Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) funding programs

Funding programs

Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) (formerly Ontario Centres of Excellence)

  • Collaborate to Commercialize (C2C)
Programs

C2C - Standalone

C2C - NSERC Alliance
Industry partner
  • Small and medium sized companies in Ontario.
  • For-profit company, minimum 2 years in business, minimum 5 - 499 employees.
  • Spend focus: HQP.
Program (1)

C2C- Standalone 

  • OCI matches 1:1. 
  • $20K - $150K grant from OCI.
  • Project duration: 6 - 24 months. 
  • Company contribution can include cash and in-kind.
  • In-kind cannot exceed cash.
  • Company contribution includes overhead. Overhead not matched by OCI.
  • Submit any time, decision in 25 - 35 days.
Cost example
C2C Project
Cost
Example:		 OCI
Cash		 Ontario For-Profit Inc.
Cash
Matched		 Overhead
Not matched		 In-Kind
Matched
Year 1 $75,000 $37,500 $11,250 $37,500
Year 2 $75,000 $37,500 $11,250 $37,500
Total $150,000 $75,000 $22,500 $75,000

University receives $225,000 + $22,500 Overhead
Program (2)

C2C- NSERC Alliance

  • OCI matches 1:2.
  • Max from OCI is $30k. 
  • OCI and NSERC fundings: $20,000 to $30,000 each.
  • Project duration: 6 - 12 months.
  • Researchers may jointly apply with active OCI C2C application or NSERC peer-reviewed grants.
Cost example
C2C-NSERC Project
Cost Example:		 OCI
Cash		 Ontario For-Profit Inc. NSERC Cash
Cash
Matched		 Overhead
Not matched		 In-Kind
Matched
Year 1 $30,000 $15,000 $4,500 $15,000 $30,000

University receives: $75,000 + $4,500 Overhead

Applications are only accepted through OCI’s online system where full application requirements are listed. Review the following information when you begin writing your proposal: 

Additional Information available on the OCI website.  
 
Office of Research contact Tetyana Reichert
OCI Program contact Jeffrey Peng