Idea to Innovation Grants

Overview of the Idea to Innovation Grants program:

The objective of Idea to Innovation (I2I) grants is to accelerate the pre-competitive development of promising technology originating from the university and college sector, and to promote its transfer to a new or established Canadian company. I2I grants provide funding to college and university faculty members to support research and development projects with recognized technology transfer potential. This is achieved through defined phases by providing crucial assistance in the early stages of technology validation and market connection. Application deadlines: June 20, 2025 September 22, 2025

Benefits of the Idea to Innovation Grants program:

• Eligible research and development activities include:
• Refining and implementing designs
• Verifying application
• Conducting field studies
• Preparing demonstrations
• Building prototypes
• Performing beta trials

Eligibility criteria of the Idea to Innovation Grants program:

• Phase I and phase II applications will be evaluated against the following criteria. Note that the selection committee will use a subset of the selection criteria, plus additional ones specifically related to market assessment, to review the market assessment applications.
• Scientific/technical merit
• Scientific basis for the expected commercial application
• Clarity and focus of research objectives
• Novelty, technical complexity, technical risk and feasibility
• Appropriateness of work plan, milestones, deliverables and decision points
• Team expertise and project management
• Breadth and depth of team expertise in the proposed fields of activity
• Business experience or available support
• Adequacy of personnel and material resources allocated for research and
• Technology transfer activities
• Quality of project management
• Potential for technology transfer and commercial benefits
• The commitment of the institution through its technology transfer office (or
• Equivalent)
• Appropriateness of the technology management and transfer plan
• Anticipated benefits for a Canadian company
• Justification of the benefits of NSERC financing
• Market assessment
• Signs of market interest
• Relevant essential questions have been incorporated into the market analysis
• Appropriateness of the consultant and statement of work
• Suitability of the proposed primary research
• Phases that can apply:
• Phase I: up to one year
• Phase IIa: from 6 to 18 months