envisAGE AgeTech Collaborative Projects

Program Description

envisAGE funds collaborative projects that put a Canadian SME's mature AgeTech solution (TRL 7-9) into the real living and care environments of older adults and caregivers, in partnership with a Community Lab such as a retirement home, long-term care home or home-care organization. Support is partial reimbursement of eligible expenses — an SME recovers 15% to 25% of its eligible project costs — rather than a fixed dollar award.

Eligibility Requirements

• The Lead Applicant is either an SME or a Community Lab, and at least one innovative SME is required on every project.
• Applicants must be legally incorporated within a Canadian jurisdiction (federal or provincial).
• Applicants must have their head office, as well as the majority of jobs and activities, located in or carried out in Canada.
• An SME applicant must certify it has 499 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• An SME applicant must certify it has research and development activities taking place in Canada.
• The technology must be at Technology Readiness Level 7 or above.
• The SME must have developed and own, in whole or in part, the intellectual property forming the basis of the proposed technology.
• The technology must already meet its applicable regulatory and compliance requirements (certifications, approvals or permits).
• Applicants must demonstrate that their financial capacity, management, professional and technical staff, and organization of production and marketing would enable them to meet all obligations for a collaborative project.
• Applicants must have the financial capacity to participate in a reimbursement-based collaborative project within the predefined cost-sharing ratio — envisAGE reimburses only 15% to 25% of an SME's eligible expenses.
• The technology must be implemented in partnership with a Community Lab: a legal entity providing services, supports, care and/or housing to older adults or caregivers, willing to adopt the technology and committed to innovation.
• The solution must address one or more of the call's themes: autonomy and independence; cognitive health and dementia; healthy lifestyles and wellness; staying connected; supportive homes and communities; health care and health service delivery; mobility and transportation; or financial wellness and employment.
• The SME is responsible for paying a management fee of 5% of the project's total eligible expenses (excluding overhead) to envisAGE.
• Total government assistance for the same eligible expenditures (envisAGE plus federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) must not exceed 75% of total eligible expenditures.
• Projects are implemented over 12 to 18 months.
• Applicants must not be in default of any other federal or provincial government grant, bankrupt, under court administration, in an arrangement with creditors, or have suspended business activities.