Manitoba Innovation Proof-of-Concept Grant

Program Description

Funds Manitoba-based research and development projects with up to $150,000 for industry-academic consortia and up to $100,000 for post-secondary or independent industry streams, targeting bioscience, ICT, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure/transportation.

Eligibility Requirements

• Project must be Manitoba-based
• Stream 1: consortium of academic and industry partners with at least one industry partner providing matching funds
• Stream 2: post-secondary researchers or hospitals commercializing academic discoveries
• Stream 3: independent private-sector companies with R&D, production, or manufacturing operations in Manitoba
• The discovery or innovation must sit between Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 and TRL 7
• Research results must be used to achieve commercialization of the IP within five years after the grant project completes
• Funding is targeted to one of four provincial areas: Bioscience, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Advanced Manufacturing, or Infrastructure and Transportation Industries and Technologies
• The majority of the proposed research and commercialization activities must be conducted in Manitoba
• Matching funds are required for Stream 1 and Stream 3 — cash and/or in-kind contributions worth at least 50% of the amount requested from Research Manitoba, of which at least 50% must be cash, contributed after the award start date
• Lifetime maximum of four Innovation Proof-of-Concept grants per primary applicant or co-applicant, academic or industry, across all streams
• A primary applicant or co-applicant may hold at most two active Innovation Proof-of-Concept grants at a time, and cannot submit new applications until all active projects and reporting requirements are complete
• All applicants, co-applicants and collaborators must be in good financial standing and have completed all prior Research Manitoba reporting requirements at the time of application
• Industry applicant/partner: must be a for-profit organization incorporated in Manitoba with a valid CRA business number
• Industry applicant/partner: majority of operations in Manitoba, focused on industrial R&D or on products, processes or services of economic, environmental, health or societal benefit to Manitobans
• Industry applicant/partner: minimum of three full-time employees, with at least 50% based in Manitoba at the time of application
• Industry applicant/partner: must operate from its own dedicated offices or facilities (home-address or virtual operations require additional information in the Industry Organization Form)
• Stream 1: to serve as primary applicant, the industry organization must generate its revenue through the sale of its products and/or services, not through government aid
• Stream 1: the academic applicant and the industry applicant(s)/partner(s) must be at arm's length, and IP agreements must be in place before applying
• Stream 1: each industry applicant or partner may apply for a maximum of two Innovation Proof-of-Concept Grants per fiscal year (April 1 – March 31)
• Streams 1 and 2 academic applicants: must hold an academic appointment at a Manitoba post-secondary institution or research hospital, permanent or on a contract of more than three continuous years, conduct independent research, be permitted to hold the grant, and must not draw salary from the grant