February 16th, 2016
Ontario is a global aerospace juggernaut, and is one of the best places in Canada (and North America, for that matter) to conduct aerospace activities. The industry employs over 17,000 skilled and highly educated workers working in 15 of the world’s top 25 aerospace companies. They account for $5.3 billion in annual sales, with almost 80% of this amount directed towards global customers and project partners.
Ontario’s aerospace industry is well known for being a valued innovator in the field, from emissions control to fuel efficiency to lightweight materials, for instance. Naturally, this type of success doesn’t happen by accident. Over 20% of Canadian aerospace manufacturing goes into research and development, and Ontario accounts for 30% (or $462 million) of this amount.
The numbers speak for themselves—the Canadian aerospace manufacturing sector ranked above the entire manufacturing average, important industrial sectors, and the combined total of all industries conducting research and development. And the province isn’t finished yet, of course, which is why the OCE Aerospace R&D Initiative created $2.5 million in federal and provincial government funding to further support this cause.
Four associations jointly provide this funding: the Ontario Aerospace Council (OAC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC), and the Ontario Centres of Excellence. Together they provide up to $400,000 per project that addresses a particular gap in the Canadian aerospace industry. A combined approach spanning industry and academia creates the perfect environment for new innovative projects to take flight.
Eligible applicants
Aerospace R&D provides government funding for businesses conducting research and development projects in Ontario. They must work with an eligible academic institution while conducting this research, and possess the ability to manage intellectual property that the project might inspire.
All applicants must have a solid financial standing. OCE expects a 2:1 cash and in kind complement to match any funding they provide. Applicants cannot have over $100,000 in outstanding OCE projects, with the exception of TalentEdge internships and fellowships.
Eligible projects
This research and development opportunity encourages projects across a wide spectrum. This might include pilot projects, in-laboratory testing, meetings and workshops, experimental design and data-collection, developing intellectual property, or developing personnel to conduct and execute these projects to see them through to completion.
This initiative gives preference to projects with immediate benefits to the aerospace industry that will benefit Ontario and the Canadian economy. This includes new processes, services, products, jobs, innovative solutions to existing challenges, and other societal benefits. They also encourage projects that train graduate students and post-doctoral follows.
Available funding streams
There are two main streams under this initiative: the OCE and NSERC Research Grants and Incentives stream, and the OCE, NSERC, and CARIC Co-Funding stream.
Applicants to the first stream can receive up to $80,000 in Ontario government grants from OCE to be used for academic partnerships with an accredited college or university in the province. NSERC provides up to $160,000, giving businesses access up to double their cash contributions for their projects. With an $80,000 investment, applicants from the aerospace industry can create $320,000 in total funding.
The second stream operates in much the same way, but NSERC and CARIC share the $160,000 cost. Applicants in this stream must have at least one industry and one academic partner from Ontario and have at least two industry partners and two academic partners. All of these parties must be CARIC members, either during or upon completion of the project.
To learn more about the OCE Aerospace R&D Initiative, get in touch with our team of expert grant writers at INAC Services. We can help you launch your next research and development project by getting you the government funding your business deserves!
