Technology Access Centres (TAC)

Eligibility for this grant is determined by the involvement of Canadian entrepreneurs and businesses in innovative research and development activities.

• The applying firm must be a Canadian business, particularly a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
• The company should be engaged in the development of new prototypes, scaling processes, or solving unique business challenges.
• Businesses must demonstrate a need for R&D and innovation services provided by Technology Access Centres (TACs).
• The applicant should be seeking access to cutting-edge technology and equipment to advance their projects.

Who is eligible?

Eligible expenses

Eligible projects for this grant are centered around fostering innovation and enhancing R&D capabilities through strategic collaborations and the development of new technologies. They provide resources and initiatives to support applied research in various industry sectors.

• Facilitating the sharing of best practices to TAC members for operational excellence.
• Connecting innovators to TACs with the expertise to advance product development and commercialization.
• Championing TACs as a significant part of Canada's innovation ecosystem.
• Advocating for TACs to government officials and agencies to promote applied research efforts.
• Fostering partnerships with industry, government, universities, and other stakeholders for advancing applied research.
• Delivering programs that enable TAC member engagement in collaborative R&D projects with industry partners.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies operating across Canada as it is designed to support Canadian SMEs. The initiative emphasizes national reach and accessibility to foster innovation across various regions.

• Companies located within any province or territory in Canada.

The evaluation and selection criteria for this grant include assessing the project's alignment with the TAC mandate and the potential impact on Canadian innovation. Proposals are evaluated based on technical merit, feasibility, and collaboration potential.

• Alignment with TAC mandate
• Potential impact on Canadian innovation
• Technical merit of the project
• Feasibility of the proposed activities
• Potential for collaboration with industry partners

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The TACs offer a flexible intellectual property framework, allowing companies to commercialize the research results and IP.
• All TACs within the network have won NSERC-designated Technology Access Centre Grants and receive annual funding from NSERC.
• NSERC regularly renews existing TACs with additional five-year mandates based on performance and project outcomes.
• The Interactive Visits are a unique program offering with significant demand, indicated by record waitlists and allocations.
• The TAC network operates a secure online project management portal called TACPITS to facilitate project tracking and administration.
• Tech-Access Canada champions TACs as major players in the innovation ecosystem, advocating for TACs with government officials and stakeholders.
• The organization operates a national network, fostering collaboration among TACs to share best practices and operational excellence.