Canada–UK 2023-24 critical minerals sustainability and circularity
Canada
Canada-UK critical minerals innovation and sustainability collaboration program
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|closingDateDecember 15, 2023
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
grant_single|grantors
- National Research Council Canada (NRC)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
The Canada–UK 2023-24 Critical Minerals Sustainability and Circularity Call for Proposals aims to support collaborative industrial R&D projects between Canadian and UK organizations focusing on innovative technologies for critical minerals, providing up to $500,000 CAD to eligible Canadian SMEs for projects with high commercialization potential. Eligible activities include novel manufacturing processes, enhancing the circularity of battery systems, and implementing sustainable approaches in critical minerals and their supply chains.
grant_single_labels|projects
The Canada-UK 2023-24 critical minerals sustainability and circularity call for proposals invites projects focused on collaborative R&D for critical minerals technologies. Eligible projects aim to develop innovative solutions that enhance the sustainability and circularity of critical minerals in their supply chains.
- Development of enhanced circularity solutions in battery systems.
- Improvement of recovery and efficiency of critical minerals from battery waste and systems.
- Creation of novel methods for sustainable processing of high-performance permanent magnet systems.
- Development of safer and economic methods for identifying and recycling rare earth materials.
- Innovation in manufacturing processes to promote sustainable use of critical minerals.
- Exploration of novel approaches for reducing reliance on or substituting critical minerals.
- Development of life cycle analysis and sustainability models for critical minerals.
- Improvement in measuring and accounting for environmental impacts of critical minerals.
- Development of systems for traceability and provenance of critical minerals.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and collaborative project formation.
- The Canadian SME applicant must be an incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized business in Canada.
- The SME must have 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
- The business should pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services, or processes in Canada.
- The applicant must have a differentiated and protectable technology with commercial potential in global markets.
- The SME must have sufficient working capital and resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results.
- There must be a commitment to significant growth through international market expansion.
- Preference may be given to SMEs with a minimum of 15 full-time equivalent employees, have commercialized one or more products domestically or internationally, and generate greater than $500,000 CAD in annual revenue.
- The consortium must include at least one incorporated Canadian SME and one incorporated UK business of any size.
- All consortium parties must be unrelated, e.g., no ownership interest between them.
- The project partners must have an agreement addressing intellectual property rights and commercialization intent.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
This grant call is aimed at fostering collaborative industrial research and development projects between Canadian and UK organizations in the domain of critical minerals technologies, focusing on sustainability and circular economy principles.
- Canadian small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven products, services, or processes.
- UK incorporated for-profit businesses of any size involved in industrial research projects with Canadian partners.
- Consortia involving both Canadian SMEs and UK businesses, incorporating collaboration with research institutes, universities, or government laboratories on a self-funded basis.
- Projects must focus on enhancing circularity in critical minerals, featuring innovative methods for the recovery or sustainability of battery and permanent magnet systems.
- Innovative approaches to reduce reliance on critical minerals or substitute them completely, aligning with environmental, societal, and governance models.
- Commitment from Canadian SMEs to substantial growth and international market expansion.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
Eligible expenses for Canadian collaborators participating in the project include direct project costs to support its development and execution.
- Salaries for personnel directly working on the project, excluding academic principal investigator salaries.
- Research support costs, including student stipends, research materials, and minor equipment purchases up to $10,000.
- Travel and accommodation costs related to project activities.
- Professional services fees for contractors providing services directly to the project.
- Indirect costs representing up to 10% of total eligible project costs.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
This grant is available to companies based in specific regions, with eligibility determined by national funding bodies. The collaboration targets regions from both Canada and the United Kingdom.
- Canadian companies, specifically SMEs, incorporated within Canada.
- UK businesses incorporated within the United Kingdom.
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: Registration Phase
- Canadian SME applicants must register using the designated "Register" button on the application page.
- Provide basic information about the applicant and the organization during registration.
- NRC IRAP will review the registrations and reach out if additional information is needed.
- Qualifying applicants will be invited to the Expression of Interest phase.
- Step 2: Expression of Interest Phase
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form with details about the applicant and the collaborative project.
- Contact your NRC IRAP representative for guidance during this phase.
- Submit the EOI as early as possible to ensure timely evaluation.
- EOIs will be assessed by the NRC IRAP representative and the NRC IRAP International Office.
- Successful applicants will be invited to submit an International Consortium Project Proposal (ICPP).
- Step 3: International Consortium Project Proposal Phase
- Collaborate with all project partners to complete and submit an ICPP package.
- The ICPP application package should include:
- Innovate UK IFS project application form.
- NRC IRAP Canadian SME annex form.
- NRC Other Canadian Collaborator annex form (if applicable).
- Draft international consortium agreement detailing roles, IP rights, and management framework.
- Applications will be evaluated by an NRC IRAP evaluation team.
- Step 4: National Funding Body Proposal and Funding Agreement Phase
- Eligible project partners must complete funding proposals and sign funding agreements with their respective national funding bodies.
- Canadian SMEs work with NRC IRAP to prepare an NRC IRAP funding proposal and contribute to the agreement.
- Other Canadian collaborators work with NRC CBMI for necessary grants or contributions.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Preference may be given to SME applicants with a minimum of 15 full-time equivalent employees, a history of commercializing products, and an annual revenue greater than $500,000 CAD.
- Canadian SMEs can apply to multiple NRC IRAP calls for proposals simultaneously, but the number of funded projects per applicant may be limited.
- Overhead costs for eligible Canadian research institutions may represent up to 10% of total eligible project costs.
- For projects including NRC researchers, separate, complementary funding agreements may be established for certain collaborators.
- An NRC researcher collaboration may allow eligibility for funding under the Critical Battery Materials Initiative.
- Both self-funded and sub-contracted participation is allowed for non-eligible project participants.
- The National Program Office manages funding agreements for Canadian collaborators and NRC researchers.
grant_single_labels|contact
Tamara.Kononoff@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
1-877-994-4727
Apply to this program
Seizing the Canada-UK 2023-24 Critical Minerals Opportunity
This collaborative grant initiative, between the Canadian and UK governments, is aimed at fostering industrial R&D projects centered on critical minerals technology. The aim is to nurture innovative solutions enhancing sustainability and circularity in the critical minerals supply chain.
Deep Dive into the Canada–UK Critical Minerals Sustainability and Circularity Grant
The Canada–UK 2023-24 call for proposals represents a strategic collaboration between two nations, focusing on boosting innovations within the critical minerals sector. This initiative seeks to spur the development of technologies that enhance the sustainability and circularity of critical mineral supply chains, focusing on upstream processes rather than final product performance. Its main objectives are to increase efficiency in mineral recovery processes, explore sustainable alternatives, and foster significant environmental, societal, and governance innovations related to critical minerals.
This initiative is geared toward Canadian SMEs that exhibit a strong drive for growth and international market expansion. SMEs are expected to contribute and leverage innovative technology that can compete on a global scale and capitalize on the enhanced circularity of critical minerals in applications such as battery and high-performance permanent magnet systems. With the prospect of being reimbursed up to 50% of eligible project costs, Canadian SMEs can earn financial support amounting to as much as $500,000 CAD over a 12 to 24-month project window, offering substantial fiscal relief to assist in the innovation and development phases.
The grant emphasizes forming diverse consortia between Canadian and UK enterprises. By requiring the inclusion of both a Canadian SME and a UK business, the grant seeks to encourage international cooperation, enabling the transfer of technology and expertise between the two countries. The structure allows additional Canadian collaborators, such as universities and research institutions, to partake largely on a self-funded basis, although they can access specific funds if aligned with NRC initiatives.
Projects supported by this grant must show potential for commercialization within two to three years post-completion and need to demonstrate civilian applicability. The shared resources and knowledge between Canadian and UK partners can enhance methodological robustness and promote innovations in critical minerals processing methods. Particular attention is directed towards enhanced mineral circularity, processing innovation, and the reduction or substitution of critical mineral usage, which aligns with global environmental sustainability goals.
Through this initiative, the NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program administers the funding in Canada, maintaining a rigorous partnership with benefiting SMEs. The joint effort is also aligned with NRC's Critical Battery Materials Initiative, adding focus on accelerating battery minerals processing and optimizing system sustainability through new innovations.
Thus, this grant stands as a formidable opportunity for enterprises in Canada and the UK to harness innovative technologies in the critical minerals sector. Currently, eligible applicants must engage in meticulous application processing through phases that ensure the robustness of proposals and verify the feasibility and innovation potential of the proposed projects. This grant not only provides fiscal incentives but also strengthens the cross-national industrial development under an umbrella of shared goals for circular economy and technological innovation.
