Government of Canada Supports Community Jobs and Growth

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 19, 2011) - Colleges across the country will be able to purchase tools and equipment for research projects that will improve health care, aid in forest management, provide better water testing and further the use of renewable energy. The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) was at Centennial College today to celebrate the recipients of the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program's Innovation Enhancement (IE) Grants and Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) Grants.

"Our government is focused on completing the economic recovery. These investments will create jobs, improve the quality of life of Canadian families and strengthen the economy," said Minister of State Bernier. "By working in collaboration with colleges, local businesses gain access to new equipment and resources that help them advance innovation at the community level."

On May 30, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) announced that a total of 35 colleges across Canada would share more than $8 million over one year in ARTI Grants, a brand-new initiative under the CCI Program. These grants support the purchase of research equipment and installations to foster and enhance the ability of colleges to undertake applied research.

Centennial College is receiving close to $150,000 in ARTI Grants that will go to the Centennial Energy Institute, a state-of-the-art research facility where small and medium-sized enterprises can undertake commercial solar research and development. Last March, the college also received $2.2 million through the CCI's IE Grants to develop communications technologies intended to support health care professionals in time-sensitive situations.

This announcement follows other CCI Program investments announced in 2009 and 2010, bringing the total CCI Program investment to $107 million for 138 projects at 49 colleges. This program is a collaborative initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

"These CCI Program's ARTI Grants will result in innovation at the community level and entice companies to collaborate with colleges across the country," said Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President of NSERC, which administers the CCI Program. "When companies and colleges have access to the very best resources, everyone benefits. New jobs are created, industry expands and the community prospers."

NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports some 30,000 post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

More information about the CCI Program is available in the backgrounder.

Backgrounder

College and Community Innovation Program

About the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program

The College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program is managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

There are four types of grants available through the CCI Program:

1. Innovation Enhancement Grants
   
   
2. Applied Research and Development Grants
   
   
3. Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants
   
   
4. Technology Access Centre Grants

1) Innovation Enhancement (IE) Grants are aimed at enhancing innovation at the community and/or regional level by enabling Canadian colleges to increase their capacity to work with local companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These grants support the direct costs associated with applied research and collaborations that facilitate commercialization, as well as technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies. Funding for the first two years is up to $100,000 per year (per project) and funding in subsequent years is up to $500,000.

2) Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grants are intended to provide companies that operate from a Canadian base access to the knowledge, expertise and capabilities available at Canadian colleges and to train students in essential technical skills required by companies. The grants support short-term and small-scale projects that range from six months to three years in duration, with project costs being shared by the company partner. ARD-funded projects can be at any point in the research and development (R&D) spectrum that is consistent with the college's applied research, training and technology transfer mandate. There are three levels of funding under ARD Grants: under $25,000; up to $75,000; and over $75,000.

3) The Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants support the purchase of research equipment and installations to foster and enhance the ability of colleges to undertake applied research, innovation and training in collaboration with local companies. These grants are one-year awards that assist in buying applied research equipment that costs between $7,000 and $150,000.

4) Technology Access Centre (TAC) Grants provide funding for the core operations of centres established by colleges to address the applied research and innovation needs of local companies. The centres are intended to enhance the ability of companies, particularly SMEs, to become more productive and innovative by enabling them to readily access college expertise, technology and equipment. This access to college capabilities is intended to enhance the productivity, competitiveness and innovation of the participating SMEs. TAC Grants provide five-year, renewable funding of up to $350,000 per year.

Visit NSERC's Web site for more information about the CCI Program.