About the Award

The Innovation Challenge Awards honour graduate students in the natural sciences or engineering who have demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit by identifying ways in which their research thesis results can be developed into products and processes to benefit Canadians. Since 2004, these awards have recognized and rewarded Canada's brightest minds.

The awards are aimed at fostering, in master's or PhD students who are in their final year or have recently graduated, an appreciation of real-world applications of their research. The students review their thesis work and submit an essay identifying potential products or services that could result from applying their research. Since universities play a crucial role in the innovation cycle in Canada, university Industrial Liaison Offices, or their equivalent, are charged with selecting and submitting their institution's nominations.

There are three awards: one $10,000 grand prize and two $5,000 runner-up prizes. Honourable mention prizes may also be awarded if applications are deemed meritorious. The winners will receive a cheque and a certificate at an event hosted by NSERC.

NSERC and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), who provide financing, capital and consulting services to create and grow Canadian small and medium-sized enterprise, provide the major funding for the Innovation Challenge Awards. Financial contributions received from, MDS Analytical Technologies, Research In Motion, Syncrude, the Dairy Farmers of Canada and 3M are used to provide honourable mention recipients with cash prizes.

For further information, send an e-mail to innovation@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
or call 613-947-9452.