Canada – Austria 2025 collaborative industrial research and development

Overview of the Canada – Austria 2025 collaborative industrial research and development program:

This Canada–Austria collaboration program provides a platform for Canadian SMEs to partner with Austrian entities, fostering the joint development of cutting-edge technologies, processes, and services. The program is open to projects from any civilian technology or market area, although it places particular emphasis on projects involving artificial intelligence (AI). The projects must be aimed at delivering commercially viable outcomes within 2-3 years after completion. A successful proposal should demonstrate complementary expertise from each partner, balanced contributions, and a clear commercialization strategy. This includes addressing intellectual property (IP) rights, identifying target markets, and presenting a compelling case for how the innovation will provide a competitive edge in global markets. By leveraging the resources and expertise of both countries, the program aims to achieve breakthroughs that would be challenging for individual entities to accomplish independently.

Benefits of the Canada – Austria 2025 collaborative industrial research and development program:

• International Collaboration: Opportunities to work with leading Austrian organizations on innovative projects.
• R&D Support: Financial resources for developing and testing new technologies.
• Market Expansion: Support for entering international markets with cutting-edge innovations.
• Technology Validation: Joint testing and adaptation for improved market readiness.
• Commercialization: Assistance in bringing technology to market through joint strategies and leveraging global expertise.
• Priority AI Projects: Focus on developing AI-driven solutions to address global challenges.

Eligibility criteria of the Canada – Austria 2025 collaborative industrial research and development program:

• For Canadian SMEs:
• Must be an incorporated, profit-oriented SME with fewer than 500 full-time employees.
• Demonstrate a protectable, innovative technology with global commercial potential.
• Possess sufficient resources to manage multi-year R&D collaborations and subsequent commercialization.
• Show commitment to growth and international market expansion.
• Preference is given to SMEs with:
• At least 15 full-time employees.
• Proven track record of product commercialization.
• Annual revenue exceeding $500,000 CAD.
• For the Consortium:
• Must include at least one Canadian SME and one Austrian partner.
• Partners should be independent entities with no financial or ownership ties.
• The consortium must have a clear IP ownership and commercialization strategy.
• For the Project:
• Projects must target the co-development or adaptation of innovative solutions for civilian purposes.
• Must achieve measurable outcomes within 2-3 years post-completion.
• Partners should demonstrate balanced contributions, with no single partner contributing more than 70% of the effort.