Technology Access Centre grants

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Activities supported

TAC grant proposals are expected to focus on how the TAC will meet the innovation needs of community organizations. For example, the centre might focus on

• developing a strategic technology for key business sectors in the community
• providing basic capabilities to strengthen a region’s innovation infrastructure
• addressing the applied research and innovation needs of key social, health and public organizations
• augmenting the innovation capabilities of local/regional organizations

TACs help their clients be more innovative, productive, effective and competitive.

For Quebec colleges and CEGEPs, TAC grants support only an added administrative, research management or client development position (and associated expenses) for an established centre.

Community, local or regional focus

TACs must serve the college’s community or local/regional area. These terms are used interchangeably and broadly include the geographic area where the college’s main stakeholder organizations are located. For most colleges, this is the local geographic area, where the client organizations that will use the research and employ the students are found. In some cases, depending on the college’s context, the geographic area can span several provinces.

Innovation support and research services

TACs must provide innovation support and research services, which refers to applied research or research support activities the TAC undertakes to meet a client organization’s innovation requirements. These activities can include applied research projects, knowledge mobilization, technical services, policy development, access to equipment, and specialized training, among others. The TAC offers these services on a fee-for-service or cost-recovery basis (recovery of all incremental centre expenses resulting from the client service activities). If the TAC has other sources of funding, such as a CCI Program Applied Research & Development (ARD) or College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grant, client organizations may provide cash and/or in-kind contributions to meet the grant’s leveraging requirements. Client contributions, along with the grant funds, should cover at least the centre’s cost-recovery expenditures.

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