Canada – South Korea 2024 Call for Proposals
1. Introduction
Working together, the governments of Canada and South Korea aim to foster and support collaborative
industrial research and development (R&D) projects with a high potential for commercialization. This
cal for proposals is open to organizations from Canada and South Korea who wish to form project
consortia to perform collaborative projects focused on developing innovative products, processes, or
technology-based services in advanced manufacturing, clean technologies, digital technologies, health
and biosciences, and quantum technologies sectors.
2. Application deadlines
Canadian registration deadline: April 3, 2024
Canadian expression of interest deadline: April 10, 2024
International consortium project proposal deadline: June 12, 2024
3. Sectors of focus
Projects must focus on one or more of the following themes:
advanced manufacturing, including smart factory and smart manufacturing, advanced
materials, automotive manufacturing, robotics and automation
clean technologies, including water and waste water management, smart grid and energy
storage, battery-related technologies, renewable energy, and hydrogen technologies
digital technologies, including artificial intel igence for industry, cyber security, smart vehicle,
and smart cities
Health and biosciences, including pharmaceuticals, digital health, medical devices and mobile
health
Quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum
sensing, cryptography, imaging, security, and quantum materials
4. Eligibility requirements
To be considered for funding, applicants must form a project consortium and develop a collaborative
research and development (R&D) project that meets the following criteria:
4.1 Canadian SME applicant
The Canadian smal or medium-sized enterprise (SME) applicant must:
o
be an incorporated, profit oriented smal or medium sized business in Canada
o
have 500 or fewer ful time equivalent employees
o
pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology driven new
or improved products, services or processes in Canada
o
have a differentiated and protectable technology with commercial potential in global markets
o
have sufficient working capital (e.g. revenue, investment etc.) and resources to undertake a
multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results
o
be committed to significant growth through international market expansion
Preference may be given to SME applicants who:
o
have a minimum of 15 ful -time equivalent employees
o
have commercialized one or more products domestical y or international y
o
have greater than $500,000 CAD in annual revenue
4.2 Consortium
The project consortium must include at least:
o
1 incorporated Canadian SME
o
1 eligible Korean partner
o
The parties listed above must be unrelated parties (i.e. no direct, indirect, beneficial or
constructive ownership interest between these parties)
The project partners that form the consortium must agree on a plan addressing intel ectual property
rights and intent to commercialize.
4.3 Project
The project must focus on co-development, adaptation, and/or validation of an innovative product,
process, or technology-based service that has:
o
commercial potential and outcomes that can be realized within 2-3 years of completion of the
project
o
a civilian (non-military) purpose
The project must demonstrate:
o
a complementary technological contribution from each partner
o
an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants
o
a balanced contribution between project partners and countries (i.e. no more than 70% of the
effort contributed by any one partner or country)
4.4 South Korea eligibility requirements
Please consult the South Korean cal for proposals announcement for South Korea eligibility
requirements.
5. Funding
Eligible project participants in collaborative projects selected through this cal for proposals may receive
funding from their respective national funding bodies. Funds wil be provided in accordance with the
applicable laws, regulations, rules, and procedures established by the relevant national funding bodies,
country, and jurisdiction.
Non-eligible project participants (e.g. universities, research institutes, etc., and participants from other
countries) are welcome to participate on a self-funded basis or as sub-contractors to funded
participants, according to each country's funding regulations.
Additional country-specific funding parameters are outlined below.
5.1 Canadian funding
In Canada, this cal for proposals is offered through the Canadian International Innovation Program (CI P)
- an international innovation R&D funding program offered by Global Affairs Canada in partnership with
the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). NRC IRAP is
responsible for delivering this cal for proposals and for managing any resulting funding agreements.
Canadian SMEs
Eligible Canadian SMEs may receive up to 50% reimbursement of eligible project costs up to a maximum
total funding amount of $600,000 CAD over 12 to 36 months.
NOTE: Canadian SME applicants must be eligible for funding as NRC IRAP clients before they can be
considered for funding through this call for proposals. For more information on NRC IRAP eligibility
and becoming an NRC IRAP client, please contact NRC IRAP at 1-877-994-4727.
NOTE: Canadian SME applicants may apply to more than one NRC IRAP cal for proposals
simultaneously. However, NRC IRAP may limit the number of funded projects per applicant. Canadian
SME applicants who are applying to more than one opportunity or who have ongoing NRC IRAP projects
should speak to their NRC IRAP representative for more information.
5.2 South Korean funding
In South Korea, this cal for proposals is offered through the Korea Institute for Advancement of
Technology (KIAT). KIAT is responsible for the delivery of this cal for proposals and the management of
any resulting funding agreements.
Please consult the South Korea cal for proposals announcement for South Korean funding parameters.
6. Application process
Each project partner seeking funding must submit al required documents to their respective national
funding body and meet its due diligence process requirements. Failure to do so, at any point or for any
reason, may cause the entire collaborative project application to be considered incomplete or ineligible
and render the entire project consortium ineligible for funding through this cal for proposals.
Application processes and evaluations wil be performed independently by each national funding body in
accordance with their national and institutional laws and regulations. Once each national funding body
has evaluated the submitted applications, a final joint project selection wil be performed.
Information on respective application processes follows below:
6.1 Canadian application process
The Canadian application process has four phases:
Registration
Expression of interest
International consortium project proposal
National funding body proposal and funding agreement
Step 1: Registration phase
Each Canadian SME applicant must register using the Register button at the bottom of this page. Basic
information about the applicant and the organization wil be required upon registration.
NRC IRAP wil review registrations for this cal for proposals and contact applicants if more information is
required. Qualifying applicants wil proceed to the next phase and be invited to submit an expression of
interest form.
Step 2: Expression of interest (EOI) phase
During this phase, each Canadian SME applicant seeking funding must submit an expression of interest
(EOI) form outlining basic information on the applicant and the collaborative project.
While completing the EOI form, each Canadian SME applicant is encouraged to contact their NRC
IRAP representative to discuss their project idea and receive guidance on preparing their submission.
It is recommended that applicants submit the EOI as early as possible. EOIs wil be evaluated by the
applicant's NRC IRAP representative and the NRC IRAP International Office. Qualifying applicants wil be
invited to submit the more detailed international consortium project proposal in collaboration with their
project partners. The lead Canadian SME applicant wil be provided al templates needed to submit an
international consortium project proposal (ICPP).
Step 3: International consortium project proposal (ICPP) phase
During this phase, al project partners must work together to complete and submit an ICPP package.
In this cal for proposals, the Canadian ICPP application package consists of:
1. an International Consortium Project Proposal outlining the:
o
project consortium
o
collaborative project
o
expected outcomes
o
expected project cost and calendar
2. a draft international consortium agreement containing descriptions of the following:
o
roles and responsibilities of each consortium member
o
project management framework
o
division of intel ectual property rights
o
confidentiality and publication agreements, and liability clauses
Canadian ICPP applications wil be evaluated by an NRC IRAP evaluation team including the
applicant's NRC IRAP representative and the NRC IRAP International Office. Only Canadian participants
of selected project proposals wil be invited to proceed to the final national funding body proposal and
funding agreement stage.
Step 4: National funding body proposal and funding agreement phase
During the national funding body proposal and funding agreement phase, al eligible project partners
work independently to complete funding proposals and sign legal y binding funding agreements with
their respective national funding body. Canadian SME applicants wil work with their NRC
IRAP representative to prepare an NRC IRAP funding proposal and contribution agreement.
6.2 South Korea application process
For information related to application stages, requirements, instructions, ICPP application packages and
funding agreements, please consult the South Korean cal for proposals announcement.
7. Contacts
For questions, concerns, or for more information, please contact the appropriate cal for proposals
representative listed below:
7.1 Canadian contact
Small and medium-sized enterprises
Qing Yu
NRC IRAP Korea National Program Coordinator
National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
Qing.Yu@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
7.2 South Korea contact
Youngmin Jeong
Researcher, International R&D Cooperation Team
Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT)
wjddudals00@kiat.or.kr
8. Registration
Canadian SME participants must be registered NRC IRAP clients. If not already an NRC IRAP client,
Canadian SMEs must contact 1-877-994-4727 to determine if they might be eligible for support through
the NRC IRAP.
To begin the application process, the lead Canadian applicant must register for this opportunity by
clicking the Register button.
If there is no Register button visible below this line, it means the cal for proposals has closed. Please
contact the Contact listed or the NRC IRAP
