Transcript Business Review meeting with Dr. Coulombe
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]