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Idea to Innovation (I2I)

The objective of the Idea to Innovation (I2I) program is to accelerate the pre-competitive development of promising technology and promote its transfer to Canadian companies. The program provides assistance to college and university faculty members in the early stages of technology validation and market connection.

The following table provides a quick summary of Phase II (Technology Enhancement) of the I2I program, the phase requiring partners.

Program Summary
Who manages funds? University or college and lead professor or faculty member.
Use of funds Technology development (proof-of-concept), technology enhancement, refining and implementing designs, verifying application, conducting field studies, preparing demonstrations, building engineering prototypes, and performing beta trials.
Duration of award Phase IIa, 6-18 months; phase IIb, maximum of 2 years.
Are multiple professors involved? If appropriate, but not required.
Approximate application success rate N/A.
Typical grant range Up to $125,000 for phase IIa and up to $350,000 over two years for phase IIb.
Type of partners required Canadian-based companies (including early-stage investment entities).
Minimum company contribution Phase IIa, 1/3 of project costs in cash; phase IIb, 1/2 of project costs in cash and in kind.
Is the contribution eligible for the SR&ED tax incentive? Yes. Consult your local Canada Revenue Agency office for specific eligibility rules and amounts.
Application deadline Four times per year, see I2I program description.
Evaluation method All proposals are peer-reviewed by external reviewers and the I2I Selection Committee.
When does the I2I Committee meet? March, June, September, and December.
Evaluation time 10 to 12 weeks from the application deadline.
Is NSERC willing to review drafts? Yes.

For more detailed information, please refer to the Program Description.

Date Modified: 2009-10-13
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