OCI Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Fosters collaboration between academia and industry to accelerate commercialization of intellectual property developed at Ontario colleges, universities, and research hospitals.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be an Ontario-based company or industry partner
- Must have been operating for at least 2 years
- Must partner with an Ontario college, university, or research hospital
- Project must focus on commercializing IP developed at the academic partner institution
- Industry partner must provide 50% cash co-funding of eligible project costs
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $20,000–$150,000 (50% of eligible project costs; industry partner must provide 50% cash)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Targeted defence/dual-use call open June 1 to July 31, 2026; C2C Alliance Advantage (with NSERC) runs on a rolling basis. Confirm on oc-innovation.ca.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win C2C
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for C2C? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe industry partner drives this application — do not wait for the academic institution to lead. Contact OCI's business development team first and get the project pre-screened before investing time in a formal proposal. The program is designed to fund the R&D that sits in academic labs but needs industry pull to commercialize — your strongest application has a clear business case for why this research will produce a product or service you intend to sell. The Alliance Advantage stream (joint with NSERC) is the most accessible entry point when the standalone C2C stream is closed.
Rejection Pitfalls 8
- Company incorporated less than 2 years in Ontario
- Fewer than 5 full-time equivalent employees in Ontario
- No genuine Ontario academic research partner identified
Success Profile
Ontario-incorporated SME (for-profit, 2+ years old, 5+ FTE) with a specific technology commercialization challenge that an Ontario academic researcher has expertise to address. Has an existing or newly formed relationship with a faculty member or applied researcher at an Ontario university, hospital, or college. Has a clear plan to commercialize the resulting IP within Ontario.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application steps not yet documented.
Required Documents 9
Deadline Notes
A targeted defence/dual-use C2C call is open June 1 to July 31, 2026. The C2C Alliance Advantage stream (co-funded with NSERC) runs on a rolling basis. Confirm current calls on oc-innovation.ca.
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Unknown RiskHow C2C Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCI Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C) | $20,000–$150,000 | Moderate | Varies | Targeted... |
| NSERC Alliance Advantage Grants | $20,000-$1,000,000 | Moderate | Advance Payment | Ongoing — rolling intake... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Mitacs Accelerate | $15,000 per internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
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