Collaborative funding programs | Corporate Research Partnerships

Leverage your company's research investment by taking advantage of government funding programs, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Ontario Centres of Innovation (OCI), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Find research expertise, state-of-the art facilities, and explore research collaborations by connecting with Waterloo’s Corporate Research Partnerships team. A member of the team will help you find the right expert, guide you through the partnering process, and help leverage your funding. To learn more about current funding opportunities or to determine which grant opportunity is best suited for you, please contact the Corporate Research Partnership Manager that aligns with your industry sector.

Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Ontario Centres of Innovation (OCI)

OCE TalentEdge Internship
Amount	$10,000 per unit
Length	Four months per unit
Company funding requirements	$5,000 cash plus $5,000 in-kind per unit
Application	Work closely with OCE Business Development to apply
Website	TalentEdge Internship Program (TIP)
Notes	Stipend pays a minimum of $10,000 per unit to the intern, balance of funds for related project costs Master's degree students are eligible for up to two units, PhDs for six units Projects can be built of multiple units, sequentially and/or in parallel (multiple students)

OCE TalentEdge Fellowship (Post-doc funding)
Amount	$32,500 per unit
Length	One year per unit
Company funding requirements	Minimum $25,000 cash plus $25,000 in-kind per unit
Application	Work closely with OCE Business Development to apply
Website	TalentEdge Fellowship Program (TFP)
Notes	Recipient can hold up to two units; a project can be one or two years in duration Stipend pays a minimum of $52,500 per unit to the fellow (including benefits), balance of funds for related project costs Projects can be built of multiple units, sequentially and/or in parallel (multiple fellows)

OCE Voucher for Innovation & Productivity (VIP1)
Amount	$20,000
Length	Four to 12 months
Company funding requirement	$5,000 (minimum) and remainder in-kind
Matching	1:1, cash + in-kind
Application	Work closely with OCE Business Development to apply
Website	Voucher for Innovation and Productivity I (VIP1)
Notes	Greater matching leverage via these programs through same OCE application: NSERC Engage: $25,000 for first time collaborations between PI and SME IRAP: up to $20,000 for access to non-academic expertise/service providers

OCE Voucher for Innovation & Productivity (VIP11)
Amount	$50,000 - $75,000 per year
Length	One to two years
Company funding requirements	1:1, 50% cash + 50% in-kind
Matching	$25,000 (minimum) (net of overhead)
Application	Work closely with OCE Business Development to apply
Website	Voucher for Innovation and Productivity II (VIP II)

MITACS

MITACS Globalink Partnership Award
Amount	$15,000
Length	16-24 weeks
Website	Mitacs Globalink Partnership Award
Notes	For graduate industry-based research projects with a company outside of Canada.

MITACS Accelerate
Amount	$15,000 to more than $1,000,000
Length	Four months to multi-year
Company funding requirement	$7,500 minimum for each four-month unit
Matching	1:1 minimum
Application	Apply any time
Website	Mitacs Accelerate
Notes	Graduate student (Master's, PhD) and Post-Doctoral Fellow research internship program for business-related research challenges. Student must be enrolled at, or associated with, a Canadian university. Student spends approximately half their time at company and half their time at university. Cluster of Accelerates available which provides improved leveraging of company’s cash contribution.
MITACS Elevate (Industrial)
Amount	$55,000 per year
Length	Two years
Company funding requirements	$25,000 per year
Matching	Approximately 2:1
Application	Competition with calls
Website	Mitacs Elevate
Notes	For postdoctoral fellows who graduated with PhD within the last five years. $5,000 provided toward research costs.