Cyber Security Innovation Network

• Total funding available: up to $80 million over four years (2021-22 to 2024-25).
• The program contribution will not exceed 50% of total eligible costs for recipients, except academic institutions, which may receive up to 100% for their eligible costs.
• Recipients must provide a 1:1 match to the federal contribution, totaling an additional $80 million in cash and/or in-kind contributions over four years.
• Indirect costs (overhead) are subject to specific limits: a maximum of 55% of eligible direct labour costs, and no more than 15% of total eligible costs per recipient.
• Costs incurred outside Canada cannot exceed 10% of total eligible costs submitted.

• The applicant must be a network led by three or more Canadian centres of expertise on cyber security affiliated with post-secondary institutions.
• The applicant must be federally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (incorporation must be prior to signing the contribution agreement, but not necessarily at the time of application).
• The network must represent diversity within Canada's cyber security ecosystem, including pan-Canadian participation (with centres and partners from Western/Northern Canada, Central Canada including Ontario and Quebec, and Atlantic Canada).
• The proposal must include commitments from partners (private sector, post-secondary institutions, not-for-profits, and/or provincial/territorial/municipal governments) to provide matching funds on a 1:1 basis with federal funding.
• The applicant must demonstrate a national vision for cyber security research, development, commercialization, and talent development.

Who is eligible?

• Centres of expertise on cyber security affiliated with Canadian post-secondary institutions
• Private sector companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger enterprises
• Canadian post-secondary institutions (e.g., research centres, universities, colleges, polytechnics)
• Not-for-profit organizations (including industry associations, incubators, accelerators, and skills development organizations)

Who is not eligible

• Individuals (not eligible to apply as lead applicants).
• Municipal, provincial, territorial, and federal governments (not eligible to apply as lead applicants).

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral candidates, researchers, support engineers, and administrative staff directly related to the project.
• Direct research costs, including facility access, equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Stipends for project personnel.
• Costs associated with knowledge mobilization, technology exchange, and exploitation (such as prototype development, market studies, and intellectual property related to research).
• Up to 20% of funds for equipment and infrastructure used in research, development, and student/researcher training.
• Direct labour costs for project delivery.
• Subcontractor and consulting fees associated with project activities.
• Travel and outreach expenses directly related to project implementation.
• Eligible indirect costs (overhead), up to program-defined thresholds.

Eligible geographic areas

• Pan-Canadian: Centres of expertise and partners from Western/Northern Canada, Central Canada (including both Ontario and Quebec), and Atlantic Canada must be included.

• Strength of proposed activities in research and development, commercialization, and skills and talent development.
• Quality and completeness of program requirements: intellectual property strategy, data management strategy, cyber security plan, cost-matching commitments, equity, diversity and inclusion framework, and network sustainability plan.
• Expected benefits to Canada, including innovation, economic, and public benefits, such as ecosystem impact, collaboration, level of innovation, commercialization potential, job creation, and diversification of skilled talent.
• Rigour of due diligence risk assessment, evaluating managerial, technical, security, financial, trade, and market capacities to achieve program objectives.

• Contributions received from foreign entities are not eligible for cash or in-kind matching and must be kept separate from network-funded activities.
• The lead recipient is required to provide communications and services in both official languages, complying with the Official Languages Act.
• The program is subject to the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, which may affect confidentiality and record retention.
• Ongoing oversight, including the submission of annual corporate plans and performance reports, is mandatory throughout the funding period.