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The 14th Call for Proposals for joint industrial research and development (R&D) projects between Germany and Canada offers an opportunity for businesses in both countries to collaborate on innovative projects. The focus of the call is to develop new products, processes, or technology-based services with strong market potential. Funding is available through Germany’s ZIM program (Central Innovation Program for SMEs) and Canada’s NRC IRAP (National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program).
Key deadlines include the submission of the Canadian Expression of Interest by October 2nd, 2024, and the International Consortium Joint Project Proposal by December 4th, 2024. German applicants also have the option to submit a project sketch by October 18th for feedback. Projects must involve at least one SME from each country and demonstrate clear benefits from international cooperation, such as enhanced innovation or access to new markets.
Eligible Canadian SMEs must be incorporated, profit-oriented, and prepared to collaborate with German partners. They may receive up to 50% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $500,000 CAD. German SMEs and medium-sized companies can apply for ZIM funding if they meet EU eligibility criteria.
The application process requires joint submission of a project proposal and a draft International Consortium Agreement, as well as national submissions to ZIM and NRC IRAP. This call aims to foster international cooperation and innovation, advancing state-of-the-art technology for commercialization. Interested applicants are advised to contact their respective funding agencies early in the process to ensure eligibility and improve their chances of success.
Here you can find the funding call website in German.
Expected Outcome
- Innovative Products or Technologies: Development of new or significantly improved products, processes, or technology-based services. These innovations should be grounded in the latest technological advancements and have potential for commercial success.
- Proof of Concept and Feasibility: Successful demonstration of the feasibility and viability of the proposed innovations. This could include prototypes, pilot studies, or other forms of validation that show the technology’s potential in real-world applications.
- Market Readiness: Preparation of the developed technologies for market entry. This includes refining the product, completing necessary testing, and establishing production and distribution plans to ensure the technology is ready for commercialization.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Strengthened partnerships between Canadian and German businesses, fostering long-term international collaborations and networks. This cooperation should result in a deeper integration of resources, knowledge, and capabilities between the participating entities.
- Economic and Competitive Advantages: Achieving measurable economic benefits such as increased revenues, market share, or competitive positioning for the participating companies. The project should contribute to their growth and success in the global market.
- IP Creation and Protection: Development of new intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, or other forms of IP, which can provide a competitive edge and potential revenue streams through licensing or commercialization.
Scope
Germany and Canada are pleased to announce a Call for proposals for joint industrial R&D projects focusing on developing innovative products, processes, or technology-based services in all technological and application areas, which have strong market potential.
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) will provide access to public funding for joint projects through the BMWK’s ZIM program (Central Innovation Program for SMEs) in Germany, and through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) in Canada.
NRC IRAP and AiF Projekt GmbH (Project management agency for the BMWK) will provide all necessary assistance to project partners during project proposal, evaluation and monitoring phase.