Program Overview

CANADA-CHINA PROGRAM FOR JOINT FUNDING OF INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE R&D PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Canada signed a bilateral science and technology (S&T) agreements with China in January, 2007.  The purpose of this agreement is to encourage, develop and facilitate cooperative activities between Canada and China in science and technology (S&T) for peaceful purposes in fields of common interest and on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Within the context of this S&T agreement, funding mechanisms have been identified in Canada and China through which companies, academic institutions, and research organizations may seek support for joint Canada-China research and development (R&D) projects and other activities intended to generate new or expanded bilateral research and technology-based partnerships (Partnership Development Activities).

For Canada, funding and other services will be provided through International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada Inc. (ISTPCanada), a non-governmental organization selected by the Government of Canada for this purpose, and for China through the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).  

PRINCIPLES

The fundamental principles that will guide ISTPCanada and MOST in the delivery of funding and support for international R&D collaboration are: 

• Scientific and technological excellence;
• Shared benefits;
• Prospects for economic returns;  
• Equality;  
• Protection of intellectual property;  
• Respect for the applicable laws and regulations in the partner countries; and  
• Peaceful uses.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

In Canada

Eligible applicants will be researchers and managers of Canadian companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, other institutes, or associations which operate and are headquartered in Canada.  Subsidiaries of firms headquartered and owned outside Canada are normally not eligible for support.  However, recognizing that the overriding consideration is "benefit to Canada", an exception can occur if ISTPCanada is satisfied that clear economic benefit will accrue to Canada because the product or the technology will be substantially produced in, exported from or utilized in Canada.  

Agencies of the Crown (including Crown corporations, government institutes, government laboratories, etc.) may be participants in an ISTPCanada- funded project but are not eligible as recipients of ISTPCanadafunding.

In China

Companies, organizations and associations incorporated under People’s Republic of China national law.

SUPPORTED ACTIVITIES

Through this international R&D funding initiative, support is available for two categories of collaborative S&T related activities:  Collaborative R&D Projects; and, Partnership Development Activities.  Priority sectors will be periodically identified, however, for general calls-for-proposals (CFPs), applications will be considered from all areas of research.  From time-to-time targeted CFPs will be issued, with applications limited to the identified sector(s).

Collaborative R&D Projects:  

• Collaborative research - planned search or critical investigation aimed at the discovery of new knowledge, with the objective that such knowledge may be useful in developing new products, processes or services, or in bringing about a significant improvement to existing products, processes or services;
• Collaborative pre-competitive development - translation of research findings into a plan, blueprint or design for new, modified or improved products, processes or services;  

Partnership Development Activities: 

• Partnership Development Activities (PDAs) – activities designed to foster relationships and partnerships leading to the development of collaborative research projects and other forms of research collaboration.  Such activities might include, but are not limited to workshops, symposia, conferences and activities that involve exchange programs.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Reflecting the purpose of the bilateral S&T agreement and the principles identified above, applicants seeking support for collaborative R&D projects and must satisfy a number of basic requirements.  These are:

Collaborative R&D Projects: 

• Projects must include participants from both countries;  
• At least one industry participant from Canada must be included in a project.  In the case of collaboration with China, a Chinese industry participant is not mandatory to secure funding from the Chinese government (MOST).  Collaborative projects involving Canadian participants from both industry and academia are encouraged. In Canada, government laboratories may also participate but are not eligible to receive funding;
• Canadian participation in the project by both a company that is a technology developer and a company that is a technology user or first customer would strengthen a proposal;
• Proposals must clearly demonstrate that they respond to and address identified needs and interests in the two countries;   
• Projects will be funded by each country on a 50/50 basis.   Canadian participants must fund at least 50% of Canadian eligible expenditures;
• Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to manage, conduct and benefit from the proposed research;  
• Proposals are expected to include clearly identified commercial goals and commercialisation strategies;
• Proposals must include an intellectual property management plan; and,
• Projects should provide the opportunity for young researchers to participate, both within their own country and through exchanges with the partner country.

Partnership Development Activities: 

• Activities must include participants from both countries;
• Applications will be strengthened by the inclusion of participants from both industry and academia.  In Canada, government laboratories may participate but are not eligible to receive funding;
• Activities will be funded by each country on a 50/50 basis.  Canadian participants must fund at least 50% of Canadian eligible expenditures;
• Activities should provide the opportunity for young researchers to participate, both within their own country and in activities hosted in the partner country;
• Proposals should identify the objectives of the activity and how the activity fits into the applicants’ strategic plans for collaboration with the partner country.

APPLICATION PROCESS

All applications seeking funding support from ISTPCanada must also be submitted by the Chinese co-applicant to MOST.  Parallel, but linked, evaluation processes will be conducted by the implementing organizations in each country.  

Collaborative R&D Projects:

On a periodic basis, CFPs will be issued for collaborative R&D projects with China.  Each CFP will define the priority sector(s), if any, and establish the desired project parameters specific to that CFP.  In general, larger projects, with significant commercial potential, in the $2 million - $3 million ($Cdn) range are being sought.  ISTPCanada will support up to  50% of eligible Canadian costs, with an upper limit of $600,000 ($Cdn).  Project duration would normally be approximately 2 years, although projects as long as three years could be considered.  

For Canadian researchers, CFPs will involve a 2-stage process.  Applicants will first be asked to submit an “Expression of Interest” (EOI) which, amongst other requirements, outlines the proposed work, identifies the project team, establishes the technical and commercial relevance and provides a summary of project funding from all sources. Applicants proceeding to the second stage will be asked to submit a full proposal which would seek greater project detail as well as additional information relating to, amongst other things, commercialization potential and IP management.  In the CFP, applicants may also be directed to additional requirements specific to the implementation organizations in each country.  

Collaboration Partners in China are not required by MOST to submit an EOI first.  For details on, and access to MOST’s funding process, Chinese co-applicants are directed to MOST’s web site:
http://most.cn?tztg/200709/t20070907_52993.htm.

Partnership Development Activities:

For PDAs with China, all proposals will be submitted by the Canada and Chinese co-applicants to ISTPCanada only.  There will typically be two calls per year with application deadlines specified in each CFP.  Although no limit to the size of each supported activity is set, in general, it is expected that funding support provided by ISTPCanada and MOST will notionally be in the $10,000 to $25,000 ($Cdn) range.  ISTPCanada funding is limited to a maximum of 50% of eligible Canadian costs.  More specific funding ceilings may be established by the respective implementing organizations for each type of activity.  

EVALUATION PROCESS

Collaborative R&D Projects:

EOIs will be reviewed by ISTPCanada to assess which EOIs meet the basic requirements and objectives of the program.  Chinese co-applicants are not required by MOST to submit EOIs.

All full proposals will be evaluated against three fundamental criteria:

• The scientific merits of the project and the degree of innovation inherent in the product or service being developed.  
• The business opportunity of the proposed project and its capacity for commercial success in the near future.  
• Capacity of the participants to manage and conduct the project, including commercialization thus leading to clear benefits to both countries.

Proposals will go through an independent external review process both in Canada and in China. Review committees consisting of independent experts in each country will evaluate the proposals.  Based on the results of the evaluations, ISTPCanada and MOST will make a common decision regarding the successful proposals.

Partnership Development Activities:

Proposals will first be approved by ISTPCanada and then be forwarded to MOST for confirmation.  Typically, within two months of the close of the CFP, results will be communicated to the co-applicants by ISTPCanada and MOST.

CONTACTS

 ISTPCanada                                                   Ministry of Science & Technology  

Stacy Chew Country                                                        Beijing
Manager for China                                                           P.R. China
International S&T Partnerships Canada                             www.most.cn
371A Richmond Road, Suite 4
Ottawa, Ontario  K2A 0E7 
Canada

Tel: 613-729-3069, ext 223
Fax: 613-729-3061
stacychew@istpcanada.ca
www.istpcanada.ca 

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