Connect to Collaborate: Leveraging OCI and NSERC Partnership Funding Programs to Advance R&D – October 15, 2021

The Ontario Centre for Innovation (OCI), formally OCE, has recently streamlined its popular research partnerships funding program, the Voucher for Innovation and Productivity (VIP), providing support to academic researchers working with Ontario companies. 

In partnership, NSERC’s Alliance grant and OCI’s Voucher for Innovation and Productivity (VIP) will support post-secondary R&D collaborations with the highest potential for regional economic development and commercialization in Ontario. 

UofT researchers in the Natural Sciences and Engineering fields with Ontario-based sponsoring partners are invited to attend this session to discover the joint OCI/NSERC option to maximize government support. Individual proposals can request at least $20,000 up to $30,000 from NSERC (Alliance grant) and at least $20,000 up to $30,000 from OCI VIP, with a corresponding $20,000 to $30,000 from the industry partner (at least 50% must be cash provided to the academic institution). The streamlined joint application and decision process will enable U of T researchers  to quickly undertake new research collaborations with Ontario-based researchers and have their cash contribution leveraged by both NSERC and OCI. The mutually beneficial projects are expected to result in economic benefits to the company and to Ontario and build impactful longer-term collaborations between the researcher and the company. 

 At this information session, OCI personnel will outline how U of T researchers can take advantage of this opportunity to double the funding agencies’ contribution to your research project. 

Speakers: 

• Balinder Rai, Senior Business Development and Commercialization Manager, Ontario Centre of Innovation 
• Alejandra de Almeida, Deputy Director, NSERC Ontario