National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) Sault Ste Marie Innovation Center

Finding Funding

NRC-IRAP Overview

• Industrial Research Assistance Program is under the umbrella of the National Research Council • NRC-IRAP’s roots are 60+ years strong in 2008 • Technical specialists and not just transfer payment specialists • Today NRC-IRAP provides targeted advice and assistance to some 7,600 SMEs annually

• ~240+ Industry Technology Advisors (ITAs); 147 locations across Canada.

• Experienced individuals with research and/or industry experience - 2nd or 3rd careers • Huge collective knowledge pool Linked to the expertise of all staff through the national network • ITAs on average make about 100 client on-site visits per year

… Combining a national and regional presence … The ITA advantage

Client Profile

• Canadian companies with < 500 employees. 82% of NRC-IRAP clients have fewer than 50 employees – and most of them have fewer than 20.

• Covers broad range of industry sectors

Common challenges faced include limited:

– R&D capacity and staffing.

– Availability of private investment for R&D. – National and international networks to assist with competitive intelligence and commercialization.

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What does NRC-IRAP do?

1. Technological and Advisory Service to SMEs 2. Financial Support to Bring New Skills into Firms 3. Financial Support to Firms for Research and/or Development 4. Financial Support for Organizations Providing Innovation Assistance to SMEs 5. Networking and Linkages

Technological and Advisory Services & Networking/Linkages

• Constitutes the majority of IRAP client assistance and includes: • Linkages to NRC and other research based organizations.

• Technical literature and product searches.

• Patent searches for IRAP clients.

• Canadian Association of Management Consultant & Rotman School of management consultation.

• Networking to utilize ITA technical capacity.

Financial Support for New Skills – Youth Employment Program

• Max. contribution of $15K per youth • Covers salary costs of college/university graduate • Grad must be under 31 • Project based on 6 –12 months employment • Must benefit both firm and youth • Must add new technical or business capabilities to firm to support innovation

Financial Support for R&D

• Research, Development, Adaptation/Adoption Funding (Non-repayable)  New Product or Process Development  Market Research Studies  Technology Inflow from Outside Canada • Firm must be incorporated, with <500 employees • Project must increase innovation capacity of firm • IRAP contributes towards salaries & subcontractor costs • Does not cover capital, equipment

NRC-IRAP Challenge

Assist Innovative SME’s in Canada

Grow Stronger Grow Faster Grow Bigger

Through Technology

NRC-IRAP in Sault Ste Marie

John Hatherley (705) 942-7927 ext 3139 [email protected]

Thank You!