Simon Fraser University Research Partnerships Overview Tuesday January 26, 2016 Monika Michalska Research Partnerships 2

Presentation Outline 1.What’s new at NSERC? 2.Overview of Research Partnerships 3.What’s new in Strategic Partnerships? 4.CRD, Strategic Partnership Grants, IRCs 5.Questions 3

 3,000+ Canadian companies  30,500 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows  $1.1 billion dollars  11,300 professors “Making Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians”

New VP of Research Partnerships – Bettina Hamelin NSERC 2020 Strategy Launched in December 2015 New Federal Government 5 What’s New at NSERC

NSERC Foster a science and engineering culture in Canada 2.Launch the new generation 3.Build a diversified and competitive research base 4.Strengthen the dynamic between discovery and innovation 5.Go global

NSERC’s Innovation Goal Connect and apply the strength of the academic research system to addressing the opportunities and challenges of building prosperity for Canada. The Rationale Canadian industry needs to access the academic intellectual capabilities that are built through Government’s investment in post- secondary R&D thereby realizing more value for Canada Our Partnership Program Drivers  The Canadian business competitiveness in the context of a global economy  Capacity and Critical Mass – academic research and training Research Partnerships

NSERC Support Across the Discovery- Innovation Dynamic Strategic Partnerships (Government Priorities) Centres for Commercialization and Research Business-Led Networks Discovery Grants basic research; research applied to industry Clean Energy Chemistry (reduce use of water in oil sands production) Ecology/ Hydrogeology Ultrasonic detection of manufacturing defects Particle Physics GreenCentre Canada (GCC) Industry-driven programs TECHNOLOGY MATURITY MARKET MATURITY TRAINING with INDUSTRY TRAINING in UNIVERSITIES Sustainable Technologies for Energy Production Systems (STEPS)

Research Partnerships Excellence + Partnership = NSERC’s Research Partnerships Program attributes Involve industry and/or government partners De-risk & increase investments by partners Expand the expertise of partners and hiring of HQP Accelerate knowledge and technology exploitation and exchange Expand the technical and entrepreneurial skills of students Require accountability: regular reporting Program Requirements Excellence across all criteria Scientific merit, originality and research competence Training of HQP (exposure to new environments and challenges) Plan to apply research results, benefit to Canada

NSERC and NCE Partnerships Program Landscape INNOVATION COLLABORATE COMMERCIALIZE ENGAGE CELEBRATE Collaborative R&D with colleges and universities Collaborative R&D with colleges and universities Industrial Research Chairs at college and universities Industrial Research Chairs at college and universities Strategic Partnerships with universities Strategic Partnerships with universities Networks of Centres of Excellence Building College Capacity Idea to Innovation for colleges &universities Idea to Innovation for colleges &universities Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research College Technology Access Centres Synergy Awards for Innovation Synergy Awards for Innovation Connect with colleges & universities Connect with colleges & universities Engage with colleges & universities Engage with colleges & universities Student Training in Industry

NEW target areas New context, new research topics Strategic Networks – need only address broad target area 12 What’s new for Strategic?

13 How NSERC Establishes Updated Target Areas and Research Topics  Review of target areas and research topics undertaken every 5 years in order to align with current national priorities;  Available budget requires supporting focused challenges (SPG is the only Partnerships program with defined target areas)  Review process established in consultation with and approved by Committee on Research Partnerships and NSERC Council  Broad consultation of research community within industry, academia and government  Expert panel for each target area to define key research challenges

Updated Target Areas and Research Topics  4 national priorities aligned with NSERC mandate were selected as the target areas: o Environment and Agriculture o Natural Resources and Energy o Information and Communications Technologies o Advanced Manufacturing  4 to 6 research topics selected within each target area  Refinement of research topics and challenges over the course of the next five years, as required, to ensure that they stay relevant in the context of Canada’s important research challenges 14 SPSDomainesCibles_eng.asp

Budget for Priority Research Topics 15 Research outside the 4 priority target areas will not be considered for funding Research within target area + Outside research topics = Exceptional Opportunity (MUST be self-identified)

Strengthening and Maintaining a Longer Term Collaboration Collaborative R&D Grant (CRD) Industry driven R&D project Shared costs: Each $1 cash and $1 in-kind from company levers up to $2 from NSERC Flexible Flexible - Entire R&D spectrum - Duration 1-5 years - Small to large projects - Apply at any time  Success rate: 85%  Not competition-based The objective to give companies access to the unique knowledge, expertise, and educational resources available at Canadian postsecondary institutions. The mutually beneficial collaborations are expected to result in industrial and/or economic benefits to Canada.

Objective: Objective: To increase research and training in targeted areas that could strongly enhance Canada’s economy, society and/or environment within the next 10 years. Research and training is conducted through a partnership between academic researchers and industry or government organizations. Available budget requires supporting focused challenges. SPG is the only program with set target areas. Strategic Partnership Grants

Strategic Partnership Grant- Project (SPG-P) Accelerate research in identified target areas of national and/or government priority No cash required, in-kind is mandatory Competition-based Success rate: 20-25% Strategic Partnership Grant-Network (SPG-N) Large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects in targeted areas that require a network approach Competition-based Success rate: 25-30%

SPG-N Merit of the Research Proposal Need for a Network Approach Training Interactions and Partnerships Management and Budget Benefits to Canada and the Partners Strategic Partnership Grants: Selection Criteria Peer Review LOI evaluation External reviewers Site Visit Committee Selection Panel

CRD and Strategic Grants - Criteria CRDStrategic Scientific meritOriginality of the research Research competenceQuality of the research Project work plan Quality of the applicants as researchers Contribution to the training of HQP Training potential Private-sector supportInteractions with the supporting organizations Industrial relevance Benefit to CanadaBenefits to Canada and the supporting organizations Equally rated criteria

CRD and Strategic - evaluations 21 CRDStrategic No deadlineAnnual competition – April years1-3 years, typically 3 years No max or min, average is about 80k/year No max or min, average is about 173k/year Peer review; site visit and ACUIG for large CRDs Peer review and panel Not rankedranked Not sector specificSector specific – targeted Success rate of about 80%Success rate of about 25% Must meet criteriaEqually rated criteria

CRD and Strategic - requirements 22 CRDStrategic Eligible partner Cash + in-kind; NSERC leverages contributions Only in-kind is required Eligible applicant Letter of support + F183a from partner(s)

Longer Term Collaboration, Prestigious Appointment Industrial Research Chair (IRC) Industry driven R&D project Shared costs: 1:1 cash leverage from NSERC Flexible Flexible - Entire R&D spectrum - 5 year term, renewable - program of research - Apply at any time  Not competition-based The objective is to assist universities in building on existing strengths to achieve the critical mass required for a major research endeavour; assist in the development of research efforts in fields that have not yet been developed in Canadian universities and provide an enhanced training 3 types of IRCs - Associate - Senior - Executive

IRC Selection Criteria Excellence of the candidate  Commensurate with the type of Chair requested Quality of the proposal Industrial relevance and benefits Training of highly qualified personnel Benefits to the university Appropriateness of the setting

IRC Evaluation Process Site Visit –Committee of experts in the field (4-7 people, usually 5 or 6) –Meet at university Chair candidate University administration Representatives from all industrial partners –Site Visit Report forms basis of a recommendation to fund or not ACUIG –Site Visit Report provided to NSERC’s interdisciplinary Advisory Committee on University-Industry Grants (ACUIG) for final recommendation to Council then the RP Vice-President signs the final decision, most often based on this recommendation  NSERC staff available throughout the process

What’s in it for you?  Opportunity to apply your research, your ideas to applied problems  Better training for students, that have experience both in the university and working with an industrial partner  Increased funding for you, opportunity to build a lasting partnership, see your ideas implemented

What’s in it for the Partners? Access to: Team of researchers with expertise in a desired area to solve a problem Technology/idea of commercial interest Research facilities and infrastructure that the industry lacks A potential source of highly qualified personnel Competitive edge in global markets 27

Who is a supporting organization? Have a demonstrated interest in the project Be involved in all stages of the research (help to develop the proposal, interact with researchers and students, provide input to the project) Validate the results of the research Provide guidance concerning exploitation of results 28

Engage industry partner(s) from the start - Defining project - Preparing application -Strong letters of support Close collaboration throughout the project - In-kind contribution - Cash as well HQP training (undergraduate, graduate and PDF level) - Appropriate level for work proposed - Describe their roles Ensure all expertise needed is present - Describe roles of co-applicants, collaborators and research staff Tangible benefits to Canada Guidelines followed and requirements addressed Clear summary, proposal easy to read Pay attention to all aspects of the proposal and all criteria, not just the research proposal Writing a Successful Proposal

For questions relating to fit to target area, eligibility of partners or applicants or Program requirements for Strategic Partnerships, please send your query to: For other RP programs: For questions/support regarding the on-line application process, please contact: Helpdesk:(613) Resources 30

Questions? Monika Michalska Manager MCT Research Partnerships 31