2014-2015 Quebec-Ontario Cooperation for Agri-Food Research Competition

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Deadline: September 16, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
Value: $80,000 (one-year projects) $160,000 (two-year projects) $250,000 (three-year projects)

Description:
This program offers funding for joint Ontario-Quebec projects supporting water management and integrated pest management research issues of interest to both provinces.

Competition Objectives:

  • Develop solutions to agri-food issues shared by Quebec and Ontario
  • Encourage partnerships between Quebec and Ontario researchers
  • Enhance graduate student training through internships in the cooperating province.
  • Priority Research Areas

The 2014-2015 competition involves the following two priorities:

1. Optimizing water use in terms of quality and quantity in agricultural production and food processing
Water supply is a critical factor for agricultural productivity. While water resources may appear abundant, the reality is that seasonal source variability, climate change and competition with other sectors present a series of challenges. The research projects must improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the water use required to meet the needs of the agri-food sectors in terms of quality and quantity. These improvements may involve water collection methods, irrigation management techniques, water requirement monitoring tools, water conservation and recycling techniques, and wastewater treatment processes.

2. Integrated pest management for economically important crops
Eligibility: Universities and non-profit, non-governmental applied research centres are the research institutions invited to apply. Each application must be submitted jointly by a research institution based in Quebec and another based in Ontario. Other public or private institutions cannot apply, but they can contribute to the project as research team members or partners. These other institutions include college centres for technology transfer, colleges, centres of expertise, government departments, and industry.

For complete details, visit: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/research/onqc_research/index.html

Build in Canada Innovation Program – Fifth Call for Proposals

Public Works and Government Services Canada

Deadline: September 16, 2014
Contract value: The maximum funding available for an innovation is $500,000.00 for the Standard Component and $1,000,000.00 for the Military Component.

The Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) is a procurement program created to bolster innovation in Canada’s business sector, and to help companies bridge the pre-commercialization gap for their innovative products and services.

The program provides the opportunity for innovators to:

  • sell their pre-commercialized goods and services to the Government of Canada through an open, transparent, competitive and fair procurement process;
  • connect with potential clients in federal government departments and showcase their innovations to them;
  • get feedback on the use of their innovations in an operational setting before taking them to market; and
  • enter the marketplace with a successful application of their innovations.

Whether or not innovators are successful in being awarded a contract, they will also:

  • find out how to sell to the Government of Canada;
  • learn more about opportunities for supplying innovative goods and services to the Government of Canada; and
  • improve their understanding of how to do business with the Government of Canada.

The BCIP has two complementary objectives. The first is to identify Canadian innovations to test within federal operations to support businesses as they move their innovations to commercialization. The second builds on improving small and medium enterprises’ (SME) access to federal procurement activities, and enables companies to showcase innovative products and services to potential government users.

The BCIP targets innovations in five key areas:

  • the environment (see e.g., “traditional environment”, which includes areas such as water/wastewater technologies)
  • safety and security
  • health
  • enabling technologies
  • a military component

For complete BCIP information, visit: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/initiatives-and-programs/build-in-canada-innovation-program-bcip
Note that the BCIP Tender Notice will be posted on the following website in late June 2014: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-13-00540157

Pre-Proposals to Fund Research that Could Fundamentally Transform Wastewater and Stormwater Management

Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF)

Unsolicited Research Program

Value: varies
Deadline: July 17, 2014

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) seeks pre-proposals of not more than five (5) pages in length for WERF’s 2014 Unsolicited Research Program. Proposers are invited to submit on topics consistent with WERF’s mission, that is, to advance science and technology addressing water issues as they impact water resources, the atmosphere, the land, and quality of life.

Program Objective
The Unsolicited Research Program supports WERF in its mission by funding research projects that can be the catalyst for transforming our understanding of our water resources and our ability to protect and preserve them in a sustainable and cost effective manner and to minimize impact on health and the environment. WERF seeks research that will significantly advance knowledge and understanding and that could fundamentally transform how WERF Subscribers perform their work. WERF also considers proposals that would take existing research to the next level of completion, including demonstrations of new technologies resulting in practical solutions to water-related problems.

Topics
Proposals in all relevant wastewater, stormwater, and water quality areas are welcome. WERF currently has research under way in several areas including: Nutrient Removal, Strategic Asset Management, Trace Organics, Stormwater, Climate Change, Resource Recovery, Sensor Integration and Guidance, Energy Production and Efficiency, Sustainable Integrated Water Management, Linking Contaminant Sources to Impacts, and Trace Organics in Biosolids. Visit WERF’s website at www.werf.org for a complete list of ongoing and completed research – as this will help proposers avoid duplication and learn more about WERF’s mission.

Funding
WERF’s goal is to fund as many proposals as possible of varying scope that meaningfully advance science and technology on behalf of its Subscribers. Proposers are encouraged to submit realistic budgets that include other resources (such as in-kind or in-cash contributions) as needed to bring the proposed research to a meaningful conclusion or to a significant milestone.

For complete details, visit: http://www.werf.org/i/Funding/Open_RFPs/a/o/rfp.aspx?hkey=05bda2a1-23af-4891-badf-815b2960d4f3

Advance Notice of RFP: Feasible Energy Recovery from Thermal Oxidation of Wastewater Solids

Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF)

Value: $50,000
Issue Date: July 2014 (anticipated)

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) plans to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct research into the potential for energy recovery from thermal oxidation of wastewater solids.

Description:
Advancements in incinerator design have made thermal oxidation of wastewater solids more fuel efficient. The biggest impediment to energy recovery from the thermal oxidation of wastewater solids is the need to remove water and preheat air and solids prior to combustion. If preheating were not required, electricity or heat production could be increased by some 20%. Similarly, an increase in dewatered solids concentration of 20% will allow 40% more energy to be recovered. Co-combustion with FOG or organic wastes also offers the ability to increase energy production from incineration.

For complete details, visit: http://www.werf.org/i/Funding/Advance_Notice_of_RFPs/a/o/Advance_Notice_of_RFPs.aspx?hkey=5af041b0-bfee-4622-84ce-3620d296a679

MITACS Elevate

Deadline: August 19, 2014
Award Value and Duration: $115,000 over two years

Description:
Mitacs Elevate is a two-year training program for postdoctoral fellows, in which participants lead and undertake an industrially relevant research project. During this time, fellows receive experiential training in R&D directly through their industry-academic research collaboration and leadership training and business acumen through the program’s training curriculum. With a suite of skills development workshops and activities unique to Mitacs Elevate, fellows learn about communication, leadership & management and other critical business skills relevant to R&D management careers in academia and industry. These training opportunities complement fellows’ specialized expertise and ensure they are ready to lead large-scale research projects throughout their careers.

Fellowship
During the fellowship, fellows apply these skills within a real-world industry environment as they work on a two-year research project with their partner organization and university faculty supervisor, typically spending half of the fellowship with each. Depending on the nature of the research, Mitacs may consider applications where fellows spend less than half of their time with the partner organization, with appropriate justification.

In addition to their research project, fellows spend from one to two days per month participating in training activities. Throughout this time, fellows have multiple opportunities to connect with fellow PhD graduates in their cohort, as well as industry representatives, potential employers and workshop facilitators.

Matching Funds required: $25,000. Note: For every $1 of a partner organization’s $25,000 contribution, Mitacs provides $1.30 in matching funds for a total research grant of $57,500 per year. This includes support for fellows and up to $7,500 in research costs for equipment, additional research personnel, conference travel and publishing costs.

For complete information, visit: https://www.mitacs.ca/elevate

In addition to the above funding programs, the following is an ongoing opportunity

MITACS

MITACS Accelerate Internships – Standard
Mitacs-Accelerate is Canada’s premiere research internship program. It connects companies with over 50 research-based universities through graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, who apply their specialized expertise to business research challenges. Interns transfer their skills from theory to real-world application, while the companies gain a competitive advantage by accessing high-quality research expertise.

MITACS Accelerate Clusters
Mitacs-Accelerate clusters are an alternative for larger research projects involving multiple Graduate students and/or Post-doctoral Fellows. Applicants may apply once for an Accelerate Cluster involving a minimum of three interns, at least six 4-month internship segments, and a minimum of one industrial partner.

For more information, please contact Anna Ziolecki or visit the MITACS website.