International research and development (R&D) collaboration is essential for Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to accelerate their growth and access new markets. As a priority area of focus, the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) creates opportunities for innovative firms to collaborate and grow beyond Canada’s borders.
Recently a delegation of 20 SMEs and industry representatives from the UK traveled to Canada as part of the Canada-UK Advanced Manufacturing Partnering Mission, held in Toronto and Winnipeg from April 16 to 20, 2018. Organized by the NRC in Canada and by Innovate UK and the European Enterprise Network in the UK, the goal of the mission was to create opportunities for the development of joint Canada-UK advanced manufacturing research projects in time to submit project proposals for the September 2018 cutoff for the Eurostars-2 program.
Eurostars-2 provides innovation advantages for Canadian SMEs through access to technology, expertise, and markets in Europe and beyond. The program is aimed at supporting both development and commercialization of new innovative products, services, and processes and helps technology-orientated SMEs to realize the many benefits of working beyond national borders. Canada joined the Eurostars-2 program (2014–2020) as a partner country in March 2016, and has already engaged in a number of projects, including partnership with companies in the UK.
One project, for example, focuses on unconventional or alternative energies serving the market area of oil and gas exploration and production. For this project—started in September 2017—the researchers aim to produce coal mine methane to generate energy. The SMEs involved are New Paradigm Engineering Ltd. (Canada), Alkane Energy Plc (UK), and Hofseth BioCare ASA (Norway). This project is called MineGas. Another project, MiDAS, serves the market area of geothermal energy. This partnership between LuminUltra Technologies Ltd. (Canada) and WRc Plc (UK) also began last fall.
In addition to one-on-one meetings and networking sessions in April, the delegation had the opportunity to explore the Canadian advanced manufacturing research landscape through visits to a number of manufacturing and research facilities.
“The Canada-UK mission was a fantastic opportunity to begin forming strong partnerships that can tackle high-value challenges in advanced manufacturing, leading to economic benefits for both our economies,” says David Lisk, vice president of NRC IRAP.
Jane Watkins, national programme coordinator for Eurostars with Innovate UK, says, “I’m already getting a feeling that we’re going to get submissions in September 2018, which I think will be a good result.”
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International research and development (R&D) collaboration is essential for Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to accelerate their growth and access new markets. As a priority area of focus, the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) creates opportunities for innovative firms to collaborate and grow beyond Canada’s borders.
Recently a delegation of 20 SMEs and industry representatives from the UK traveled to Canada as part of the Canada-UK Advanced Manufacturing Partnering Mission, held in Toronto and Winnipeg from April 16 to 20, 2018. Organized by the NRC in Canada and by Innovate UK and the European Enterprise Network in the UK, the goal of the mission was to create opportunities for the development of joint Canada-UK advanced manufacturing research projects in time to submit project proposals for the September 2018 cutoff for the Eurostars-2 program.
Eurostars-2 provides innovation advantages for Canadian SMEs through access to technology, expertise, and markets in Europe and beyond. The program is aimed at supporting both development and commercialization of new innovative products, services, and processes and helps technology-orientated SMEs to realize the many benefits of working beyond national borders. Canada joined the Eurostars-2 program (2014–2020) as a partner country in March 2016, and has already engaged in a number of projects, including partnership with companies in the UK.
One project, for example, focuses on unconventional or alternative energies serving the market area of oil and gas exploration and production. For this project—started in September 2017—the researchers aim to produce coal mine methane to generate energy. The SMEs involved are New Paradigm Engineering Ltd. (Canada), Alkane Energy Plc (UK), and Hofseth BioCare ASA (Norway). This project is called MineGas. Another project, MiDAS, serves the market area of geothermal energy. This partnership between LuminUltra Technologies Ltd. (Canada) and WRc Plc (UK) also began last fall.
In addition to one-on-one meetings and networking sessions in April, the delegation had the opportunity to explore the Canadian advanced manufacturing research landscape through visits to a number of manufacturing and research facilities.
“The Canada-UK mission was a fantastic opportunity to begin forming strong partnerships that can tackle high-value challenges in advanced manufacturing, leading to economic benefits for both our economies,” says David Lisk, vice president of NRC IRAP.
Jane Watkins, national programme coordinator for Eurostars with Innovate UK, says, “I’m already getting a feeling that we’re going to get submissions in September 2018, which I think will be a good result.”