Wireless Events

RSL News

Toward a Wireless Centre of Excellence
for Commercialization of Research

the CECR program

In 2007, the Government of Canada built on the success of the original Networks of Centres of Excellence program (which funds research) by investing approximately $285 million over five years to create the new Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program (which funds commercialization).

The Government of Canada defines commercialization as everything a firm does that transforms knowledge and technology into new goods, processes or services to satisfy market demands.

The CECR program supports both: (1) the operating expenses of a centre and (2) the commercialization of research to ensure maximum return on research and development dollars in the four priority areas identified in the Federal S&T Strategy:

    * environmental science and technologies
    * natural resources and energy
    * health and related life sciences and technologies
    * information and communications technologies

To date, the NCE Secretariat has launched 17 successful CECR initiatives. These initiatives were chosen by international peer review and on the advice of high-level professionals from the private sector. Each centre brings together people, services and infrastructure to maximize the benefits of the government's investment in skills and research and to encourage private sector investment.

THE present OPPORTUNITY

The federal government has set aside $57 million from Budget 2009 to launch the third CECR competition that will create up to four new Centres - one in each priority area.

While developing their Letters of Intent, applicants are encouraged to consult the list of the seventeen centres funded following the first two CECR competitions and to be mindful that, in the final selection of proposals, the committee will give consideration to balancing the portfolio to ensure that the S&T priority areas and the Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC) sub-priority areas are adequately covered in order to maximize the impact of the CECR program.

The decision to invite an applicant to submit a full proposal will be based on the:

    * potential benefits to Canada;
    * strength of the business plan;
    * team track record;
    * ability to create, grow and retain Canadian companies that can capture new markets with breakthrough innovations; and
    * potential to accelerate the commercialization of leading edge technologies, goods, and services in priority areas.

A copy of the guidelines for the CECR Letter of Intent can be found here.

The deadline for Letter of Intent submissions is Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 4:30 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

The Letter of Intent should incorporate the LOI Application Form (Excel - 381 KB) as specified in the Guidelines.

A copy of the full 2010 CECR Program Guide (24 pages in length) can be found here.

THE SCHEDULE

A complete schedule is shown below:

Dates Milestone
December 1, 2009 Competition Announced
February 3, 2010 LOI Deadline
February 2010 Private Sector Advisory Board (PSAB) review of LOIs and Steering Committee Decision
March 2010 Invitations for Full Applications
July 13, 2010 Full Application Deadline
September 2010 Expert Review Panels
October 2010 Recommendation by PSAB of projects to be awarded funding
October 2010 Decision by the NCE Steering Committee on selected Centres
November 2010 Treasury Board Submission for funding of selected Centres
December 2010 New CECRs Announced
January 2011 Memorandum of Understanding and CECR Grant Agreements signed

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q. How many centres will be funded in the 2010 competition?

A. A maximum of four centres will be funded, with a maximum of one centre per S&T priority area.

Q. Where do I identify the STIC sub-priority (ies) covered by my application?

A. In the CECR 2010 LOI Application Form, Section F: Summary of the Application for Public Release.

Q. Are international collaborations or foreign partners recognized within the program?

A. Yes, although, CECR funds cannot be used to support activities outside of Canada, international collaborations and partnerships are recognized and strongly encouraged. Among other things, applicants are expected to describe in their submission how they will attract investment (including foreign direct investment and venture capital), develop relationships with major international centres and research programs and brand Canada as the host of internationally recognized centres of excellence in commercialization of research results.

Q. Who are eligible applicants?

A. Eligible applicants are new or existing not-for-profit corporations created by universities, colleges, not-for-profit research organizations, firms, and other non-government parties.

Q. Must the Centre be incorporated at the time of application? What type of incorporation is acceptable?

A. Centres do not need to be incorporated at the time of application. At the LOI stage, the NCE Secretariat will accept applications from organizations on behalf of the Centre to be incorporated. The application needs to clearly describe the governance structure of the proposed Centre, and how that structure meets the incorporation requirement. All Centres that are successful in the competition must provide proof of incorporation (federal or provincial), as well as proof of an established Board of Directors responsible for the approval of its annual financial reports and audits, before receiving CECR funds.

Q. What is an eligible host organization?

A. The university, college, not-for-profit research organizations, firms, and other non-government party that created the Centre. A previously incorporated Centre may serve as its own host.

Q. Can the host organization be the lead applicant on a CECR?

A. Only if the host organization is an eligible not-for-profit corporation or if it is submitting an application on behalf of the Centre to be incorporated (see question 6 above).

Q. What is typically the role of the host?

A. Where appropriate, the host organization, serves as the administrative secretariat for the Centre. The host, ensures that the Centre has suitable accommodation, as well as access to appropriate computer, communications and financial administration systems.

Q. Are there any guidelines or expectations as to the number of partners that should be involved in the Centre and whether or not there should be representation from across the country?

A. There are no guidelines on the number of partners participating. There is however an expectation that they will be the BEST possible participants (the proposal should demonstrate that). There is no expectation, or requirement, for geographic representation.

Q. Are contributions from an applicant's company eligible as matching funds?

A. Contributions made to the Centre by an applicant's own consulting company or sole proprietorship do not qualify as eligible matching funds to the CECR grant. Situations where the applicant is part owner are considered on a case-by-case basis. The applicant must contact the NCE Secretariat to obtain a ruling on specific cases where clarification is required.

Q. Are the majority of the CECR funds to be spent on commercialization activities?

A. CECR funds can be spent on any eligible operations and maintenance costs at the Centre. CECR Funds may be used to cover up to 50% of total eligible commercialization costs and up to 75% of other total eligible costs, with the remainder from non-federal sources. Details on eligible and non-eligible expenditures are provided in Appendix D of the 2010 CECR Program Guide.

Q. Can CECR funds be spent on research activities?

A. Although research centres may also receive CECR funds, any research activities associated with the Centre must be afforded by sources of funding other than the CECR grant.

Q. Can equipment be funded through this initiative?

A. Some essential pieces of equipment can be acquired but it is expected that a larger percentage of the funds be spent on operations and maintenance activities and not on infrastructure such as equipment. Up to 20% of the total eligible expenses for commercialization costs to a maximum of $1M may be spent on equipment that is essential for commercialization, as long as it is not eligible for other federal programs such as CFI.

Q. Are CECRs renewable for a second mandate?

A. The current term for a CECR is 5 years.

Q. Will there be funds available for those groups with successful LOIs who are invited to submit full proposals?

A. No. Finalists will not be provided with financial assistance to produce a full proposal.

Q. Can the host organization receive the CECR funds on behalf of the Centre?

A. No, the Centre's Board of Directors must have financial responsibility over the CECR Funds. For this reason, the Centre must be prepared to receive the CECR funds before March 31, 2010. Successful centres will be required to show evidence of having appropriate financial administrative processes in place to manage funds from the granting agencies.

Q. What is required in the letters of support at the Letter of Intent stage?

A. All letters must come from a senior executive and make specific commitments, in terms of cash or in-kind support The letters must make explicit reference to the proposed Centre, indicating how the Centre would help their organization and indicating current and past associations with the applicant.

Q. Should intellectual property (IP) be addressed in the LOI?

A. The LOI must describe how IP issues are expected to be handled within the proposed Centre.

Q. Who makes the final funding decision?

A. The NCE Steering Committee makes the final decision, based on the recommendations of a Private Sector Advisory Board (PSAB).


THE 17 EXISTING Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR)

Advanced Applied Physics Solutions Inc. – AAPS
Vancouver, British Columbia ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

Bioindustrial Innovation Centre – BIC
Sarnia, Ontario ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

Canadian Digital Media Network – CDMN
Waterloo, Ontario ($10.72 million 2009-2014)

Centre for Drug Research and Development – CDRD
Vancouver, British Columbia ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization – CPDC
Hamilton, Ontario ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation – CSII
Hamilton, Ontario ($14.81 million 2009-2014)

Centre for the Commercialization of Research – CCR
Ottawa, Ontario ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

Centre of Excellence for the Prevention of Organ Failure – PROOF Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

Centre of Excellence in Energy Efficiency – C3E
Shawinigan, Quebec ($9.62 million 2009-2014)

Centre of Excellence in Personalized Medicine – CEPMed
Montreal, Quebec ($13.8 million 2008-2013)

GreenCentre Canada – GCC
Kingston, Ontario ($9.1 million 2009-2014)

Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer – Commercialization of Research – IRICoR
Montreal, Quebec ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

MaRS Innovation – MI
Toronto, Ontario ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

Ocean Networks Canada Centre for Enterprise and Engagement – ONCCEE
Victoria, British Columbia ($6.58 million 2009-2014)

Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise – PREVENT
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ($14.95 million 2008-2013)

Tecterra
Calgary, Alberta ($11.69 million 2009-2014)

The Prostate Centre's Translational Research Initiative for Accelerated Discovery and Development – PC-TRIADD
Vancouver, British Columbia ($14.95 million 2008-2013)