NSERC Economic Developers Alberta Kananaskis, Alberta April 7, 2016

My Goal Today 1.Introduce you to NSERC 2.Provide you with some examples on how NSERC can help 3.Answer your questions

Connect Building R&D Partnerships Through NSERC Engage Collaborate

Feedback From Industry Our Partnership Grants help: Stretch R&D dollars Find solutions to technical problems Access resources that they do not have internally – expertise, knowledge, facilities Attract future employees Contributions can qualify for SR&ED tax credits

I -Travel support for post-secondary researchers to meet with companies anywhere in Canada to discuss new collaborations Connect Grants

II - Support for non-recurring, regionally oriented networking activities or events aimed at developing new academic-industry partnerships III - Support for national workshops Connect Grants

Support new collaborations Aimed at solving company-specific problem Six-month project; up to $25,000 from NSERC No company cash required; just in-kind New IP owned by company Apply anytime; 4-6 week turnaround Engage Grants

Company Participation

Companies Report 94% of projects were a success 86% of problems were partially or completely solved 76% intend to apply the results 96% gained new technology or knowledge 60% provided stimulus for future R&D 72% provided new business opportunities 98% would recommend Engage to another company

Collaborative Research and Development Grants CRD (Universities) Focused R&D projects Grants range from $10K to over $400K per year Industry cash required Flexible leverage: $1 of company cash + $1eligible in-kind = $2 from NSERC apply anytime Peer-review; 3 to 5 month turnaround

Engage Project 13 University of Calgary, Computer Science Frank Maurer Discovery Research: “Integrating interaction design techniques into agile software development” ($22K/year) C4i Consultants Inc. Training services and software solutions. Project Goal: To develop a solution that provides multi-surface support for simulating emergency responses carried out collaboratively by various response groups such as EMS, fire department, and police department.

C4i Consultants Inc. Outcome: “We found good value in collaborating with the university through Engage on this project. We were able to try out a new concept and create a working prototype with significantly less financial input than would have been required if we had done it on our own.” – Amy Swedlo, R&D Manager, C4i Consultants Inc. Original Engage Grant project: 2012 Follow-up: Engage Plus awarded in 2013 CRD awarded in 2014 * Company incorporated in 2004, and had 15 employees in Canada at the time of the Engage project. It was Alberta’s 15 th fastest growing company in 2014, and now has 85 employees deployed worldwide. 14

Applied Research & Development Grants ARD (Colleges) Grants of up to $150K per year For projects up to three years Industry contributes cash and in-kind: ‒ For grants up to $75K - the company contributes at least $10K in cash ‒ For grants between $75K and $150K - the company contributes cash equal to half of the NSERC grant amount

Industrial Undergraduate Student Hire university undergraduates for a 16-week period to conduct research NSERC contribution: $4,500 Company contribution: minimum of $1,125 Up to 15 students per company per year Potential future employees Apply anytime; four-week turn-around Research Awards

Company hosts report:  93% consider the project as a success  Most companies gained new knowledge (66%) and intend to apply the results (86%)  Projects contribute mostly to improving an existing product (54%) or process (47%) or developing a new product (52%)  Companies are mostly to increase research productivity (68%) and increase R&D capability (66%)

Company hosts report:  99% anticipate hosting an IUSRA in the future and most will host four or fewer students.  ICT companies are the biggest single user of IUSRA at 21% of recipients. Manufacturing 17% and health and related life sciences 18%  The number of employees in the company increased (47% of the respondents)  R&D expenditures increased (38%).

Questions? Irene Mikawoz, P. Eng. NSERC Prairies Regional Office 435 Ellice Avenue, Suite 430 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1Y6 Telephone: