Protein Industries Canada — Capacity Building
Canada
Bolster Canada's plant protein sector through strategic investments and transformative projects that drive innovation, collaboration, and sustainable economic growth.
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
grant_single|grantors
- Protein Industries Canada
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The Capacity Building program by Protein Industries Canada aims to advance Canada’s plant protein sector by supporting collaborative projects that address gaps in market insight, innovation infrastructure, talent acquisition, regulatory frameworks, inclusiveness, access to capital, and sustainability. Eligible activities must align with the program’s strategic priorities and involve diverse and inclusive teams, fostering sector-wide transformation and growth.
grant_single_labels|projects
Yes, there are several projects or activities eligible for this grant.
- Market and Ecosystem Insights: Identifying marketing opportunities, adapting to customer needs, and fostering innovation.
- Innovation Infrastructure: Increasing access to research and product-scaling infrastructure.
- Access to Talent, Labour and Skills: Addressing the sector's need for an additional 17,000 people.
- Supportive Regulatory Framework: Modernizing Canada’s regulatory system for plant-based food innovation.
- Inclusive Sector: Including Indigenous People and new Canadians in the plant-based sector's growth.
- Access to Capital: Investing an additional $4 to 6 billion to help Canadian companies scale up their processing and manufacturing operations.
- Sustainability: Advancing sustainability claims and metrics throughout the value chain.
- Global Presence: Positioning Canada as the preferred place for international partnership and investment.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$160,000
Guelph
Developing sustainability metrics for plant-based agricultural practices
$400,000
Vancouver
Establishing a plant protein research lab at the University of British Columbia
$125,000
Winnipeg
Creating an inclusive training program for newcomers in the plant protein industry
$200,000
Toronto
Developing a market analysis tool for plant protein trends
$250,000
Ottawa
Modernizing regulatory frameworks for novel plant-based foods
$480,000
Calgary
Scaling up plant-based food manufacturing
grant_single_labels|admissibility
To be eligible for the Capacity Building grant, projects must meet several specific criteria, such as engaging diverse and inclusive teams and addressing regulatory barriers. The consortia should be comprised of at least one Protein Industries Canada member and can include academic or research institutions.
- Be submitted by at least one (1) Protein Industries Canada member, with a consortium of at least two (2) members encouraged.
- Consortium members may include academic or research institutions, although this is not mandatory but encouraged.
- Each consortium member must contribute meaningfully to the project, generally through financial commitment or providing IP or expertise.
- Partners must be Canadian organizations; non-Canadian entities can participate with approval.
- The project must align with Protein Industries Canada and Global Innovation Cluster objectives.
- The initiative must be incremental to the regular business of the participating organizations.
- All projects must have experienced project management capabilities for complex initiatives.
- All Ultimate Recipients must be compliant with all applicable economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed by the Government of Canada.
- The project cannot be a “designated project” under applicable federal environmental and impact assessment legislation.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Yes, specific types of companies are eligible for this grant. Projects must be submitted by at least one Protein Industries Canada member, ideally forming a consortium with other members including academic or research institutions.
- Canadian organizations
- Protein Industries Canada members
- Consortia of at least two Protein Industries Canada members
- Academic or research institutions (optional but encouraged)
- Entities compliant with Canadian economic or financial sanctions
- Non-Canadian entities (with approval)
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
According to the provided context, there are no specific types of companies mentioned that are explicitly not eligible for the grant.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
Eligible expenses for this grant include costs that are essential for the execution of the approved project. These expenses are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- Labour costs
- Contractor and consultant services
- Equipment and materials
- Office overheads attributable to the project
- Travel costs
- Project management costs
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
Eligible geographic zones for this grant include Canadian organizations. Non-Canadian entities can also participate based on approval by Protein Industries Canada.
- Canadian organizations
- Non-Canadian entities (based on approval)
grant_single_labels|criteria
Projects for this grant are evaluated against criteria focusing on ecosystem development, technical merit, and commercial application. The evaluation process involves assessing the project's alignment with Protein Industries Canada's objectives and strategic priorities, as well as ensuring the project's strategic benefit to Canada's agrifood industry.
- Ecosystem Development
- Technical Merit
- Commercial Application
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Review the Project Eligibility Requirements
- Email projects@proteinsupercluster.ca to set up an introductory call
- Receive the Expression of Interest template and instructions
- Each consortium member fills out and signs a “Declaration As To Authorization and Compliance”
- Step 2: Full Project Proposal
- Upon approval of EOI, consortium invited to proceed to Full Project Proposal
- Attend a proposal orientation meeting via conference call
- Collaboratively develop the Project Proposal with Protein Industries Canada staff
- Submit the completed Project Proposal via email to projects@proteinsupercluster.ca
- Step 3: Project Approval
- Project Selection Committee evaluates proposals
- Protein Industries Canada works with consortia to sign a Master Project Agreement (MPA)
- Complete a detailed financial assessment by each consortium member
- Sign the MPA to begin work
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Apply to this program
Transformative Capacity Building Grant for Canada's Plant Protein Sector
Protein Industries Canada offers a Capacity Building Program designed to advance the Canadian plant protein sector, aiming to create a competitive and sustainable global business environment. The program invites collaboration from forward-thinking companies and organizations to develop groundbreaking projects that address market insights, innovation infrastructure, talent access, regulatory advancements, inclusivity, capital access, sustainability, and global presence.
In-Depth Overview of the Protein Industries Canada Capacity Building Grant
The Protein Industries Canada (PIC) Capacity Building Program is a visionary initiative catering to Canada's burgeoning plant protein sector. This grant program is meticulously designed to fuel the transformation and growth of the sector by addressing key strategic priorities that result in broad economic and social benefits.
At its core, the Capacity Building Program aims to create a competitive and sustainable global business environment for Canada's agrifood sector. The initiative encourages the adoption of innovative and inclusive business approaches and seeks to identify and dismantle barriers to growth. Through the collaborative efforts of industry stakeholders, the program aspires to elevate Canada to a global leadership position in the plant protein market.
Program Priorities
The Capacity Building Program identifies several strategic priority areas, each crucial for driving systemic change and amplifying Canada's agrifood potential. These focus areas include:
- Market and Ecosystem Insights: Fostering a better understanding within the plant-based ecosystem to identify marketing opportunities, align with customer needs, expand market reach, and promote innovation.
- Innovation Infrastructure: Enhancing access to research, development, and product scaling infrastructure to solidify Canada's standing as an agricultural and processing powerhouse.
- Access to Talent, Labour, and Skills: Addressing the sector's need for an estimated additional 17,000 skilled workers to meet growth targets, highlighting an opportunity for workforce development.
- Supportive Regulatory Framework: Modernizing Canada’s regulatory environment to support ongoing innovations in plant-based foods and to ensure alignment with international standards.
- Inclusivity: Promoting the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and new Canadians within the plant-based sector, contributing to broader economic reconciliation and social well-being.
- Access to Capital: Facilitating an estimated $4 to $6 billion in additional investments necessary for the sector to scale processing and manufacturing operations effectively.
- Sustainability: Upholding Canada's reputation for sustainable crop production by developing and applying robust sustainability metrics and reporting mechanisms.
- Global Presence: Enhancing Canada’s profile as the preferred partner for global business and investment, while facilitating international connections for industry stakeholders.
Project Criteria and Application Process
The application process for the Capacity Building Program is structured to ensure that proposed projects align with PIC's strategic objectives and possess the potential for substantial ecosystem transformation. The process is divided into two main stages: the Expression of Interest (EOI) and the Full Project Proposal.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Prospective consortia must first submit an EOI, which will be evaluated by PIC staff for eligibility and alignment with program priorities.
- Applicants can receive feedback to refine their EOI to better meet criteria if necessary.
- Successful EOIs are then invited to develop a Full Project Proposal.
Full Project Proposal
- The Full Project Proposal involves a detailed workplan, budget, and collaboration strategies, which are fine-tuned with the support of PIC staff.
- A dedicated Project Selection Committee comprising industry experts reviews and evaluates the proposals based on criteria such as ecosystem impact, technical merit, and commercial application.
During the review process, applicants must adhere to strict confidentiality and procedural guidelines. Attempts to influence committee members can lead to disqualification. Successful projects are required to sign a Master Project Agreement (MPA) outlining all project details before commencing work.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Capacity Building Program, projects must meet several foundational criteria:
- Involve at least one PIC member, with consortia of multiple PIC members preferred.
- Inclusion of academic or research institutions is encouraged but not mandatory.
- Each consortium member must contribute meaningfully to the project, typically through financial investment, IP or expertise.
- Canadian organizations must lead the projects, although non-Canadian entities can participate with approval.
- Projects must align with PIC's objectives and the Global Innovation Cluster initiative, ensuring incrementality and collaboration within the sector.
- Proposed initiatives must demonstrate experienced project management capabilities.
- Participants must comply with Canadian economic and financial sanctions and environmental assessment laws.
Intellectual Property and Data Governance
PIC emphasizes the strategic protection and utilization of Intellectual Property (IP) generated through the program. While some projects may focus on generating commercially valuable IP, others might aim to make data and results accessible for broader ecosystem use. The program requires an IP Rationale to be developed, ensuring that the benefits of generated IP extend to the entire Canadian agrifood sector.
Economic Reconciliation
Aligning with Canada’s commitment to economic reconciliation, the Capacity Building Program requires all proposals to incorporate an aspect of economic reconciliation. Potential approaches include:
- Engaging with Indigenous communities to understand and address their economic priorities.
- Developing partnerships with Indigenous organizations and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship.
- Implementing strategies that have ongoing and sustainable impacts aligned with Indigenous priorities.
- Organizational training on Indigenous engagement and reconciliation practices.
This aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), underscoring PIC’s commitment to transformative and inclusive growth for Canada’s plant-based sector.
Conclusion
Protein Industries Canada's Capacity Building Program represents a comprehensive and strategic effort to elevate Canada’s plant protein sector to new heights. By fostering collaboration, addressing critical gaps, and utilizing innovative approaches, the program sets the stage for Canada to become a global leader in sustainable agrifood production. The program seeks bold, transformational projects that can catalyze long-term growth, inclusivity, and sustainability within the plant-based ecosystem.
For more information and to begin the application process, prospective applicants can download the comprehensive Program Guide available in both English and French from the PIC website. With dedicated support from PIC staff, qualified consortia can successfully navigate the application process and contribute to the robust development of Canada's plant-based industry.
