BCIC RIPPLES OF HOPE AWARD (2010) IN
BIOTECHNOLOGY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Program Overview
In 2008, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) named Dr. Michael Hayden as Canada’s
Health Researcher of the Year for Biomedical and Clinical Research. Dr. Hayden is the Director of the
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics (CMMT) at The University of British Columbia.
The CIHR Michael Smith Prize in Health Research, named for British Columbia’s first Nobel laureate,
includes a substantial five-year research grant. In the spirit of the late Dr. Smith, Dr. Hayden has used his
prize in combination with matching gifts to establish four annual Trainee Awards in the areas of Global
Health, Rare Diseases, Mental Health and Biotechnology. Dr. Hayden has called them the Ripples of
Hope Trainee Awards, inspired from Robert F. Kennedy’s speech on June 6th 1966 at Cape Town
University:
Every time a person “stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out
against injustice, they send forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million
different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the
mightiest walls....”
The BCIC Ripples of Hope Award in Biotechnology & Entrepreneurship is an annual internship for
students, recent graduates and fellows to train in entrepreneurship and commercialization in a
biotechnology company in British Columbia. The internship is intended to promote the recipient’s entry
into a career in BC’s biotechnology industry.
The program is directed to resident and international graduate students, postgraduates and post-doctoral
fellows in science, technology or business programs and departments in postsecondary institutions within
or outside British Columbia.
The award is valued at a maximum of $35,000 and additional contributions to the recipient’s activities
may be made by the biotechnology industry sponsor. The award term is a maximum of one year.
This award is financed, designed and delivered by the British Columbia Innovation Council in
collaboration with the Ripples of Hope Trainee Awards program and the Centre for Molecular Medicine
and Therapeutics at The University of British Columbia. The Ripples of Hope Trainee Awards
Endowments are managed by the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
OBJECTIVES:
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To develop innovative and entrepreneurial students and fellows as future professionals for British
Columbia’s biotechnology industry.
To produce innovations in biotechnology; and to commercialize those innovations in British
Columbia.
About BCIC
www.bcic.ca
BCIC develops entrepreneurial talent and commercializes technology through startup companies and
partnerships between industry and academia. BCIC focuses on competitively positioning British Columbia
in today’s global knowledge economy in order to provide significant employment opportunities and a high
standard of living for British Columbians.
BCIC RIPPLES OF HOPE AWARD IN BIOTECHNOLOGY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PROGRAM GUIDELINES
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Application and Awards Process
The Program Guidelines provide the instructions and format for applications to the program and the terms
and conditions under which the applications are evaluated, a recipient is selected, the award disbursed,
and reports delivered.
BCIC’s funding is directed towards the applicant and their internship activities, and applications are to
be completed by the applicant and not the academic and/or industry supervisors. The applicant is
requested to sign a declaration at the end of the application that they have completed the application.
The academic and industry supervisors for each applicant will also provide information for the application
including letters of reference; and the academic department head must co-sign the declaration at the end
of the application form for postsecondary applicants.
To ensure a postsecondary applicant’s institution is informed of their application where institution-owned
intellectual property is involved, an authorized representative of the university-industry liaison office is
also required to co-sign the application.
Application:
Evaluation:
Selection:
Notification:
Agreement:
Reporting:
Completion:
Application  BCIC Internal Review 
Evaluation Panel: Independent Evaluation and Meeting 
Recommendation  Confirmation
E-mail to Applicant, Industry Sponsor and Supervisors 
Letter of Agreement Disbursement to Recipient
Interim Report  Final Report
Institution Release of Holdback
Application
The application must be submitted to the BCIC office no later than Monday, July 26, 2010 before 5:00 p.m
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Prepare one complete and unbound paper original.
Prepare the original in the requested format and order.
Enter information in the cells provided using Arial 10 point font.
Do not exceed the specified word and page limits.
Place required attachments at the end of the application in the order specified.
Do not include other attachments. They will not be forwarded to evaluators.
Submit in-person or by mail or courier to the BCIC office.
Evaluation
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The application must include all the information requested. BCIC will conduct an internal review
of submitted applications and advise an applicant if their submission is incomplete and further
information is required. The required information must be submitted by the deadline given by
BCIC and failure to do so may result in the application being withdrawn.

BCIC will utilize a competitive process to select the recipient. The applications are assigned to an
evaluation panel comprised of a minimum of two members including Dr. Michael Hayden and a
representative of the BCIC Board of Directors. They are independently evaluated by individual
panel members. This is followed by a meeting of the panel to discuss the evaluations and select
the recipient.
BCIC RIPPLES OF HOPE AWARD IN BIOTECHNOLOGY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PROGRAM GUIDELINES
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Evaluation Criteria
APPLICANT
(Input)
INTERNSHIP
(Process)
OPPORTUNITY
(Output)
Academic Record
Industry Sponsor
Entrepreneurship
*extra weight will be placed on
this criterion for trainees from
the Centre for Molecular
Medicine and Therapeutics
(CMMT)
Products and/or Services
Commercialization
References
Plan of Activities
Benefits
Experience
Selection
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BCIC will make the award based upon the selection of the evaluation panel. The panel’s decision
is final and no appeals are allowed except where there has been a contravention of the
application and evaluation process outlined in these guidelines. If there are no suitable
candidates, BCIC reserves the right to not make the award.
Notification
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BCIC will notify the applicant, their institution (if applicable) and their industry sponsor by e-mail
regarding the award decision. BCIC will also notify the academic and industry supervisors by email if an applicant has been selected for the award.
Agreements
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BCIC will issue a written letter to the recipient notifying them of their award and outlining the
terms and conditions of the award; and a letter of agreement is to be signed and returned by the
recipient to the BCIC office within two weeks of the date of its posting.
Award Terms and Conditions
The application for the BCIC Ripples of Hope Award in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship provides the
basic terms on which the award is made; additional terms and conditions are provided below. BCIC
recognizes that an applicant will have an individualized plan for their activities and that those plans may
change. Proposed changes must be discussed with and approved in writing in advance by BCIC;
proceeding with changes without approval may result in termination and possible return of the
award.
1.0
Award Value
1.1 The BCIC Ripples of Hope Award in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship is valued at a maximum
of $35,000; the industry sponsor will also make contributions to the internship. The exact value of
the award will be determined by BCIC based on information provided by the award recipient, the
BCIC RIPPLES OF HOPE AWARD IN BIOTECHNOLOGY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PROGRAM GUIDELINES
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postsecondary institution where they are enrolled or appointed (if applicable), and by the industry
sponsor.
1.2 There is one award available in 2010; however, if there are no suitable candidates, BCIC
reserves the right to not make the award.
1.3 The recipient of the BCIC Ripples of Hope Award in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship cannot
hold other BCIC scholarship awards during the same term. They may hold awards from other
organizations (e.g. NSERC) provided the combined value of all awards does not exceed $75,000.
Amounts over $75,000 will be subtracted from the BCIC award. The recipient must determine if
the conditions of their other awards allow them to concurrently hold a BCIC award.
1.4 The applicant must identify awards from all other organizations in their application; and if awarded
the BCIC Ripples of Hope Award in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship, they must notify BCIC
of any new awards or changes to existing awards during the entire term of the BCIC award. The
recipient must declare all current and new awards during the term of their BCIC award.
2.0
Award Term & Disbursement Schedule
2.1 The BCIC Ripples of Hope Award in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship is normally granted for
a period of one year. The actual term of the award is subject to negotiation between the
applicant, the industry sponsor and BCIC.
2.2 Applicants must apply for the award in the year it will become effective. The award will not be
held until the following year.
2.3 For a postsecondary recipient, the award is made conditional upon the recipient’s enrollment in a
graduate studies program or appointment as a fellow in the postsecondary institution. The award
is also conditional on the recipient’s progress on activities to the satisfaction of BCIC.
2.4 The award funds will be disbursed to the recipient three times during the award term: 45% of the
award amount at the effective date and following submission of an interim report to the
satisfaction of BCIC on the progress of the activities; and a 10% holdback upon submission of
final report on the progress of activities to the satisfaction of BCIC.
2.5 The award will be disbursed from the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation to the recipient.
3.0
Intellectual Property Rights and Agreements
3.1 The applicant must identify any intellectual property agreements in place for activities involving
their academic supervisor, postsecondary institution, industry sponsor and collaborating
organizations at the time of application. They must have agreements in place prior to the start of
the project.
3.2 The agreements must allow for reports on activities to be released to BCIC on a confidential basis
as per the Province of British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;
and to postsecondary institution examiners if affecting the granting of a recipient’s degree.
3.3 The postsecondary applicant and academic supervisor are responsible for ensuring that
intellectual property arrangements and contributions from the industry sponsor or other
collaborating organizations are in order and in accordance with postsecondary institution
regulations. Any arrangements should be agreed to by the postsecondary institution, the industry
sponsor and collaborating organizations.
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4.0
Conflict-of-Interest
4.1 The postsecondary applicant and academic supervisor must meet any conflict of interest
guidelines that the postsecondary institution has in place with respect to intellectual property and
business and financial interests in the industry sponsor and other collaborating organizations.
5.0
Ethical and Safety Approvals
5.1 The postsecondary applicant’s activities must adhere to established ethical and safety principles
and guidelines and must be approved by the applicant’s institution. The applicant is responsible
for ensuring that approvals are obtained; and academic supervisors should ensure that proper
procedures are followed.
6.0
Reporting
6.1 The recipient of the award must submit an interim report to BCIC within six months from the
effective date of the award; and a final report within one month of the end date of their award.
The reports should outline the progress of internship activities supported by the award. The report
should contain a section at the end with comments from the academic and industry supervisors,
evaluating the progress of the applicant’s internship activities.
6.2 To be eligible for continued disbursement, the recipient must demonstrate satisfactory progress in
the interim report. BCIC reserves the right to request a report before the end of the award term
should there be any concern with the progress of internship activities.
6.3 BCIC may request specific information from the recipient, academic supervisor and the industry
supervisor as part of the final reporting requirement. To measure the employment and economic
outcomes of BCIC’s investment, the recipient also must agree to provide contact information for
three years following the completion of the term of the award.
7.0
Termination
7.1 The award is based on the information in the application. If there are any substantive changes in
the recipient’s internship activities or if an academic supervisor or industry sponsor/supervisor
withdraws from the project, BCIC must be notified immediately and proposed changes to the
application must be submitted in writing. Proposed changes must be approved in writing in
advance by BCIC and proceeding with changes without approval may result in termination and
possible return of the award.
7.2 If a postsecondary recipient withdraws from their program of study or fellowship appointment and
their internship and/or cannot complete the final report, BCIC must be notified and it may request
that the award be returned. Under extenuating and/or unavoidable circumstances such as longterm illness, BCIC will take such circumstances into consideration in determining the amount to
be returned.
8.0
Freedom of Information and Audits
8.1 All documents submitted to the BCIC become its property and are subject to the Province of
British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act –
http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/f/96165_01.htm
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8.2 The project may be selected for inspection and or auditing by the Province of British Columbia.
Guidelines
1.0 Applicant
1.1 Resident and international graduate students, postgraduates and postdoctoral fellows in science,
technology and business are eligible to apply for the BCIC Ripples of Hope Award in
Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship.
Graduate students must be admitted at the time of application to a graduate studies program at a
postsecondary institution within or outside British Columbia and enrolled in the program and
institution during the majority term of the award. Applications may be made before or after a
student enters their graduate studies program.
Postdoctoral fellows must be appointed or have an offer of appointment at the time of application
to a fellowship position in a postsecondary institution within or outside British Columbia and the
appointment must extend through the majority term of the award. Applications may be made
before or after a fellow assumes their appointment.
Postgraduates who are not postdoctoral fellows are eligible to apply if their most recent date of
graduation is within five years of the date of application.
1.2 The recipient is granted an award for the full eligible term conditional upon the following:
Graduate students must maintain enrollment in the program and institution identified in the
application and maintain progress on their internship as represented in an interim and final report
approved by BCIC.
Postdoctoral fellows must maintain their appointment in the department and institution identified
in the application and must maintain progress on their internship as represented in an interim and
final report approved by BCIC.
Postgraduates must maintain progress on their internship as represented in an interim and final
report approved by BCIC.
1.3 A postsecondary recipient who progresses and/or graduates to a higher level of study in the
same department and institution can also transfer their award, providing the internship activities
approved for the award continue, subject to approval of BCIC. The award is not transferable to
another program, department or institution without prior written approval of BCIC.
1.4 To ensure that postsecondary recipients have dedicated sufficient time to their internship, they
are requested to limit employment that is not related to the internship to a maximum of 300 hours
per year (this includes teaching and research assistant duties). Postgraduates are requested to
limit employment that is not related to the internship to a maximum of 1,000 hours per year.
There is no limit to hours and income from the industry sponsor for work related to the project.
1.5 None of the recipient’s income during the tenure of the award may be derived from another BCIC
program or BCIC-managed program.
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2.0 Academic Supervisor(s)
2.1 The academic supervisor advises the applicant and oversees the progress of their internship
activities. The supervisor should have a background appropriate to the applicant’s activities.
They should identify current or future funding being directed to the applicant’s activities; describe
the funding allocated and activities supported; and explain how the activities relate to their
academic enterprise.
2.2 The supervisor must be from the postsecondary institution at which the applicant is enrolled or
appointed. For graduate students, they are normally the applicant’s senior thesis or dissertation
supervisor and/or empowered to act as the sole academic supervisor. An adjunct professor who
has been authorized by the applicant’s postsecondary institution to act as an academic
supervisor for the applicant and is not a principal or employee of the industry sponsor is eligible to
supervise an applicant.
2.3 The academic supervisor cannot also act as the industry supervisor and they must disclose any
personal legal and financial involvement with the industry sponsor. If an academic supervisor has
any such involvement with the industry sponsor, the applicant is required to have a co-academic
supervisor. The co-academic supervisor should be a person who is not involved with the industry
sponsor.
2.4 The academic supervisor is requested to meet with the recipient a minimum of once per month to
review and advise on progress of the internship activities. They must also submit an annual and
a final report evaluating the progress of the applicant’s activities.
2.5 Postgraduates not associated with a postsecondary institution may apply to have an academic
mentor appointed by the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics in place of a
supervisor.
3.0 Industry Sponsor
3.1 The applicant should secure their own industry sponsor prior to application.
3.2 To ensure that BCIC’s investment is directed towards biotechnology innovation and
commercialization in British Columbia, the industry sponsor must have its corporate headquarters
or a substantive research and development operation located in the province. The sponsor must
identify their total number of employees, the number of BC research and development
employees, and their BC research and development expenditures.
3.3 The applicant must have an industry supervisor within the industry sponsor with expertise in the
applicant’s internship activities. The supervisor must be active in the organization’s activities for
more than 50% of the time and may not also act as the academic supervisor.
3.4 The industry sponsor must ensure their organization has suitable and sufficient resources to
support the recipient and their internship activities and must commit to sustained interaction with
management, professional and technical staff as appropriate.
3.5 The industry supervisor is requested to meet with the recipient on a regular schedule – a
minimum of once per month is recommended – to review and advise of progress of the internship
activities. They must also submit annual and final reports evaluating the progress of the
internship. The academic supervisor/mentor should have regular contact with the industry
supervisor.
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3.6 BCIC reserves the right to verify that the proposed contributions to the recipient’s internship have
been made. Industry sponsors should ensure that records are kept of any contributions to the
internship.
INFORMATION:
Dawn Wood
Programs Manager
T: 604.602.5203
dwood@bcic.ca
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