The NSERC ‘Engage Grant’The NSERC ‘Engage Grant’

Creating new research collaborations Creating new research collaborations between Industry and universitiesbetween Industry and universities

Snapshot of the Engage GrantSnapshot of the Engage Grant

o Develops: ‘new to you’ research partnership between Develops: ‘new to you’ research partnership between university researcher and a company university researcher and a company

o Addresses: a company-specific problem Addresses: a company-specific problem o Value: up to $25,000 from NSERC (no cash required Value: up to $25,000 from NSERC (no cash required

from company) from company) o Project Timeframe: up to 6 months Project Timeframe: up to 6 months o Deadline: none, rolling applications Deadline: none, rolling applications o Decision: 4-6 weeks turn-around time Decision: 4-6 weeks turn-around time o IP: company owned IP: company owned

Guide to a Successful Engage ApplicationGuide to a Successful Engage Application

Key Evaluation Criteria:Key Evaluation Criteria:1.1. Eligibility – Principal Investigator / CompanyEligibility – Principal Investigator / Company2.2. Budget – NSERC funds / In-kind contributionBudget – NSERC funds / In-kind contribution3.3. ProjectProject4.4. Company Letter Company Letter

1. Eligibility: Principal Investigator1. Eligibility: Principal Investigator

Form 100: Form 100: o Professor in eligible university Professor in eligible university o Assistant, associate, full (tenure-track)Assistant, associate, full (tenure-track)o Adjunct only if permanently at the universityAdjunct only if permanently at the universityo Permanent or term sufficient for the duration of Permanent or term sufficient for the duration of

projectproject

1. Eligibility: Principal Investigator1. Eligibility: Principal Investigator

Form 100: Form 100: o Prior peer-reviewed support within past 6 yearsPrior peer-reviewed support within past 6 yearso Prior NSERC grants (DG/RPP(CRD, IRC, SPG, SNG, I2I)Prior NSERC grants (DG/RPP(CRD, IRC, SPG, SNG, I2I)o Prior EG only does not qualify: not peer reviewedPrior EG only does not qualify: not peer reviewedo Other peer reviewed support (OCE, FQRNT, MITACS, Other peer reviewed support (OCE, FQRNT, MITACS,

etc.)etc.)

1. Eligibility: Principal Investigator1. Eligibility: Principal Investigator

Form 100: Form 100: o Foreign researcher recently moved to CanadaForeign researcher recently moved to Canadao Investigate: base comparison on NSERC criteria whenever Investigate: base comparison on NSERC criteria whenever

possible:possible:o Candidate active in NSECandidate active in NSEo Committee of peers judge on: profile of candidate; quality of Committee of peers judge on: profile of candidate; quality of

the proposal; novelty/originality; technical feasibility; the proposal; novelty/originality; technical feasibility; training of HQP; industrial relevance; budget.training of HQP; industrial relevance; budget.

1. Eligibility: Principal Investigator1. Eligibility: Principal InvestigatorForm 101: Form 101: No Prior Collaboration:No Prior Collaboration: between University Researcher and between University Researcher and

CompanyCompanyo None within past 6 years:None within past 6 years: consulting; joint project; publication; consulting; joint project; publication;

founder/partner; employee/executive; board member, etc.founder/partner; employee/executive; board member, etc.o Exceptions: IRAP; MITACS (consider the timeframe & Exceptions: IRAP; MITACS (consider the timeframe &

involvement of PI vs HQP); ownership through mutual type involvement of PI vs HQP); ownership through mutual type funds; membership of large consortium/network type of project funds; membership of large consortium/network type of project (SNG)(SNG)

1. Eligibility: Company (Canadian-based)1. Eligibility: Company (Canadian-based)

Form 183A: Form 183A: o Must be at arm’s length (no P.I. involvement)Must be at arm’s length (no P.I. involvement)o Suitable receptor for developed technology/knowledgeSuitable receptor for developed technology/knowledgeo Capacity to valorize/commercializeCapacity to valorize/commercializeo NSE activeNSE activeo Startup: min. one year in existenceStartup: min. one year in existenceo Some public utilities/government owned companies (e.g. Hydro, Some public utilities/government owned companies (e.g. Hydro,

municipal services; service for a fee to the general public basis)municipal services; service for a fee to the general public basis)

1. Eligibility: Company (Canadian-based)1. Eligibility: Company (Canadian-based)Form 183A: Form 183A: o Company sizeCompany size

o What is big/small enough?What is big/small enough?o Development stageDevelopment stage

o Operational?Operational?o Early development stage?Early development stage?o R&D capacity?R&D capacity?o Potential to continue with future projects?Potential to continue with future projects?

o Limit #EG by company?Limit #EG by company?o Sustainable?Sustainable?o Divisions of same large company?Divisions of same large company?

1. Eligibility: Company (Canadian-based)1. Eligibility: Company (Canadian-based)

Form 183A: Form 183A: Producer associationProducer associationo Financed through industrial subscriptions/check offs Financed through industrial subscriptions/check offs

(no gov’t funds)(no gov’t funds)o Disseminate the information to the industrial partners Disseminate the information to the industrial partners

or to the industry at largeor to the industry at large

1. Eligibility: Company (Foreign-owned)1. Eligibility: Company (Foreign-owned)

Form 183A: Form 183A: o Established in Canada – relevant R&D/production Established in Canada – relevant R&D/production

facilities?facilities?

1. Eligibility Evaluation Checklist1. Eligibility Evaluation Checklisto Creation of a new relationship? Creation of a new relationship? Y/NY/No Does the applicant demonstrate evidence of Does the applicant demonstrate evidence of

peer reviewed support in NSE domain within peer reviewed support in NSE domain within past 6 years? past 6 years? Y/NY/N

o Is the applicant eligible to receive grants funds? Is the applicant eligible to receive grants funds? Y/NY/N

o Does the research team (including participating Does the research team (including participating company personnel) have the necessary company personnel) have the necessary expertise? expertise? Y/NY/N

2. Budget – Main Budget Table2. Budget – Main Budget Table

o Actual spending from the grant moneyActual spending from the grant moneyo Company cash (if ever) is added to the spendingCompany cash (if ever) is added to the spendingo Company in-kind appears on right column: not Company in-kind appears on right column: not

added to actual spendingadded to actual spending

2. Budget – Salaries (HQP)2. Budget – Salaries (HQP)

o Graduate students: max. Masters $8250; PhD. $9500; Graduate students: max. Masters $8250; PhD. $9500; may be topped up by industrial fundsmay be topped up by industrial funds

o Undergrads: not limited (avg. Co-Op levels)Undergrads: not limited (avg. Co-Op levels)o PDF: min. of $25,000/yrPDF: min. of $25,000/yro Technical/professionals: according to University policyTechnical/professionals: according to University policyo Faculty: Faculty: nonenoneo Industrial staff: Industrial staff: nonenone

2. Budget – Equipment/Consumables2. Budget – Equipment/Consumables

o Needs to be justified and detailedNeeds to be justified and detailedo No major piece of equipment (>50% of the grant)No major piece of equipment (>50% of the grant)o Computers: additional justification if laptops and price Computers: additional justification if laptops and price

>$2,000>$2,000o Various devices (iPhones, etc.): OK if subject of the study Various devices (iPhones, etc.): OK if subject of the study o Max. $250 for various stationary/printing costs/article Max. $250 for various stationary/printing costs/article

reprintsreprints

2. Budget – Other Expenses2. Budget – Other Expenses

o Dissemination costs – Dissemination costs – nonenoneo No publication costs/conference costsNo publication costs/conference costso No patent costsNo patent costs

o Travel – work-related onlyTravel – work-related onlyo No conferencesNo conferenceso No foreign travel No foreign travel

X

X

2. Budget – Company Budget Table2. Budget – Company Budget Table

o Shows actual contribution to direct costShows actual contribution to direct costo Max. hourly rate $80/hr for scientific/technical Max. hourly rate $80/hr for scientific/technical

contributioncontributiono Confusion between direct/in-direct costsConfusion between direct/in-direct costso Important to understand for future RPP applications Important to understand for future RPP applications

(e.g. CRD) with leveraged in-kind (e.g. CRD) with leveraged in-kind

2. Budget Evaluation Checklist2. Budget Evaluation Checklist

o Is the budget reasonable and was each item Is the budget reasonable and was each item justified? justified? Y/NY/N

3. Project – Actual Collaboration3. Project – Actual Collaboration

o Clear identification of company specific problem – Clear identification of company specific problem – proposal; company letter; benefits expectedproposal; company letter; benefits expected

o Rationale for the proposed research & deliverablesRationale for the proposed research & deliverableso Work plan (milestones, Gantt Chart)Work plan (milestones, Gantt Chart)o Resources needed: HQP; material; equipment; etc.Resources needed: HQP; material; equipment; etc.

3. Project – HQP: Student participation3. Project – HQP: Student participationHQP training is not required (unlike other NSERC grants)HQP training is not required (unlike other NSERC grants)

o Deliberate/practical choiceDeliberate/practical choiceo Part of thesis/connected to side projectPart of thesis/connected to side projecto Good opportunity for HQP to interact with industryGood opportunity for HQP to interact with industryo Partner in agreement/do no object to thesis/publicationsPartner in agreement/do no object to thesis/publications

Look out for: Look out for: o TimelinesTimelineso Issues in graduating/thesis defense/publicationsIssues in graduating/thesis defense/publicationso Student hired by partnerStudent hired by partner

3. Project – Technology Transfer3. Project – Technology Transfer

Extent of company participation in the projectExtent of company participation in the projecto Regular meetingsRegular meetingso Participation of technical/scientific staffParticipation of technical/scientific staffo Actual work being done by company: tests; Actual work being done by company: tests;

analysis; machining; productions runs, etc.analysis; machining; productions runs, etc.o IP generated during project – company ownedIP generated during project – company owned

o If IP is an issue =>use other program (e.g. CRD)If IP is an issue =>use other program (e.g. CRD)

3. Project Evaluation Checklist3. Project Evaluation Checklisto Company-specific problem clearly identified? Company-specific problem clearly identified? Y/NY/No Clear plan to address the problem? Clear plan to address the problem? Y/NY/No Within the reach of NSE? Within the reach of NSE? Y/NY/No Innovative (vs. application of known technology to gather Innovative (vs. application of known technology to gather

data without understanding the underlying scientific data without understanding the underlying scientific problem)? problem)? Y/NY/N

o Does the proposal identify how the results will be Does the proposal identify how the results will be transferred to the company? transferred to the company? Y/NY/N

o Will the company see economic or other benefits within a Will the company see economic or other benefits within a reasonable timeframe? reasonable timeframe? Y/NY/N

o Are there other benefits to Canada? Are there other benefits to Canada? Y/NY/N

4. Company Letter4. Company Lettero Does the company’s description of project and their Does the company’s description of project and their

involvement correspond to what P.I. said?involvement correspond to what P.I. said?Company support: key aspects to consider:Company support: key aspects to consider:o Benefits expectedBenefits expectedo Company cashCompany casho In-kind: a measure of the collaborationIn-kind: a measure of the collaboration

o Who is involved and does what?Who is involved and does what?o What is supplied?What is supplied?o How do they interact; how frequently?How do they interact; how frequently?

4. Company Evaluation Checklist4. Company Evaluation Checklisto Letter states a company-specific problem to solve? Letter states a company-specific problem to solve? Y/NY/No Letter states why particular academic research expertise Letter states why particular academic research expertise

is required? is required? Y/NY/No Letter details cash/in-kind contribution (salaries, Letter details cash/in-kind contribution (salaries,

equipment, etc.)? equipment, etc.)? Y/NY/No In-kind contribution amount matches in proposal In-kind contribution amount matches in proposal

budget, letter and Form 183A? budget, letter and Form 183A? Y/NY/No Form 183A is complete? Form 183A is complete? Y/NY/N

Submission to NSERCSubmission to NSERCo P.I. submits application online to RGO P.I. submits application online to RGO o RGO approves application once all internal RGO approves application once all internal

documentation is receiveddocumentation is receivedo RGO submits application online to NSERCRGO submits application online to NSERCo NSERC Ottawa distributes applications to RO’sNSERC Ottawa distributes applications to RO’so First Reader is local RIDO; Second Reader is First Reader is local RIDO; Second Reader is

Manager in different Regional OfficeManager in different Regional Officeo Decision is made by RO Evaluation Committee (4-Decision is made by RO Evaluation Committee (4-

6 weeks turnaround)6 weeks turnaround)

Interaction GrantInteraction Grant

o Provides an opportunity for a Canadian-based Provides an opportunity for a Canadian-based company and academic researcher to meet and…company and academic researcher to meet and…

o Identify a company-specific problem that could be Identify a company-specific problem that could be solved through a subsequent partnershipsolved through a subsequent partnership

o Value – up to $5000 for travel and accommodationValue – up to $5000 for travel and accommodationo Duration – 3 months to use the awardDuration – 3 months to use the award

Contact InformationContact Information

Alexandra (Sandy) ReidAlexandra (Sandy) ReidResearch & Innovation Development OfficerResearch & Innovation Development Officer

NSERC Ontario Regional Office - MississaugaNSERC Ontario Regional Office - MississaugaTelephone:Telephone: 905-403-0161 905-403-0161

Email:Email: alexandra.reid@nserc-crsng.gc.ca alexandra.reid@nserc-crsng.gc.ca Website: Website: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Regional-http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Regional-

Regionaux/OntarioContacts_ContactsOntario_eng.aspRegionaux/OntarioContacts_ContactsOntario_eng.asp

Important Web links for EngageImportant Web links for EngageFOR PROFESSORS:FOR PROFESSORS:

Engage Grants Program Guide:Engage Grants Program Guide: (found under Partnerships Programs) (found under Partnerships Programs)http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/RPP-PP/Engage-Engagement_eng.asp http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/RPP-PP/Engage-Engagement_eng.asp Form 101 Instructions:Form 101 Instructions: Application for a Grant (Engage Grants Program) Application for a Grant (Engage Grants Program)http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/instructions/101/e.asp?prog=engage http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/instructions/101/e.asp?prog=engage Form 100 Instructions:Form 100 Instructions: Personal Data Form Personal Data Formhttp://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/instructions/100/e.asp http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/instructions/100/e.asp NSERC Research Code Tables:NSERC Research Code Tables:http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Help-Aide/Codes-ListeDeCodes_Eng.asp http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Help-Aide/Codes-ListeDeCodes_Eng.asp List of Eligible Institutions:List of Eligible Institutions:http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Eligibility-Admissibilite/ListEligibleInstitutions-http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Eligibility-Admissibilite/ListEligibleInstitutions-

ListEtablissementsAdmissible_eng.asp ListEtablissementsAdmissible_eng.asp Use of Grant Funds:Use of Grant Funds:http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/FinancialAdminGuide-GuideAdminFinancier/http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/FinancialAdminGuide-GuideAdminFinancier/

FundsUse-UtilisationSubventions_eng.asp FundsUse-UtilisationSubventions_eng.asp Policy on Intellectual PropertyPolicy on Intellectual Propertyhttp://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Policies-Politiques/ip-pi_eng.asp http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Policies-Politiques/ip-pi_eng.asp

Important Web links for EngageImportant Web links for Engage

FOR INDUSTRY:FOR INDUSTRY: Find a Canadian ExpertFind a Canadian Experthttp://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Media-Media/Expert-Expert_eng.asp http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Media-Media/Expert-Expert_eng.asp Guidelines for Organizations Participating in Research Partnerships ProgramsGuidelines for Organizations Participating in Research Partnerships Programshttp://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Policies-Politiques/orgpartners-orgpartenaires_eng.asp http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Policies-Politiques/orgpartners-orgpartenaires_eng.asp Form 183A Instructions:Form 183A Instructions: Information Required from Supporting Organizations Information Required from Supporting Organizationshttp://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/instructions/183A/e.asp http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/instructions/183A/e.asp