How much funding can be received?

CanExport Innovation is designed to promote and enhance Canada's international innovation efforts. The program offers grants to Canadian organizations to assist them in establishing and formalizing new collaborative research and development (R&D) partnerships with foreign partners. The R&D partnerships being pursued must be for the purpose of joint development, adaptation and/or validation of a Canadian technology owned by the applicant organization. The technology must be ready for commercialization within 5 years. CanExport Innovation provides funding for activities up until the point at which partnerships are formalized. A partnership is considered formalized following the signing of all agreements necessary to secure the partnership and/or to begin the R&D work. All activities subsequent to the formalization of the R&D partnership, including the R&D work itself, are ineligible for CanExport Innovation funding. CanExport Innovation is a sub-program of CanExport. Other sub-programs include CanExport SMEs, CanExport Associations and CanExport Community Investments. The program is delivered by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), Global Affairs Canada, in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

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They support the following non-travel activities:

Applying for intellectual property protection in international markets
Applying for certification in international markets
Seeking expert legal and business advice
Shipping technology to determine feasibility/compatibility with a partner's technology
Translating, adapting and creating promotional plans or materials
Attending virtual networking functions, meetings or conferences

They also support travel-related activities:

Travel abroad or in Canada to meet with pre-identified foreign partners
Attending an event or conference to meet with pre-identified foreign partners

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$50,000

Windsor

Establishing R&D partnership to validate eco-friendly material for auto parts.

$40,000

Vancouver

Creating a collaborative R&D partnership for biodegradable packaging.

$45,000

Toronto

Developing a collaborative R&D partnership in AI for healthcare diagnostics.

$60,000

Calgary

Forming an international R&D partnership for solar panel technology.

$70,000

Montreal

Creating an R&D partnership to develop advanced battery technology.

$48,000

Saskatoon

Establishing a joint R&D partnership to develop smart agriculture solutions.

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Be registered in Canada
Have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number
Own, co-own, or have decision-making authority over the intellectual property (IP) rights for the technology
Have a prototype (Technology Readiness Level 4 or higher)
Intend to commercially launch the technology within 5 years

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Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises
Canadian academic institutions
Canadian non-government research centres

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accelerators and incubators
charities
third-party representatives including agents, promoters, consultants, trading houses and export brokers
government departments, agencies, crown corporations and other organizations at the federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal level

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the project activity and the related expense must take place within the project start and completion dates specified in your funding agreement; and
the project activity must fall within an approved category listed in your funding agreement and must be directly linked to one or more approved target markets.

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sufficient justification and details are presented for project activities and each cost aligns to the pursuit of foreign R&D partnerships;
the organization's R&D project aligns with their international business development strategy;
their application is carefully crafted with regard to guidance provided in this applicant guide.

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Follow these steps to apply for CanExport Innovation:

Familiarize yourself with the program details by reading our Applicant’s Guide.
Create an account on our online portal. Note: Not compatible with Internet Explorer.
Once you are signed in, enter your information under My Profile and select Update.
On the CanExport Innovation landing page, select Apply Now!
Complete the Application Basic Eligibility section. The purpose of this section is to determine whether your company meets the basic eligibility criteria of the CanExport Innovation program. Once completed, you will receive a confirmation of your Basic Eligibility by email within 7 business days. If you have any questions regarding the eligibility criteria, please consult Section 4.1 of the Applicant’s Guide.
If your company is deemed eligible, you will then be able to complete and submit the rest of your application.
Submit a completed application at least 60 business days before the start date of the first proposed activity. Please consult Section 9.3 of the Applicant’s Guide for more details on processing timelines.
If you are having technical problems or need help resetting your password, contact NRC.CanExport-Help-Aide-CanExport.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

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Here are some miscellaneous details about the CanExport Innovation grant.

Applications for 2024 open on February 29, 2024, at 9am EST.
Projects must start on or after April 1, 2024.
Applicants are urged to review the 2024-25 Applicant's Guide carefully.
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
Funding decisions are made within 60 business days of application submission.
Eligible applicants include Canadian SMEs, academic institutions, and non-government research centres.
Funding covers up to 75% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $75,000 per project.
Ineligible expenses include costs incurred prior to application submission and travel expenses that contravene Canada's official travel advisories.

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canexportinnovation@international.gc.ca

Apply to this program

CanExport Innovation Grant Overview

The CanExport Innovation grant provides funding to Canadian SMEs, academic institutions, and non-government research centers to establish collaborative research and development (R&D) partnerships with international partners. The program supports activities aimed at negotiating and formalizing R&D partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of Canadian technologies within a five-year timeframe.

Comprehensive Guide to the CanExport Innovation Grant

In a globalized economy, the ability to innovate and collaborate internationally is crucial for sustained growth and competitiveness. Given this, the Canadian government has introduced the CanExport Innovation program to facilitate international R&D partnerships for Canadian entities. This detailed guide outlines the inner workings of the grant, focusing on eligibility, project scope, funding mechanisms, and application procedures, among other critical aspects.

Program Overview

The CanExport Innovation grant, a sub-program of the comprehensive CanExport initiative, aims to enrich Canada's international innovation endeavors. It provides grants to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academic institutions, and non-government research centers. The core objective is to assist these organizations in establishing new collaborative research and development (R&D) partnerships with foreign entities.

These partnerships should be centered on the joint development, adaptation, or validation of Canadian technologies ready for commercialization within five years. The funding covers activities leading up to, but not beyond, the formal signing of R&D partnership agreements. Subsequent activities, including the actual R&D work, are not eligible for the grant.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organizations

To qualify for the CanExport Innovation grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be registered in Canada and possess an active Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number.
Own or co-own the intellectual property (IP) rights for the technology proposed or have appropriate decision-making authority over it.
Have a technology prototype that is at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or above as per Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) definitions.
Plan for the commercial launch of the technology within five years.
Be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) with fewer than 500 full-time employees, an accredited Canadian academic institution, or a non-government research center.

Ineligible organizations include accelerators, incubators, charities, third-party representatives, and government departments.

Eligible Foreign Partners

The program supports projects with up to three foreign partners per application. The foreign partners must contribute specific expertise, technology, or financial resources that aid in R&D activities related to the applicant's technology. The partners must be engaged before the formal R&D activities commence, meaning no prior R&D agreements or work should already be in place.

Ineligible partners include Canadian organizations, subsidiaries of the applicant, entities sharing executives or employees with the applicant, service providers, government regulatory agencies, and others listed in the program guidelines.

Funding Mechanism and Allocation

Grants are provided on a cost-sharing basis, covering up to 75% of eligible project costs, not to exceed CAD $75,000 per project. The remaining 25% must be financed by the applicant, with in-kind contributions being unacceptable. The funding mechanism is determined based on a risk assessment of the applicant and the project.

The program offers single-year funding that aligns with the Government of Canada's fiscal year, starting April 1 and ending March 31. Applicants must allocate funds for activities and expenses within this period; fund transfers between fiscal years are not permitted. Once the agreement is signed, eligible expenses can be claimed from the project start date, which defaults to the application submission date if submitted within the fiscal year.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

CanExport Innovation funds are allocated across eight categories to support the negotiation and establishment of R&D agreements:

1. Travel-Related Meetings

Funding covers economy class airfare, accommodation, meals, local transport, and meeting room rentals for up to two essential participants per trip. Meetings must occur at the foreign partner's office or event venue relevant to the applicant's industry.

2. Virtual Meetings

Options include registration for secure video conferencing platforms and translation/interpretation services, focusing on negotiations that drive R&D agreements.

3. Virtual Events

Participants can receive funding for event registrations that involve Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings tailored to attract foreign R&D partners.

4. Shipping

Support for shipping technology for demonstration purposes to facilitate successful partnership formalization. Products should be returned to Canada post-demonstration unless consumed during the process.

5. Certifications

The grant can cover certification application fees and related consultant/legal advice to comply with foreign market regulations pertinent to establishing a partnership.

6. IP Protection

Funding for expert advice, application fees, and services related to foreign intellectual property protection, focusing on assisting in securing the partnership.

7. Promotional Materials

Costs entailed in developing promotional materials to attract foreign partners, excluding general marketing and sales purposes.

8. Other Consultant/Legal Services

Covers due diligence on foreign partners, drafting legal agreements, and strategizing for international R&D collaborations.

Application Process and Assessment Criteria

1. Initial Steps

Applicants should first review the CanExport Innovation guidelines thoroughly and consult with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) for further guidance. An online portal is used to submit applications, starting with the Basic Eligibility section, which takes up to seven business days for confirmation.

2. Submission

Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants can complete and submit the full application. It is recommended to submit the application at least 60 business days prior to the start date of the first activity to allow ample processing time.

3. Evaluation and Decision

The application is assessed based on:

Applicant Capacity: Managerial and financial capabilities, R&D readiness, and contribution to the Canadian economy.
Past Performance: Effectiveness in utilizing previous CanExport funding and timeliness in communication.
Technology Readiness: Technology's readiness level, commercialization timeline, and IP ownership.
Choice of Foreign Partners: Partners' expertise, technical contributions, and interest in R&D collaboration.
Methodology: Logical and detailed plan to pursue and secure R&D partnerships.

Decisions are final and communicated via email. Successful applicants receive their funding agreement within 10-12 business days and must return a signed agreement within 30 business days.

Post-Approval Requirements

Payments: NRC IRAP, managing the agreement, releases payments within 30 business days upon receiving the signed agreement. Grant recipients do not submit claims.

Amendments: Amendments are considered on an extraordinary basis with a robust rationale.

Reporting: Recipients must submit a final report detailing completed activities, project outcomes, successes with partners, encountered challenges, and lessons learned within seven days of project completion.

Conclusion

The CanExport Innovation grant is a pivotal resource for Canadian organizations aiming to forge successful international R&D partnerships. By adhering to the detailed guidelines and ensuring robust applications, eligible entities can significantly enhance their R&D capabilities and expedite the commercialization of their technologies on a global scale.

CanExport Innovation

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