How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $150000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Collaborate 2 Commercialize?

Collaborate 2 Commercialize is funded by Government of Ontario, Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)

What are Collaborate 2 Commercialize's eligibility criterias?

For-profit, incorporated in Ontario for at least two years Minimum of five full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in Ontario Valid Ontario-based CRA business number

Collaborate 2 Commercialize

Last Update: July 28, 2025

ON, Canada

Money for collaboration between public Academia and Industry

Collaborate 2 Commercialize at a glance

Eligible Funding

From $20,000 to $150,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : January 20, 2023

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Wage Subsidies And Interns

Eligible Industries

Manufacturing
Professional, scientific and technical services

Grant Providers

Government of Ontario
Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)

Program status

Open

Overview of the Collaborate 2 Commercialize program

Receive between $20,000 and $150,000 to cover up to 50% of the eligible project costs to collaborate with Academia to solve an industry‐based problem and drive the commercialization of Intellectual Property (IP).

Financing terms and conditions

OCI funds up to 50% of total eligible project costs, ranging from $20,000 to $150,000 per project.
Minimum OCI contribution is $20,000 per year.
Industry partner must match at least 50% of total project costs in cash, with at least half of this spent at the post-secondary institution.
OCI provides an advance of 25% of the award amount (including overhead) upon project activation; 10% is held back until project completion and approval of final reports.
Maximum project duration is 24 months.

Eligible projects & activities

Collaborative research and development projects addressing industry-based challenges.
Commercialization of intellectual property resulting from academic-industry partnerships.
Development of commercially viable solutions by leveraging specialized academic expertise and infrastructure.
Projects aimed at bringing new technologies or innovative processes to market within three years after project completion.
Initiatives that directly engage students in experiential learning roles within industry-academic collaborations.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 45,000

Collaboration with the University of British Columbia for the development of a biodegradable packaging prototype

$ 60,000

Collaborating with a university to develop a new marine biofuel prototype

$ 75,000

Partnership with McGill University for the commercialization of a new biomedical device

$ 75,000

Development of a new agricultural drone in collaboration with the University of Guelph

$ 60,000

Partnering with the University of Waterloo to develop advanced cybersecurity tools

Eligibility criteria of the Collaborate 2 Commercialize program

The applicant must be a for-profit company incorporated in Ontario for at least two years and possess a valid Ontario-based CRA business number.
The company must qualify as a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a minimum of five full-time equivalent employees based in Ontario.
The company must be using or developing technology innovation or innovative processes to enhance competitiveness in provincial, national, and/or global markets.
Operations related to the project (production and/or R&D) must be located in Ontario.
The company must have the intent and potential to commercialize the project results for the economic benefit of Ontario.

Who is eligible?

For-profit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) incorporated in Ontario
Companies using or developing technology innovation or innovative processes
Industries with Ontario-based research and/or manufacturing operations related to the project

Who is not eligible

Companies that are not for-profit or not incorporated in Ontario for at least two years.
Businesses that do not have a valid Ontario-based CRA business number.
Companies with fewer than five full-time employees in Ontario.
Industry partners not engaged in technology innovation or not intending to commercialize project results for Ontario's economic benefit.
Organizations not in good financial and reporting standing with OCI.

Eligible expenses

Salaries and benefits for project personnel at the post-secondary institution.
Purchase of equipment, materials, and operating costs necessary for conducting the project (up to 20% of NSERC budget for joint NSERC-ARD projects).
Project management expenses (up to 10% of NSERC budget for NSERC-ARD projects).
Faculty release costs at colleges (up to $9,000 per course/semester for NSERC-ARD projects).
Travel expenses for college personnel to conduct project activities (excluding international conference presentations).
Overhead and administration costs, where applicable (up to 20% of NSERC budget for NSERC-ARD projects).

Eligible geographic areas

Ontario

Eligibility criteria of the Collaborate 2 Commercialize program

Significance of the challenge or opportunity in supporting the company’s business strategy and growth.
Rationale for the proposed project in addressing the company-specific problem or opportunity.
Clarity and appropriateness of the research and development methodology, objectives, and roles of each partner.
Feasibility of the project plan, including milestones, budget, timeframe, project management plan, and risk assessment.
Likelihood of economic benefit for the company in Ontario within three years of project completion, such as job creation, revenue generation, or investment attraction.

How to apply to the Collaborate 2 Commercialize program

Initial Connection

The Industry Partner connects with their OCI Business Development Manager (BDM).
If new to OCI, complete the Program Enquiry Form to get connected with a BDM.

Eligibility Assessment

OCI conducts an initial vetting and due diligence assessment to ensure eligibility.
Determine if the opportunity is suitable for the C2C program.

Application Access

If eligible, receive an autogenerated link to the AccessOCI online application system.
The application remains open for 90 days for completion.

Complete Application

Complete the online application form jointly in AccessOCI.
Both Industry and Research Partners log in to AccessOCI and create accounts if needed.
Include only eligible expenses in the budget.
Submit the application to the post-secondary institution’s Research Office for endorsement.

Research Office Endorsement

The Research Office endorses the application in AccessOCI.
Notify OCI Business Development Manager (BDM) that application is ready for final review.

External Review

Application proceeds to an external peer review by subject-matter experts.
Assessment is done by OCI’s Internal Review Panel for final decision.
Receive decision notification typically within 35 days of application submission.

Additional information

Institutional overhead is not an eligible project expense and should not be included in the project budget.
Overhead on the OCI contribution will be remitted separately by OCI to the institution at a fixed percentage.
Project activation occurs upon the signing of the funding agreement, with funds only released after activation.
At one, two, and three years after project completion, a retrospective survey must be completed to report on commercial outcomes.