College and Community Innovation Program – Technology Access Centres Grants

Important Information

• College and Community Innovation Program
• College and Community Innovation Program Financial Administration Guide
• Technology Access Centres – A Discussion Paper

The College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program is managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Technology Access Centres (TAC) Grants can be across the spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering, humanities and/or health. All applications must be submitted to NSERC. Grants are made by NSERC, with the exception of grants exclusively in the social sciences, humanities and/or health sciences, which will be made by SSHRC or CIHR, as appropriate.

Objective

Technology Access Centres (TAC) Grants are intended to enhance the ability of companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to become more productive and innovative by enabling them to readily access college expertise, technology and equipment. This access to college capabilities is intended to enhance the productivity, competitiveness and innovation of the participating SMEs.

Description

Technology Access Centres provide funding for core operations of centres established by colleges to address the applied research and innovation needs of local companies. TAC Grants are awarded for five years and are anticipated to be renewable.

Technology Access Centres (TACs) provide capabilities that serve their local companies’ applied research and innovation needs. TAC capabilities may include advice on specific company challenges, specialized technical assistance, applied research and/or development projects for companies, and/or specialized training.

TAC Grant proposals are expected to focus on regional needs. For example, centres might focus on developing a strategic technology for key business sectors in the region* addressing the applied research and innovation needs of key companies; or providing basic capabilities to strengthen a region’s innovation infrastructure. In addressing the innovation capability of SMEs, TACs are anticipated to help their clients be more productive and competitive.

TAC Grants provide up to $350,000 per year in support of the core operations of the proposed centre. Eligible expenses include hiring the centre’s manager and administrator, as well as basic operating expenses.

For colleges and cégeps in Quebec, given the substantial network of centres that support SME innovation, proposals will be limited to a maximum of $100,000 per year and must be in support of an incremental administrative, research management or business development position (and associated expenses) for an established centre of the college.

While TAC proposals are not required to contain specified levels of private-sector contributions, the performance of the TACs will be evaluated based on their impact on company innovation. Important near-term indicators of a TAC’s impact would include the number of clients served and the level of client-derived revenue. Those invited to submit an application will be required to specify performance metrics and target levels for these metrics indicating the anticipated impact of the proposed centre.

*Region: For the purposes of this initiative, a business region is defined as a contiguous geographic area where company and centre personnel can comfortably make day trips to collaborate on innovation projects. However, TAC proposals can address an innovation support opportunity where the high value of the services to be offered provides a compelling case for serving a much broader area.

Participation

Technology Access Centres are expected to work within the local/regional innovation system. As such, it is vital that TAC proposals demonstrate support from key regional organizations. This may include regional economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, business groups and key companies. Local and provincial governments may also be involved. Contributions in cash and/or in-kind towards the establishment and operation of a proposed centre signals the support and involvement of these organizations. Letters of support from such organizations demonstrate their support for, and alignment with, the proposed Technology Access Centre.

As part of their business plan, the TAC proposals must include a plan for working with companies, including the anticipated approach to business development, and projections for the number of clients and annual revenues from those interactions.

Eligibility

Canadian colleges that have been declared eligible to administer grants according to the eligibility requirements for colleges of at least one of the three federal granting agencies (NSERC, CIHR and/or SSHRC) may submit a TAC application.

• The college must offer programs in the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities and/or health sciences.
• The college's faculty members involved in TAC Grants are engaged in research in the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities and/or health sciences.
• The college will provide the basic facilities and services (including space) to enable its natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities and/or health sciences faculty members to conduct research.

Colleges must offer programs in line with the research area proposed in the TAC application. If the proposed research and knowledge/technology transfer activities lie entirely within the mandate of a single agency (NSERC, CIHR or SSHRC) the college must be declared eligible to receive funding from that granting agency. The agency may require additional information before funds can be released.

Eligible Expenses

The table below describes the eligible expenses for Technology Access Centres. The expenses must be related to the TAC's activities as proposed to NSERC.

For further information on use of grant funds, consult the College and Community Innovation Program Financial Administration Guide.

Application Procedures

There is a two-stage application process (Letters of Intent followed by applications from invited applicants). Both stages will be peer-reviewed against the Technology Access Centres selection criteria (see below).

Applications for Technology Access Centres will include many aspects of a business plan for the proposed centre. Proposals for a Technology Access Centre must include an environmental scan of both the regional needs and available resources. The proposed centre’s expertise should be complementary to other resources serving the specific sector targeted or region. The proposal must demonstrate the expected added value of such a centre and provide a plan for realizing this value, measureable objectives for the centre, and performance targets for those objectives.

Stage I: Letters of Intent

Colleges must submit Letters of Intent (LOIs) that describe:

• the innovation needs of the region/companies that the proposed centre will address (environmental scan);
• a description of the capabilities to be offered to address that opportunity and how these are complementary to capabilities already provided by others;
• a brief description of the key personnel and capabilities already in place;
• the anticipated organizational and management structures;
• the anticipated key stakeholders; and
• estimates of the anticipated business operating revenue and expenses for the centre.

LOIs must:

• be prepared according to the detailed instructions pertaining to the initiative;
• be accompanied by a letter from the president of the college, outlining the institutional support for the application and the relation to the college's strategic plan; and
• include two letters from companies and/or regional agencies, outlining their support of the need for a centre in the area and describing how it will benefit them and contribute to local and/or regional innovation.

One printed copy of the signed application must be provided to NSERC by the application deadline.

Letters of Intent will be reviewed by the College and Community Innovation Review Committee based on the selection criteria listed below. This committee will provide advice and comments on each LOI that will then recommend to NSERC the colleges to be invited to submit an application.

Stage II: Applications

Colleges invited to proceed to stage II may submit applications. Applications for Technology Access Centres consist of a completed application form (F104), letters of support from the college and supporting groups, and College Personal Data Forms (F103CV) for key personnel. In these elements the applicant should:

• provide an environmental scan of both the regional needs and available resources, indicating the expected added value of the centre and how the proposed centre's expertise is complementary to other resources serving the specific sector targeted or region. Describe the innovation needs of companies that the proposed centre will address;
• describe the services and capabilities to be offered to address that opportunity. This description should include other capabilities that are currently available, and how the proposed centre’s offerings would be complementary to or differ from the capabilities already available from others;
• include College Personal Data Forms for the key personnel already in place and a description of the capabilities that exist or will be established for the centre and how the proposed centre builds on the expertise and facilities existing within the college;
• describe the proposed organizational and management structure and the relationship of the centre to the applying college. Include the proposed general composition of the Board of Directors / Advisory Board;
  
  Note: Two possible organizational structures are (1) centres as not-for-profit corporations owned by the college or (2) centres as specialized departments within the college. Centres structured as not-for-profit corporations are expected to have Boards with representation from key stakeholders from the college, regional groups, and key business groups. Centres structured as specialized departments are expected to have advisory boards that also draw on key college, regional and company stakeholders.
  
  
• forecast the anticipated business operating revenues and expenses for the centre;
• provide letters of support from relevant stakeholders including the college, companies, provincial and regional agencies. These letters should outline the proponents' planned contributions to the centre, and the role they anticipate playing to realize and benefit from the centre's capabilities; and
• provide an Information Required from Organizations Participating in Research Partnerships Programs (Form 183A) for each company making a cash and/or in-kind contributions.

Colleges invited to submit applications will be able to participate in an NSERC workshop to assist them in preparing the application. If requested, NSERC will allow participation of up to two additional college representatives at the workshop at their own expense.

Applications will be reviewed by a site visit review committee. At these site visits, reviewers selected by NSERC will discuss the proposal with the application’s proponents. The recommendation of the site visit committees will be considered by the College and Community Innovation Review Committee. The Committee will provide advice and comments on each application and will recommend to NSERC the applications to receive TAC Grants.

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Value Added:
  • The value added of the centre to the targeted sector's/region's innovation capacity and the potential for the centre to play a significant role in innovation in SMEs in their region, including potential for synergies between the proposed centre, the host college(s) and other innovation support organizations in the region.
  • The incremental value that the Technology Access Centres Grant will bring to the college's current activities in this area.
• Organizational Structure: The organizational structure of the centre; the degree of engagement and support from the college, public, and company stakeholders in the proposed centre; and the centre's integration with the strategic plan of the college.
• Market Opportunity: The ability of the TAC to attract investment and meet the performance metrics and investment targets identified.
• Accountability Framework:Evidence of an accountability framework likely to result in effective leadership and sound financial decision making.
• Delivery Plan: Focus, coherence and feasibility of the service delivery plan. This includes the scope of support capabilities and approach planned for reaching and delivering innovation support to companies in their region.
• Applied Research Competence: The current strength of the expertise (both human and technical) and the anticipated quality and quantity of expertise and support capabilities to be offered by the centre in support of SME innovation needs.

Announcement of the Competition Results

Applicants will be advised of the results of the competition and funding will commence once NSERC is satisfied that the appropriate governance structures are in place.

A confidential evaluation report including the comments of the site visit review committee and the College Review Committee will be made available to each applicant.

Grantees will be invited by NSERC to send a representative to participate in a workshop on how to manage the NSERC TAC Grant. If requested, NSERC will allow participation of up to two additional college representatives at the workshop at their own expense.

Reporting

Technology Access Centres will be awarded for five years. It is anticipated that the TACs will have the opportunity to compete for renewal funding.

Annual financial and progress reports will be required. Grantees will be required to report progress against the objectives and performance metrics proposed, and discuss issues, best practices and opportunities. The annual reports must be endorsed by the oversight body (i.e., Board or Advisory Committee). It is anticipated that there will be a mid-term evaluation to assess the progress of the TACs in meeting their objectives.