Canada–UK 2023-24 critical minerals sustainability and circularity

• Innovate UK IFS project application form
• Canadian SME annex form
• Other Canadian collaborator annex form, if applicable
• Draft international consortium agreement
• Project financial cost breakdown template for Canadian partners

Who is eligible?

• Canadian incorporated SMEs
• UK registered businesses of any size
• Canadian universities, research institutes, laboratories, and RTOs as collaborators
• NRC researchers, where applicable

Who is not eligible

• Academic institutions and RTOs as UK project leads
• Participants from other countries as funded partners
• Russian or Belarusian entities for procurement or subcontracting
• Large Canadian enterprises as funded Canadian SME applicants

Eligible expenses

• For Canadian research institutions: salaries, research support, travel and accommodation, and professional services
• For Canadian research institutions: minor equipment purchases up to $10,000
• For UK organisations: eligible project costs under Innovate UK rules

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Projects focused on end-use performance rather than minerals circularity
• Projects on minerals not listed in the UK or Canadian critical minerals strategies
• Procurement, commercial, business development, or supply chain activity with Russian or Belarusian entities
• Applications that do not complete the required Canadian EOI process, where applicable

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada
• United Kingdom

• Commercial potential of the project
• Complementary contribution from each partner
• Added value from the Canada-UK collaboration
• Balanced effort between partners and countries
• Alignment with critical minerals circularity and sustainability themes

• Step 1: Register
  • Canadian SME applicants register through the call page.
  • NRC IRAP reviews the registration and may request more information.
• Step 2: Submit expression of interest
  • Canadian SME applicants complete and submit the EOI form.
  • Applicants may contact their NRC IRAP representative for guidance.
  • Qualified applicants are invited to the next stage.
• Step 3: Prepare the international consortium proposal
  • All partners complete the joint proposal package through the Innovate UK IFS portal.
  • The UK lead applicant registers and invites the Canadian partner.
  • The consortium submits the required annexes and draft agreement.
• Step 4: Complete national funding agreements
  • Selected partners work with their respective funding bodies.
  • Canadian SMEs prepare the NRC IRAP funding proposal and contribution agreement.
  • Other Canadian collaborators work with NRC CBMI, if applicable.

• Applications are reviewed independently by the Canadian and UK funding bodies.
• Canadian registrations are reviewed first, and qualifying applicants are invited to submit an expression of interest.
• Selected applicants are then assessed through the international consortium proposal stage.
• Successful partners proceed to separate national funding body agreements.
• If approved, applicants must complete project setup before funding starts.

• Applications are processed independently by the Canadian and UK funding bodies.
• Applicants may be asked for more information during registration review.
• Successful Canadian participants move to a national funding body proposal and funding agreement stage.
• The competition is archived and closed.