How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub?

NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub is funded by National Research Council Canada (NRC), Government of Canada

What are NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be a manufacturer, integrator, or equipment maker involved in automotive or advanced manufacturing sectors.

NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Automotive manufacturing innovation space in London

NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub at a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Open Date : November 14, 2019

Financing Type

Researchers And Facilities

Expert Advice

Eligible Industries

Manufacturing
Transportation and warehousing
Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services

Grant Providers

National Research Council Canada (NRC)
Government of Canada

Status

Open

Overview of the NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub program

Fee-for-service research facility helping Canadian automotive manufacturers adopt advanced manufacturing approaches, including mass customization, process industrialization, and data-driven factory automation.

Eligible projects & activities

This grant supports collaborative projects and cutting-edge research initiatives within the manufacturing and automotive sectors. Eligible projects focus on leveraging advanced technologies and creating innovative solutions for industry challenges.

Collaboration projects integrating products and technologies in digital factories or vehicle platforms.
Development of high-level R&D integration and industrialization technology demonstrators.
Setting up R&D consortiums for industry advancement.
Trialling or piloting new systems and demonstrating new technologies with experienced staff.
Adoption and development of Industry 4.0 technologies for efficient production processes.
Research and testing related to connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.
Development of additive manufacturing and surface functionalization technologies.
Projects involving advanced manufacturing processes like laser micromachining and optical fabrication.
Implementation of mechatronics, control systems, and data analytics solutions in manufacturing.
Innovative applications in AI, machine vision, and robotics within manufacturing and automotive labs.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 400,000

Integration of advanced robotics in tool and die manufacturing

$ 600,000

Development of AI perception systems for autonomous driving

$ 600,000

Enhancing AI perception for autonomous driving

$ 520,000

Implementation of Industry 40 IoT solutions for manufacturing

$ 560,000

Implementing machine learning for process optimization

$ 720,000

Research and testing of autonomous driving hardware

Eligibility criteria of the NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub program

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must meet certain criteria related to their industry involvement and collaboration capabilities.

The applicant must be a manufacturer, integrator, or equipment maker in the automotive or manufacturing sectors.
The applicant should demonstrate the capability and interest in developing advanced manufacturing processes or automotive technologies such as connected vehicles, electrification, or lightweighting.
The applicant must engage in research and development activities, ideally collaborating with NRC specialists and Canada's research ecosystem.
The company's activities should align with the Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing methodologies promoted by the NRC Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub.

Who is eligible?

Companies and industries that are part of the automotive and manufacturing supply chain, encompassing manufacturers, integrators, and equipment makers. The hub is open to those who wish to collaborate with NRC specialists to advance manufacturing processes, integrate technologies related to vehicles, and use Industry 4.0 technologies efficiently.

Eligible expenses

The NRC Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub offers various collaborative projects and activities aimed at advancing automotive and manufacturing technologies. Eligible projects focus on innovative R&D, technology integration, and the development and demonstration of new manufacturing processes and vehicle technologies.

Collaboration projects integrating products and technologies from multiple partners into a digital factory or vehicle platform.
R&D projects developing technology demonstrators in a neutral collaborative space.
High-level integration and industrialization projects within R&D consortia.
Development and demonstration of new technologies through trial or pilot systems.
Implementation of lean manufacturing processes with expert guidance.
Projects utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies to enhance manufacturing efficiency.
Research activities focusing on connected/autonomous vehicles, including testing and validation of ICT and AI perception systems.
Advanced manufacturing and surface modification projects utilizing laser and other deposition technologies.
Digital twinning and big data modeling projects to optimize manufacturing and vehicle processes.

Eligible geographic areas

The geographical eligibility for companies applying to collaborate with the NRC Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub is not explicitly restricted to specific areas. However, the hub is located in London, Ontario, which places emphasis on its proximity to the Canadian market and manufacturing facilities.

Eligibility criteria of the NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub program

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The evaluation and selection criteria are as follows:

Alignment with grant objectives and priorities
Demonstrated need for the grant funding
Feasibility and clarity of project plan
Potential impact and benefit to the automotive and manufacturing industry
Ability to leverage the resources and expertise of the NRC Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub
Capacity to implement and scale proposed innovations
Evidence of collaboration and engagement with industry partners

How to apply to the NRC — Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub program

Contact for Initial Inquiry

Contact David Fraser, Business Advisor, at 613-991-9972 or by email at David.Fraser@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca for business-related inquiries.
Contact Stephen Sweeney, Acting Director of R&D, at 519-430-7095 or by email at Stephen.Sweeney@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca for technical inquiries to discuss potential collaboration opportunities.

Determine Project Scope and Requirements

Work with NRC specialists to outline your project goals, requirements, and potential outcomes.
Identify the specific labs, technologies, and services needed for your project.

Develop a Collaborative Proposal

Create a proposal that includes project objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and a timeline.
Detail how the collaboration with NRC can enhance your project.

Review and Finalize Proposal

Work with NRC business and technical advisors to finalize the proposal details.
Ensure all necessary documentation is complete and accurate.

Submit the Proposal

Submit the finalized proposal to the appropriate NRC contact person, either David Fraser or Stephen Sweeney, as per the project focus.
Confirm receipt of the proposal and any next steps.

Await Feedback and Engage in Further Discussions

Wait for feedback from NRC regarding the proposal's acceptance.
Participate in further discussions to clarify and refine project details as needed.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for the NRC Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub:

The facility is strategically located in London, Ontario, providing proximity to Canadian market, automaker and supplier manufacturing facilities and R&D centres.
The facility offers access to unique capabilities in Canada, particularly in laser technologies and Industry 4.0.
It allows for rapidly solving industry problems with novel technology solutions in a flexible and agile collaborative space.
Access to highly credentialed staff with industry experience is available to assist in R&D and technology demonstration projects.
The facility promotes the development of new capabilities to harness Industry 4.0 technologies for more efficient manufacturing.
Confidential workspaces are available to protect sensitive information during collaborative projects.
It facilitates collaboration among multiple teams, including academic, government, and industry partners.