Canada - German RFP

Canada Germany Technology Innovation Cooperation: Call for Proposals for Joint Collaborative Projects Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be accepted immediately and up to and including 31 January 2014.

EUREKA Project Applications and funding applications will be accepted immediately following an approved EOI and up to and including 31 March 2014.

Introduction Canadian and German companies are invited to submit proposals for collaborative industry-led R&D projects aimed at creating new products, processes and services for civilian applications.

The national agencies for EUREKA in Canada and Germany, respectively the National Research Council (NRC) and the EUREKA/COST-Bureau at the German Aerospace Center, Project Management Agency are publishing this joint R&D call for proposals under the EUREKA network. Joint projects in this framework will be funded through existing German and NRC mechanisms and may be leveraged by other investment.

EUREKA is a European intergovernmental network for facilitating trans-boundary market-oriented R&D projects aimed at new products, processes and services with a civilian application. Founded in 1985, EUREKA now includes 39 European countries, Israel and the European Commission. Canada and South Korea are associated members. Following a bottom-up approach, EUREKA has been the driving force of innovation in Europe for over 27 years, achieving its overall goal to boost the productivity & competitiveness of EUREKA members.

The submission of proposals and approval of collaborative projects will be evaluated in line with EUREKA procedures (www.eurekanetwork.org), noting Germany’s status as a EUREKA member and Canada’s status as an associate EUREKA member.

Technological Fields The main objectives of this Call for Proposals is to stimulate generation of joint project proposals in the following technological and industrial fields: 1) Renewable and Alternative Energy 2) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing 3) Biotechnology and other Health-related Technologies Notwithstanding the focus areas, proposals in other areas will be considered.

EUREKA Individual Projects Individual Industrial R&D Projects involving at least one German SME and one Canadian SME. Participation of research institutions/universities/colleges is welcome according to each country’s funding regulations or as self-funded participants.

Submission of EOIs under this mode is open immediately and EOIs will be accepted and reviewed as submitted until 31 January 2014.

Third parties from additional countries, particularly from EUREKA member countries, may also participate in the projects, subject to the applicable EUREKA regulations and the respective national rules and procedures.

These third parties will not be eligible for funding from the German and/or Canadian side.

Call Structure The submission and the approval process consist of two phases: Phase 1: Joint Submission of an EOI. In the first phase, the completed EOI Application Form1 (in English2) should be submitted to EUREKA/COST Bureau in Germany and to NRC in Canada simultaneously up to and no later than 31 January 2014. Recommendations will be conveyed to applicants as soon as available.

Prior consultation with the respective organizations EUREKA/COST Bureau in Germany and NRC in Canada) is strongly advised. EUREKA /COST Bureau in Germany and NRC will screen the EOIs and decide which will be invited to submit a EUREKA Project Application Form.

Note: A positive recommendation in the EOI phase does not imply approval of the EUREKA Project Application Form.

Phase 2: Submission of EUREKA Project Application Form and Application for Funding respectively to EUREKA/COST Bureau in Germany and NRC. The EUREKA Project Application Form must be legally signed by all participating entities. The signatures must be scanned and sent electronically together with the EUREKA Project Application Form.

Applicants invited to submit a EUREKA Project Application Form3 must also complete:  any required national funding applications according to national procedures4 and/or declaration of selffunding.  A draft cooperation agreement5. A fully executed agreement will be a prerequisite for receiving funding.

Each country will fund its eligible participants under the EUREKA framework. The EUREKA status (E! Label) may only be granted when the funding of all project partners has been confirmed, either through public funding schemes or self-funding.

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To obtain an EOI template, and prior to submission, please connect with the appropriate contact listed at the end of this document.

Note: The working language of the EUREKA Secretariat is English; therefore all EUREKA forms must be completed in English. National forms will be accepted in the official language of choice.

3 http://www.eurekanetwork.org/download-project-application-form 4 Draft model agreement will be supplied upon request.

5 Please contact NRC or EUREKA/COST Bureau in the early stage to discuss your plans to participate in this call and to hear about the procedure and any additional requirements to participate.

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Description

Individual Industrial R&D Projects involving at least one German SME and one Canadian SME. Participation of research institutions/universities is welcome according to each country’s funding regulations or as self-funded participants.

Technological Fields

1) Renewable and Alternative Energy 2) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing 3) Biotechnology and other Health-related Technologies Notwithstanding the focus areas, proposals in other areas will be considered.

Funding Eligibility

In Canada

Please contact NRC or EUREKA/COST Bureau in the early stage to discuss your plans to participate in this call and to hear about the procedure and any additional requirements to participate.

NRC-IRAP eligible SMEs (http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/services/irap/financialassistance.html). Universities and Research Centers may participate as sub-contractors to NRC-IRAP eligible SMEs.

Deadlines

Phase 1: Expression of interest (EOI)

Eligible NRC research programs.

Other firms, including large firms, research institutes and universities are welcome to participate via self-funding and/or other identified public funding.

In Germany EUREKA/COST Bureau: http://www.eureka.dlr.de/ for an initial consultation.

EOIs will be accepted immediately and until 31 January 2014. Recommendations will be conveyed to applicants as available.

Phase 2 (by invitation): EUREKA Project Application Form Open upon invitation and accepted until 31 March 2014.

Common Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

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Scope of Funding

Applicants are expected to develop technology-based products, services or methods which have strong market potential globally.

The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants from the two countries (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure, new fields of application, etc.).

The project should demonstrate the contribution of the participants from both countries.

The partners in Germany and in Canada must agree in advance on the IP rights and on a commercialization strategy for the product or process.

The partners in Germany and in Canada must be capable of implementing the project and be financially viable in order to fund their respective share.

The joint project must demonstrate adequate balance among the participants (not greater than 75% with any one country) and significance to both sides.

In Canada Financial support for participating Canadian SMEs may be provided by NRC- IRAP for eligible research and development activities, by supporting a portion of salary and contractor costs associated with the project. Total support for the firm in the form of a non repayable contribution will not exceed 75% of its total costs in the project.

For further information: www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/services/irap/financial-assistance.html In Germany EUREKA projects can be funded by all eligible funding programmes in Germany. For further information please contact the EUREKA/COST Bureau in Germany.

Self Funding

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Participants seeking to engage via self-funding will be asked to provide a declaration of

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commitment and availability of appropriate resources.

Contacts Canada

Germany

For Canadian SMEs Bill Dobson National Project Coordinator (SMEs) EUREKA National Office - Canada Tel: +1 (416) 954-8330 William.Dobson@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Juliane Tackmann EUREKA/COST Bureau German Aerospace Center, Project Management Agency Tel: +49 (228) 3821-1335 Juliane.Tackmann@dlr.de

For non-SME applicants Melanie Cullins National Project Coordinator EUREKA National Office - Canada Tel: +1 (613) 991-0917 Melanie.Cullins @nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

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