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 OCI — ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program?

OCI — ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program is funded by Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)

What are OCI — ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program's eligibility criterias?

The applicant company must be an Ontario-based for-profit company with more than 50% of employees based in Ontario. The applicant company must be SME scale, with less than 500 employees in Ontario. Applicants must partner with an ENCQOR 5G Anchor Firm (Ciena, Ericsson, Thales).

OCI — ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program

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ON, Canada

ENCQOR 5G SME Program for Ontario technology development

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Partnering and Collaboration

Grant and Funding

Wage Subsidies And Interns

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Information and cultural industries

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Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)

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The ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program provides funding to Ontario-based SMEs to partner with ENCQOR 5G Anchor Firms, focusing on the development, integration, testing, or validation of pre-commercial 5G technologies within TRL levels 1-7. Eligible activities must align with Challenge Statements posted on a rolling basis, with the goal of generating economic, environmental, or social benefits for Ontario, though the specific maximum funding amount is not explicitly mentioned in the context provided.

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The ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program focuses on developing, integrating, testing, or validating pre-commercial 5G technologies. The projects must respond to specific Challenge Statements and aim to enhance the technological capabilities of Ontario-based SMEs.

Development of innovative 5G technologies responding to posted Challenge Statements.
Integration of new technologies within the Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) testbed.
Testing and validation of 5G technologies in line with targeted technology readiness levels (TRL 1-7).

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$ 200,000

Testing a 5G-powered augmented reality shopping experience application

$ 300,000

Development of a 5G-enabled remote health monitoring system

$ 350,000

Validation of a 5G-based drone delivery system for medical supplies

$ 300,000

Integration of 5G technology in autonomous farming equipment for better yield

$ 250,000

Integration of 5G technology in smart city infrastructure for traffic management

$ 250,000

Development of a 5G-compatible sensor network for environmental monitoring

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Eligibility for the ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program is determined by specific criteria related to the applicant company's profile.

The applicant company must be an Ontario-based for-profit company with more than 50% of employees based in Ontario.
The applicant company must be of SME scale, with less than 500 employees in Ontario.
Additional eligibility criteria may be applied as specified by the Challenge Statement.

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The applicant company must be an Ontario-based for-profit company, with more than 50% of its employees based in Ontario and must be of SME scale, meaning it has less than 500 employees in Ontario. Additionally, applicants must partner with an ENCQOR 5G Anchor Firm (Ciena, Ericsson, Thales) to undertake projects that are in response to the posted Challenge Statement and fall within TRL level 1-7. The project should also demonstrate commercial potential for the applicant and provide economic benefit to Ontario.

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Yes, certain types of companies are not eligible for the ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program:

Non-profit organizations
Companies not based in Ontario
Companies with more than 500 employees
Companies not meeting additional eligibility criteria specified by Challenge Statements

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The ENCQOR 5G Technology Development Program invites Ontario SMEs to collaborate with anchor firms on advancing 5G technologies. Eligible projects aim to innovate and integrate pre-commercial 5G technology solutions to benefit Ontario economically and socially.

Projects developed in response to specific Challenge Statements from ENCQOR 5G anchor firms.
Development, integration, testing, or validation of 5G pre-commercial technologies within TRL levels 1-7.
Proposals must demonstrate potential commercial impact and economic benefits for Ontario.

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This grant is available for small- and medium-sized enterprises situated specifically in Ontario, Canada. Eligibility is based on the company's location to align with provincial innovation strategies.

Ontario-based companies.

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The ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program has specific evaluation and selection criteria, including an initial EOI process and a full application review, to ensure alignment with program objectives and the potential for economic benefits to Ontario.

Addresses ENCQOR 5G anchor firms’ Challenge Statements and needs
Demonstrates applicability and benefit to the specified 5G technology leading to novel, newly-adapted or adopted processes, products, or services
Demonstrates innovation in the context of current technical and commercial developments
Demonstrates appropriate skills, resources, and methodology to complete the project
Demonstrates an opportunity for close collaboration between the Applicant company and the ENCQOR 5G Anchor Firm
Demonstrates opportunity for HQP training, including graduate students
Is highly likely to be commercialized/implemented and generate economic benefit for Ontario
Anticipates tangible deliverables in the form of new technologies, new processes, significant skills transfer, job creation, or other benefits to society
Clarity of the significance of the opportunity and expected economic benefit to the Applicant Company, the ENCQOR 5G Anchor Firm Partner and Ontario
Ability of the innovation to address the ENCQOR 5G Anchor Firm partner challenge
Expertise and experience of the team members, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and evidence of collaboration
Clarity, feasibility, and appropriateness of the project plan and budget
Evidence of next steps and clear strategy and capacity to bring the results to market and/or implement at the company
Overall quality and completeness of the application

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If you are ready to start an application for the Technology Development Program, the applicant (from the eligible Ontario-based SME) should click the button below to start the application process. Please note: completion of this form does not constitute an application for funding. An OCI Business Development Manager (BD) will contact you within two business days to discuss the opportunity. If you are already working with an OCI BD, please indicate this in the form.

Once the BD confirms that the opportunity is suitable for the program, you will be sent a link to OCI’s online application system, AccessOCI.

Complete the online Expression of Interest forms on AccessOCI. If you have any questions about the Challenge Statement content or require clarification please reach out directly to Natalia Lobo (NLobo@oc-innovation.ca) and a response will be obtained from the program contacts at the ENCQOR 5G Anchor Firm.

All submitted EOIs will undergo an initial internal review by OCI for eligibility and application completeness. At this stage applications may be returned to the applicant to correct or clarify eligibility criteria.

EOIs will be reviewed by the ENCQOR 5G anchor firm for fit against the Challenge Statement they developed. These reviews are submitted to OCI to finalize the application review. The OCI Internal Review Panel makes the final decision on projects to be invited to submit a full application. This selection process will take approximately two (2) weeks from the Challenge Statement submission deadline.

At the time of notification of invitation to develop a full application, successful applicants will gain access to the full application module in AccessOCI to complete their full application. Applicants will have approximately four (4) weeks to complete their full application for OCI.

Complete the online Full Application forms on AccessOCI.

Request your OCI BD to provide an endorsement of the application. The endorsement must be requested at least one week prior to the Challenge Statement deadline. Once the BD endorsement is provided, a submission button will become visible and the applicant or BD will then be able to submit the application.

All submitted applications will undergo an initial internal review by OCI for eligibility, application completeness and eligible expenses. A list of any deficiencies will be sent to the applicant for revision.

Once the application is deemed complete, it will proceed for assessment of the full application.

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Additional miscellaneous information about the grant includes details on project metrics, reporting requirements, and contact information for support.

Project funds are disbursed based on interim progress and claims reports submitted at specified intervals (3, 6, 12, and 18 months).
Eligible expenses generally include salaries, benefits of staff and contractors, and operating costs to achieve milestones (capital costs are not eligible).
Final reports must be submitted within 30 days of project completion to release the holdback and maintain good financial standing with OCI.
Annual metrics surveys are required if the project extends past fiscal year-end (March 31).
Retrospective surveys are sent at one, two, and three years after project completion to assess commercial outcomes.
Material project changes, including partners, scope of work, or eligible expenses, should be communicated to the Program Manager.
For variances to the budget of $5,000 or greater, or if an extension to the project end date is needed, a Project Change Request form must be completed prior to the project end date.
Contact Natalia Lobo, Program Manager, at NLobo@oc-innovation.ca for questions about the program.