of national, peer-reviewed competitions.
Lead the advancement of knowledge in science and engineering, and ensure that Canadian scientists and engineers are leaders and key players in a global knowledge community .
Inspire new generations of students to pursue careers in science and engineering, and provide them with the means to develop their full potential.
People
Connect and apply the strength of the academic research system to addressing the opportunities and challenges of building prosperity for Canada.
Demonstrate NSERC ’s accountability and how the results of its investments in Canadian research and training benefit Canadians.
Increase visibility of Canadian research.
Accountability

Innovation
Entrepreneurial Advantage
Translate knowledge into wealth, wellness and well-being
Discovery
Knowledge Advantage
Build on research strengths, generate new ideas
NSERC
>1,800 company partners
29,500 students
11,800 professors
People
People Advantage
Attract, retain and grow base of knowledge workers.

1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
2001-02
84% Growth
2004-05 2007-08 2010-11
People Discovery Innovation Administration

4%
28%
30%
People
Discovery
Innovation
Admin.
38%

Strategic Partnerships
Program (39.9%)
RPP Budget 2011-2012
($282.1M)*
Industry-Driven Collaborative R&D
Program (39.2%)
College and Community
Innovation Program (11.4%)
*Does not include Networks of Centres of Excellence
Commercialization
Program (2.5%)
Training in Industry
Program (7%)

Strategic
Partnership
Program
Strategic Project
Grants (SPG)
Collaborative Health
Research Projects
(CHRP)
Auto. Partnership
Canada (APC)
Strategic Network
Grants (SNG)
Universities
Industry-Driven
Collaborative
R&D Program
Partnership
Workshops (PWP)
Interaction Grants
(IG)
Engage Grants (EG)
Collaborative
Research and
Development (CRD)
Commercialization
Program
Training in
Industry
Program
Idea to Innovation (I2I) Industrial Undergrad
Student Awards (i-
USRA)
Centres of Excellence for Commercialization
& research (CECR)
Industrial R&D
Internships (IRDI)
Industrial
Postgraduate
Scholarships (IPS)
Industrial R&D
Fellowships (IRDF)
Colleges
Colleges and
Community
Innovation
Program (CCI)
Applied Research and Development
(ARD) Grants
Applied Research
Tools and
Instruments (ARTI)
Grants
Innovation
Enhancement (IE)
Technology Access
Centres (TAC)
Network of Centres of
Excellence (NCE)
Industrial Research
Chairs (IRC)
Business-Lead
Network of Centres of
Excellence (BL-NCE)
College-University
Idea to Innovation
(CU-I2I)
Industrial Research
Chairs for Colleges
(IRCC)

The CCI Program is managed by NSERC in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
(SSHRC).
CCI program is open to proposals across the spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering, humanities and/or health

Pre-2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (As of
Dec)
81
CCI-Eligible Colleges
Eligible Colleges that have received at least one CCI
Grant
13
6
21
6
36
8
52
30
67
48 56
ACCC report indicates that:
(i)
(ii)
3,795 companies participated in applied research projects at Canadian colleges in 2009-10. This represents a sevenfold increase over 2005-06; and private sector investment in Canada’s colleges increased tenfold over the last four years from $4 million to $45 million in 2009-10.
Polytechnics Canada report indicates that between 2008-09 and 2009-10:
(i) active applied research projects during the year increased by 39%; and
(ii) faculty/staff engaged in applied research increased by 34%.
10

Universities
• BC Institute of Technology
• The University of BC
• University of the Fraser Valley
• University of Northern BC
• Royal Roads University
•
Simon Fraser University
• Thompson Rivers University
• Trinity Western University
• Vancouver Island University
• University of Victoria
Colleges
• Camosun College
• College of New Caledonia
• College of the Rockies
• Douglas College
• Emily Carr University Justice
Institute of BC
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• Langara College
• North Island College
• Okanagan College
• Selkirk College
• Yukon College

NSERC views the colleges as:
 Closely linked with industry locally and regionally
 Playing an important and growing role in advancing innovation
 Having a unique role distinct from that of universities
NSERC’s goal:
 Assist the colleges in advancing innovation (existing programs and new mechanisms)

College and
Community
Innovation program
(CCI)
Innovation
Enhancement
Grants (IE)
(Entry-Level and Five-
Year)
Applied
Research and
Development
(ARD)
Grants
Applied
Research
Tools and
Instrument
(ARTI)
Grants
Technology
Access
Centre (TAC)
Grants
(pilot)
Industrial
Research
Chairs for
Colleges
(IRCC)
Grants
College
University
Idea to
Innovation
(CU-I2I)
Grants


Increase innovation at the community and/or regional level by enabling Canadian colleges to strengthen their capacity to work with local companies, particularly SMEs

Support applied research and collaborations that facilitate commercialization, as well as technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies

 Businesses, colleges, hospitals, public utilities, associations and government agencies
 Universities, and other organizations, as collaborators
 College employees, preferably an administrator or a manager who has experience in managing grants

SMEs
• Quick and easy cash and financing
•
Short term projects to solve specific problems
• HQP for expertise but limited resources to train students
• Access to specialized equipment/facilities
Access that is:
‘Fast and easy’
Large Firms
• Have more $ for R&D but spend less as proportion of other investments
• HQP important (recruitment)
• What’s on the horizon?
• Med/long term projects
Access to:
Future, talent, world-class

 Entry-Level IE Grants (funding of up to $100,000 per year for two years)
 Five-Year IE Grants ($2-3M – base funding of up to $500,000 per year for the first three years and up to $400,000 for years
4 and 5)
 Anticipated Impacts :
• Encourage colleges and industry partnerships
• Professors and Students participating in applied R&D activities on real industry problems
• Increase applied research capacity and TT activities
• New technologies and processes adopted by local companies and other organizations

 provide Canadian companies access to the knowledge, expertise and capabilities available at colleges
 support well-defined applied research and development projects undertaken by college researchers with their private-sector partners
 No deadline
 Project duration: 6 months to 3 years

Three levels:
1. Up to $25K (six months)
• Requires a new relationship, in kind contribution (no cash)
• internal review, 4-6 week turnaround
2. Up to $75K per year (up to 3 years)
• Private sector partner(s) contribute 1/3 of project costs in cash and/or in-kind
• External peer review
3. $75K to $150K per year (up to 3 years)
• Private sector partner(s) contribute ½ of project costs in cash and/or in-kind (match NSERC’s contribution)
• External peer review and committee review

Selection criteria:






Technical merit
Applied research competence
Potential for innovation impact
Private-sector support
Contribution to the training of HQP
Benefit to Canada

21

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Prairies Atlantic Ontario BC Quebec
Not awarded
Awarded
Under review
22

Applied Research Tools and Instrument grants (ARTI)
 support the purchase of research equipment and installations to foster and enhance the ability of colleges to undertake applied research, innovation and training in collaboration with local companies ($7,000 to $150,000)
Technology Access Centre grants (TAC)
 enhance the ability of companies, particularly SMEs, to become more productive and innovative by enabling them to readily access college expertise, technology and equipment.
This access to college capabilities is intended to enhance the productivity, competitiveness and innovation of the participating SMEs (pilot in progress)

Industrial Research Chairs (IRCC)

IRCC supports applied research leaders and the development of business-focused applied research programs at colleges (5 year terms, $100,000 - $200,000 per year)
College - University Idea to Innovation (CU-I2I)
 develop and strengthen research links between colleges, universities and businesses to accelerate the development of existing company technologies and promote their commercialization (3 year grants, up to $250,000)

 Launched program on October 5, 2011
 Application deadline was November 30, 2011
 IRCC budget is ring-fenced (if funds are not used specifically for
IRCC, they must be returned to TB)
 Received 45 IRCC applications
 Can award up to 18 Chairs in 2011-12, the remainder will be allocated through competition(s) in 2012-13
 No further competitions planned until 2016-17
25

26

 Technology pull objectives (name causing confusion)
 Possible University draw -> no cash requirements
 Launched program on November 15, 2011
 No application deadline. Apply at anytime.
 No official applications yet. Some are in preparation.
 CU-I2I budget is ring-fenced (if funds are not used specifically for CU-I2I, they must be returned to TB)
 Can fund $1M in 2011-12, $2M in 2012-13, and $3M for subsequent years
27

Strategic
Partnership
Program
Strategic Project
Grants (SPG)
Collaborative Health
Research Projects
(CHRP)
Auto. Partnership
Canada (APC)
Strategic Network
Grants (SNG)
Universities
Industry-Driven
Collaborative
R&D Program
Partnership
Workshops (PWP)
Interaction Grants
(IG)
Engage Grants (EG)
Collaborative
Research and
Development (CRD)
Commercialization
Program
Training in
Industry
Program
Idea to Innovation (I2I) Industrial Undergrad
Student Awards (i-
USRA)
Centres of Excellence for Commercialization
& research (CECR)
Industrial R&D
Internships (IRDI)
Industrial
Postgraduate
Scholarships (IPS)
Industrial R&D
Fellowships (IRDF)
Colleges
Colleges and
Community
Innovation
Program (CCI)
Applied Research and Development
(ARD) Grants
Applied Research
Tools and
Instruments (ARTI)
Grants
Innovation
Enhancement (IE)
Technology Access
Centres (TAC)
Network of Centres of
Excellence (NCE)
Industrial Research
Chairs (IRC)
Business-Lead
Network of Centres of
Excellence (BL-NCE)
College-University
Idea to Innovation
(CU-I2I)
Industrial Research
Chairs for Colleges
(IRCC)

• Apply any time
• Up to 5 years (most are 2-3 years)
• Average grant about $50,000 (can be up to $1M)
• Company contributes cash (at least half of NSERC)
• Company’s internal capacity is key
• 85% success rate

• New collaboration between company and researcher
• Up to $25,000 from NSERC
• No cash from company
• IP stays with company
• Straightforward application
• No deadline … 3-4 week turnaround to decision
• Objective is to foster a long-term collaboration
(though this may not be the outcome)

Industrial Scholarships and
Fellowships
USRA-I - $4500 (NSERC)
- $1125 (Company, min)
- 16 week placement at company
- undergraduate bachelors student in science or engineering

Value proposition
NSERC provides a wide variety of programs that meet the varying needs of business, from short-term to long-term R&D projects. NSERC invests over
$300 annually million in funds to support more than
1,500 industry-academic R&D partnerships.

Value proposition
1) By cost-sharing with NSERC, Canadian businesses can fund relevant R&D for as little as
17 cents on the dollar when combined with tax credits for R&D investment.

CRD Tax Example
Industry Cash
Industry In-Kind
$ 25,000
British
Columbia
Investment
Tax Credit
Tax Credit
SR&ED Cheques back from credits
Net Cost to
Company
$ (2,500) $ (8,750) $ 11,250 $ 13,750
$ 25,000
NSERC CRD Cash $ 50,000
Project Value $ 100,000
$ (2,500) $ (8,750) $ 11,250 $ 13,750
$ 22,500 $ 27,500

Value proposition
2) Researchers who undertake applied research in partnership with companies are often at the forefront of their respective specialties often with recent state of the art equipment available.
Companies benefit from their insights and advances.

Value proposition
3) All major R&D funding proposals are reviewed by experts and this can help companies ascertain whether there may be any technical or feasibility concerns/issues.

Value proposition
4) Links to universities and colleges can be a plus for businesses seeking investment capital, especially from private sources.

Value proposition
5) NSERC's industrial scholarships and fellowships allow companies to hire, at substantial savings, the appropriate level of expertise for almost any
R&D task. From undergraduate students for short-term problem solving to postdoctoral fellows for longer term, and sometimes gamechanging research, these highly skilled people make important contributions to their employers.

Value proposition
6) Since 1997, the federal government and its partners have invested more than $4 billion in university and college research infrastructure and equipment.
Many of these well-equipped facilities are one-of-akind and would be too costly for any single company to set up and operate.
University and college technical staff are on hand to help companies maximize the use of these facilities.

Jack Deyirmendjian
613-996-2145 jack.deyirmendjian@nserccrsng.gc.ca
Suzanne Liou (ARD)
613-996-5984
Suzanne.liou@nserccrsng.gc.ca
Marie Thibault (ARD, TAC, CU-I2I)
613-996-9402
Marie.thibault@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
Creed Millman (IE, ARTI)
613-996-4894 creed.millman@nserccrsng.gc.ca
Patrick St-Pierre (IE, IRCC)
613-944-7533
Patrick.St-Pierre@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
Rick Warner 604-666-8811 rick.warner
@nserc-crsng.gc.ca