SIF — Collaborations and Networks projects

• The lead applicant must be a not-for-profit organization incorporated in Canada or a for-profit corporation incorporated in Canada.
• The lead applicant must manage the collaborative network project, including applying on behalf of the network, managing the government contribution, distributing funding to network projects, submitting claims and reporting on results.
• The project must be a large, collaborative, business-led initiative or innovation network in an area where Canada has a demonstrated advantage.
• The project must involve collaboration with Canadian partners such as universities, colleges, research institutes, for-profit corporations (including SMEs and large corporations) and/or not-for-profit entities.
• Project activities must focus on industrial research, technology development and/or demonstration, with clear paths to commercialization and a strong emphasis on collaboration and strengthening supply chains and links between industry and research organizations.

Who is eligible?

• Canadian not-for-profit organizations
• Canadian for-profit corporations
• Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Large Canadian corporations
• Canadian national and regional research institutes and academic institutions (as collaborators)

Eligible expenses

This grant supports large, collaborative business-led projects and innovation networks in Canada, focusing on areas of national advantage. These initiatives encourage technological advancement and commercialization through various strategic activities.

• Industrial research projects aimed at discovering new knowledge to develop technology-driven products.
• Processes or services development at early-stage technology readiness levels including fundamental research activities and R&D phases.
• Technology demonstrations advancing new technologies into product-specific applications at mid- and late-stage technology readiness levels, with a focus on commercialization.
• Developing technologies with clear paths to commercialization in priority funding areas.
• Creating collaboration among industry researchers, national and regional research institutes, academic institutions, and Canadian businesses.
• Providing financial support for collaborative projects within the R&D community.
• Collaborative technology development and demonstration projects focusing on industrial research and large-scale technology demonstration.
• Collaborations with SMEs, research councils, and original equipment manufacturers to develop new products using academic research findings.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations incorporated and operating in Canada.

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant:

• Eligibility of lead applicant and project partners
• Demonstrated need and benefits for Canada
• Alignment with funding priorities and areas of advantage
• Clarity of project objectives and outcomes
• Feasibility and sustainability of the proposed project
• Level of collaboration and engagement with key players in the Canadian R&D community

• The lead applicant is responsible for managing the overall network, including oversight of supported projects and the internal distribution of funding.
• Lead applicants must submit claims and performance reports and are accountable for demonstrating project results.
• Networks themselves are responsible for assessing, approving and managing the individual projects they choose to support.
• Certain collaborative technology development and demonstration projects are selected through a competitive intake process.