College and Community Innovation Program - Frequently Asked Questions

• General Questions
• Questions About Partners
• Questions About Students Participation
• Questions About Eligible Expenses under the CCI Program
• Questions About Innovation Enhancement grants (Formerly, CCI grants)
• Questions About the Entry Level Innovation Enhancement grants
• Questions About Applied Research and Development grants
• Questions About Applied Research Tools and Instruments grants
• Questions About Technology Access Centre grants

General Questions

1. Who is eligible to apply to the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program?

Only colleges declared eligible to administer grants may apply to the CCI Program. The colleges must be eligible according to the eligibility requirements for colleges of at least one of the three granting agencies (i.e., NSERC, the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada [SSHRC] or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [CIHR]).

It is recommended that colleges initiate the eligibility process well in advance of the competition deadline for which they wish to submit a proposal. For information on eligibility criteria, please see the Institutional Eligibility Requirements.

Note: If an award is recommended for a proposal that does not have a natural sciences and engineering component, NSERC will transfer funds to either SSHRC or CIHR to enable the grant to be funded by the appropriate granting agency.

2. Who may submit a CCI application?

A - The person who prepares the application is the “applicant” and it is his or her name that will appear on the application. That person must be an employee of the college— preferably an administrator or a manager who has experience in managing grants of a value equivalent to the amount for which the application is being made.

B – The person who approves the application must be at a higher level in the hierarchy than the applicant. He or she must also be an employee of the college. Contact NSERC at least once month before submitting the grant application, in order to obtain information on how to register that person to approve the submission of the grant application through NSERC’s On-line System. NSERC will provide you with Form 253 (Electronic Submission of Applications Registration Form) for the registering of that person.  

Note: The person who approves the application must be designated by the director general of the college or his or her representative.  

3. How can I electronically complete my application for a grant under the College and Community Innovation Program?

First-time users must register in NSERC’s On-line System before completing a grant application using that system. Forms are available on the Main Menu page of the On-line System, under Forms management>Forms>Researcher. A college may submit a grant application in either official language.

4. Are all grant types open for proposals in social sciences, humanities and health sciences?

Yes, all grants types in the CCI program can be across the spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering, humanities and/or health. Applications must be submitted to NSERC, and all grants are made by NSERC, with the exception of funded proposals exclusively in the social sciences, humanities and/or health sciences, which will be made by SSHRC or CIHR, as appropriate. The CCI program’s objective is to enable Canadian colleges to increase their capacity to work with local companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), so the involvement of companies is very important.

5. Will NSERC’s regional offices be involved in the evaluation CCI grant proposals?

No. While applicants are welcome to discuss CCI proposals with regional office staff or Ottawa staff, CCI grants evaluation is managed by staff based in NSERC’s headquarters in Ottawa.

6. Can a given college receive more that one CCI grant?

Yes. A college can receive multiple CCI grants. The maximum amount payable to an institution is limited to $5 million per year. The only exception is that a college can only hold one Entry Level Innovation Enhancement grant.

7. What is meant by “region” or “local community”?

The region or local community that the program is intended to benefit is the community or region that the college serves according to its mandate. A business located in the same province as the college may also participate in CCI Program activities. However, since the objective of the CCI Program is to stimulate collaboration between a college and local or regional companies, the majority of the CCI activities should focus on collaboration at the local or regional level. In some cases, proposals may relate to a sector for which the planned activities will be national in scope. The proposals must clearly demonstrate that the scope of the project is justified and that the project can indeed be carried out.

Questions About Partners

1. Are only companies eligible as partners?

No. A wide variety of organizations (businesses, colleges, hospitals, public utilities, associations and government agencies) can be eligible partners. However, the focus of the CCI Program is regional innovation, so the proposal must involve the close participation of strong private-sector organizations that can realize commercial value from the applied research results.

2. Can a non-for-profit organization be a partner in a CCI grant?

A not-for-profit organization is welcome to participate in a CCI grant project. However, since regional innovation is the focus of the CCI Program, proposals must involve the close participation of one or more private-sector organizations that can realize commercial value from the applied research project’s results. 

3. Can a supplier to the project be recognized as a partner?

Yes. Suppliers can make valuable contributions to projects supported by a CCI Program grant and can play an important role in applying and disseminating the project results. However, any contributions to the project from a supplier should be net of any financial advantage that the supplier receives from providing goods or services to the college or in connection with the project. For example, if it is anticipated that the supplier will get a $10,000 contract from the college in connection with the project, $10,000 must be deducted from the cash contribution from the supplier on Form 183A and in the letter of support. Thus, only the net cash contribution made by the supplier to the college for the project should be indicated in the proposal.

4. Can contributions from organizations outside the region or outside Canada be considered partner contributions?

Yes. Eligible partners may make valuable contributions to a project supported by a CCI Program grant, contributions that increase the benefit to Canada from the project. Projects supported by a CCI Program grant should focus on the participation of partners in the local system of innovation. However, sometimes an organization outside the region or country can make a valuable contribution to the project that increases the benefit to Canada from the project. It is the responsibility of the applicants to demonstrate that partners are making clearly positive contributions to the project supported by a CCI grant, to regional innovation and to the benefits for Canada.

5. What constitutes a cash contribution from my college?

Cash contributions are paid by the partner (in this case the college) into an account used for making eligible expenditures, which must be authorized by the applicant in accordance with the specific terms and conditions of the proposal. Other contributions by the college (services, equipment, facilities and materials) constitute in-kind contributions.

6. May universities, Crown corporations, Aboriginal groups or other organizations be involved in a proposal?

Yes. Universities, Crown corporations, Aboriginal groups or other organizations may participate in the proposed activities and projects as collaborators, but they cannot benefit from the funds received. The funds are provided to build capacity specifically at the college. However, the involvement of collaborators and partners, in addition to those from the private sector, who can strengthen an initiative should be described in the proposal.

7. What is the definition of “small or medium-sized enterprise” (SME)?

For the purposes of the CCI Program, an SME is defined as a business with fewer than 500 employees, a small enterprise being one with fewer than 100 employees and a medium-sized enterprise being one with 100 to 499 employees. Enterprises with 500 or more employees are considered large enterprises.

8. Are collaborations with large enterprises, in addition to SMEs, accepted?

Yes. The program focuses on SMEs, but the proposal may include collaboration with large enterprises as well. The businesses must be located in the community that the college serves and must have expertise in the specific field described in the proposal. The CCI Program focuses on SMEs in particular because often they do not have their own R&D facilities and have a greater need for assistance in developing, testing or improving new products or processes. If there is a mix in the size of enterprises in the community that can benefit from increased capacity at the college in the field to which the proposal relates, the college must demonstrate that it is prepared to work with SMEs, as well as large enterprises.

Questions About Students Participation

1. Must the proposal provide for participation of students in the described activities?

Generally, yes. The application must describe how students will benefit from the grant, what new skills and knowledge the students will acquire, how this will be achieved and how it will benefit the community or region. The proposals will be evaluated on the quality of, and increase in, the training described in the proposal. The exception to the requirement to involve students is for Technology Access Centre (TAC) grants that are focused on providing innovation support services to companies.

2. May students be paid from the grant?

Yes. Students may be paid a salary from the CCI grant to work on a project supported by the grant—for example, as a research assistant with a local enterprise—even if the project is outside their curriculum. The grant could be used to pay a student doing a co-op term in a participating company if the college regulations permit. Salary top-ups to students can be covered by either college funds and/or a partner’s cash contributions. 

Questions About Eligible Expenses Under the CCI Program

1. Can CCI grants be used to pay top-ups for faculty who are on reduced salary during a sabbatical, but interested in doing research? Similarly, some professors get summer months off, but would be willing to do applied research if there was a financial incentive to do so. Can a research bonus be paid to such faculty?

No. CCI Program funds cannot be used to pay salary top-ups to researchers who participate in a project supported by a CCI grant during their sabbatical or during their summer off time. It is not the intent of the CCI Program to top up the salaries of faculty researchers; therefore such top-ups are not an eligible expense under the CCI Program. Funding of up to $7,000 per faculty release (to hire a replacement teacher) to allow a faculty to participate in CCI projects is an eligible expense.

2. Can college deans and presidents who re-assign teaching responsibilities to other faculty, up to their workload limit, use CCI Program grants for a project to increase the salary of other faculty; in other words, can we pay the salary of a part-time professor under the CCI program?

No. CCI Program funds cannot be used to pay faculty to take on additional teaching, so as to free others to participate in research. CCI Program funds cannot be used to pay salary to existing faculty researchers. Funding of up to $7,000 per faculty release (to hire a replacement teacher) to allow a faculty to participate in CCI projects is an eligible expense.

3. Can faculty researchers who are eligible to apply to Idea to Innovation (I2I) and other NSERC grant programs be supported by means of funds granted under the CCI Program?

No. It is not the intent of the CCI Program to pay the salaries of faculty researchers. Funding of up to $7,000 per faculty release (to hire a replacement teacher) to allow a faculty to participate in CCI projects is an eligible expense.

4. What is the duration of a paid internship for students in a project supported by a CCI Program grant?

The term identified is 16 weeks, as in the case of NSERC’s USRA program. Internships lasting less than two months and or more than twelve months are not eligible.

5. Training on advanced equipment may be more cost-effective if obtained on the supplier's premises (outside Canada). Are expenses for such training eligible under the CCI Program?

Yes. Expenses for international travel to obtain training on significant and specialized equipment or processes are eligible under the CCI Program.

6. Information gathering and contact building may be done more effectively at international workshops or shows, even if the intended results are innovations on a regional level. Are expenses for such travel eligible under the CCI Program?

No. Since the aim of the CCI Program is to promote local and regional innovation, expenses for international travel to interact with clients or attend conferences or trade shows are not eligible under the CCI Program. However, expenses for international trips to gather information on leading-edge technology may be submitted for review and may be authorized in exceptional cases.

Questions About the Innovation Enhancement (IE) grants

1. May a college apply for an Innovation Enhancement grant to support a single project in which one or more faculty members and a local business are participating?

No. The program is intended to support a portfolio of applied research projects, as well as technology and knowledge transfer/outreach activities, to build the college’s capacity to work with local companies in generating and/or adopting new technologies or improving existing products and processes. The objective is to stimulate new partnerships and new ways of working with the community. Consult the Guidelines for Organizations Participating in Research Partnerships Programs for further information.

2. What would be appropriate in terms of the partners’ contributions to the total IE grant budget?

Colleges must demonstrate that they have obtained in-kind support for the projects or activities to which the application for an IE grant pertains from private-sector partners that could benefit from those projects or activities. There are no predetermined rules on in-kind contributions, and each stated in-kind commitment will be assessed on its own merits. The situation varies, depending on the college and the proposed area of activities. Cash contributions from companies are also seen as valid contributions. However, in some cases, cash contributions in addition to in-kind contributions may demonstrate real commitment to, and interest in, the outcomes of the project proposed by the college.

3. Must the proposal be based on a new initiative?

No. The proposal may request funds to augment existing support for an initiative already underway. The ongoing activities, the resources committed to them and their impact must be described and the proposal must demonstrate how the proposed activities will be in addition to existing activities and commitments.

4. Will the Innovation Enhancement grants support two or more projects with local companies in different fields?

No. Activities and projects described in the proposal must support innovation in one specific field in which the college has recognized expertise, and the activities and projects must meet community needs. For example, a college may submit a proposal requesting funds to build capacity related to metallurgy to help businesses in the region adapt new technologies to meet their specific needs. In another proposal, this college might propose agri-food science activities to promote growth in that field in the region.

Questions About the Entry Level Innovation Enhancement (IE) grant

1. What is the Entry Level IE grant?

The Entry Level IE grant is designed to enable colleges to build their capacity to work with local companies. The maximum value of the grant is $100,000 a year, and the maximum duration is two years.

2. How does the Entry Level IE grant differ from the IE Five-Year grant?

Unlike the IE Five-Year grant, the Entry Level IE grant does not require as much initial capacity for innovation support. Please contact NSERC to ascertain which grant is most appropriate for your college.

3. How do I go about submitting an application for an Entry Level IE grant electronicall?

Colleges wishing to submit an application for an Entry Level IE grant must complete certain sections of Form 103, which is on the Main Menu page of the On-line System, under "Forms management>Forms>Researcher." You will have the option of choosing between the Entry Level IE grant and the IE Five-Year grant. In both cases, new users of the On-line System must first register in the system. Please see question #2 and #3 in the General Questions section.

4. Is a college with an IE grant in one research field allowed to submit an application for an Entry Level IE grant in another research field?

At this time, only colleges which do not have an Innovation Enhancement or Technology Access Centre grant may submit an application for an Entry Level IE grant. However, colleges that have only received an Applied Research Tools and Instruments grant or a low amount of Applied Research and Development grants are eligible to apply for an Entry Level IE grant.

5. Must a college that wishes to submit an application for an Entry Level IE grant have been declared eligible to administer NSERC funds?

Refer to question number one in the General Questions section.

6. May a college submit both an application for an Entry Level IE grant and an application for a IE Five-Year grant in the same competition?

Colleges are not eligible to submit an application for an Entry Level IE grant in a competition in which they are submitting a Letter of Intent or a complete IE grant application.

7. May a college submit more than one application for an Entry Level IE grant in the same competition?

NSERC accepts only one application for an Entry Level IE grant per college, per competition.

8. What kind of expenses are covered by the Entry level grants?

The Entry level grant would allow colleges to:

• hire a research coordinator;
• undertake several smaller projects with partners (minimum of three projects);
• release faculty to participate in perhaps five or ten projects per year; and/or
• engage students to participate in these projects.

For more information on eligible expenses, consult the IE Grants web page and the CCI Program Financial Administration Guide.

Questions About Applied Research and Development (ARD) grants

1. Can a university researcher participate in an Applied Research and Development (ARD) grant?

While university researchers are welcome to participate in the activities of an ARD-funded project, they cannot receive funds from the grant to support their participation.

2. Is there a minimum cash fraction for ARD grants?

Given the developing nature of college applied R&D, at this time there is no minimum cash fraction that needs to be provided by eligible partnering organizations for the ARD grants. However, in-kind contributions are closely scrutinized by NSERC staff. For information about eligible in-kind contributions, refer to the Guidelines on Eligibility and Value of In-Kind Contributions section of the Guidelines for Organizations Participating in Research Partnerships Programs.

3. Can colleges collaborating on an ARD project share funding?

Yes. NSERC grants are awarded to an applicant (lead college). However, participants in other colleges can share in the project activities and use project resources. The applicant from the lead college is responsible for managing this process and reporting on the use of all grant and project funds.

4. ARD Level 1 grants are restricted to new partnerships. What does NSERC mean by a "new partnership"?

If the college and the company have collaborated on an applied research project before it is not considered a new relationship. However if the college has been involved in training students for the company, or the company has participated in a curriculum committee, this constitute a new relationship.

5. Are ARD projects limited to SMEs?

No. While the College and Community Innovation program is focused on innovation in the local region, companies of all sizes can participate. Consult the Guidelines for Organizations Participating in Research Partnerships Programs to assess whether the contributions from a potential partnering company are eligible.

6. Are government labs or organizations like TRLabs, NRC, and INO eligible as partners in ARD proposals?

Organization partnering in ARDs must demonstrate that they have the capacity and motivation to exploit the research results of the projects. Research organizations like those mentioned above are welcome to participate in an ARD project, but are not recognized as private-sector partners.

Questions About Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grants

1. Can a college submit more than one ARTI application to a competition?

Yes, colleges can submit multiple proposals to an ARTI competition. Each should be in a separate domain (i.e., do not submit multiple proposals to achieve funding for a facility where the equipment will cost more than $150,000).

2. Can an ARTI grant include costs for the technical staff to maintain and/or operate the equipment?

No. Maintenance of the equipment is the responsibility of the college. However extended maintenance contracts for the equipment is an eligible expense for ARTI grants. However, operating costs for the use of equipment can be included in other types of CCI grants (i.e., Innovation Enhancement, Applied Research and Development, and/or Technology Access Centre).

3. Are the costs of modifying laboratories and/or buildings to accommodate buildings eligible for ARTI grants?

No, these are the responsibility of the college.

4. Are staff training costs eligible, even if it is outside Canada?

Yes.

5. Will the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) be funding equipment?

CFI recently announced $25 million in funding for equipment focused on colleges. First funding is anticipated to begin in 2012. For further information, contact CFI.

Questions About Technology Access Centre (TAC) grants

1. How should a College present a TAC grant proposal?

As described in the TAC grants proposal instructions, an application for a TAC grant should be described like a business plan. The applicants need to identify an important gap or opportunity in the innovation landscape, demonstrate its capabilities form a strong basis for addressing the opportunities, and demonstrate a solid approach and management plan for the proposed centre. The proposal should describe the anticipated impact the centre will have on innovation by companies in the community.

2. Can an existing capability form the basis of a TAC grant proposal?

Yes. TACs are intended to build off the existing strengths of the colleges. Thus, a demonstrated track record in successfully providing innovation services to SMEs will be seen as a strength in a college’s proposal. Note that each proposal must demonstrate the incremental benefit to be realized by the TAC funding.

3. If a college already holds an Innovation Enhancement grant, is it a good idea to submit a TAC grant proposal in the same area?

Technology Access Centres are anticipated to build on an area of demonstrated strength for the college. Innovation Enhancement grants are intended to allow the college to build and/or demonstrate capabilities in an area and may help colleges prepare for a TAC.

4. Our college has developed some very promising technology. Would a TAC grant be an appropriate vehicle for commercializing this technology?

No, TAC grants are aimed at providing innovation and applied research services to companies. They are expected to be focused on, and responsive to, business needs.

5. Can TAC funds be used to pay project costs?

Technology Access Centre funds are anticipated to support the core operations of the centre (administrative, management and marketing personnel). Some limited costs can be used to support people and expenses associated with coordinating innovation and applied research with SMEs.

6. Is there an expectation that students are trained, and faculty participate, in the TAC?

It is up to the TAC to identify the appropriate role, if any, for students and faculty in providing innovation and applied research services to SMEs. In many cases companies prefer their innovation needs are met with the centre’s employees rather than students. One approach to involve students and faculty is as employees of the centre. With this approach the employees have defined and clear roles.

7. Can multiple colleges participate in a Technology Access Centre grant?

Yes, multiple colleges can participate. The reviewers will be looking to ensure the management structure and implementation plans are enabling for the TAC’s success. However, note that it is not a specific objective of TAC grants to get the colleges to collaborate.

8. What about provinces that already have established centres?

NSERC is working to ensure that TAC grants are complementary to existing support for college-based centres. For example, Quebec has a network of more than 40 College Centres for Technology Transfer (CCTTs) that receive up to $300,000 per year in base funding. Rather than offering funding for an additional TAC in Quebec, proposals from Quebec should be for incremental funding to existing CCTTs that address opportunities for increased impact. This might be an additional business development position, a technical project manager or a scientific lead. In these cases, grants of up to $100,000 per year are possible.

9. Will NSERC look at the sectorial representation of the funded projects?

For the pilot, we will look at the regional distribution (generally one grant per region, five regions). All CCI grants (including TACs) can be across the spectrum of natural and social sciences, humanities and health. NSERC anticipates that the awards will align with priority areas in the regions where they are proposed.

10. How are TAC grants different than Innovation Enhancement grants?

The following table summarizes the key difference between Innovation Enhancement and TAC grants.