Canada-Japan 3+2 Collaborative CFP: AI-based solutions for well-being, better living environments, and social connection for aging populations

Eligibility

Consortium Eligibility

To be considered for funding, applicants must form a project consortium and develop a collaborative R&D project that meets the following criteria: 

• The project consortium must include a minimum of 5 participants (3 Canadian participants and 2 Japanese participants) who will be undertaking project research activities through the NRC's Aging in Place Challenge Program or the NRC's AI for Design Challenge Program. These participants listed above must be unrelated parties (i.e. there must be no direct, indirect, beneficial or constructive ownership interest between these parties).
  • Canadian participants
    • 1 incorporated Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), defined as a for-profit company with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. (NOTE: For Canadian SMEs working on co-innovation projects with Japanese corporations that do not align with the project consortium structure listed above, please contact the NRC IRAP Japan National Program Coordinator, Harvey.Lam@nrc.gc.ca, for future opportunities that are in development).
    • 1 researcher from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
    • 1 Canadian research institution (e.g., post-secondary institution, research and technology organization)
  • Japanese participants
    • 1 eligible Japanese commercial enterprise 
    • 1 Japanese research institution
• The project partners that form the consortium must agree on a plan addressing intellectual property rights and intent to commercialize.

Additional country-specific requirements can be found in the Eligibility Requirements section of the CFP.

Project Eligibility

• The project must focus on co-development, adaptation and/or validation of an innovative product, process, or technology-based service that:
  • advances the objectives of the NRC's Aging in Place Challenge program or the NRC's AI for Design Challenge program
  • has substantial commercial potential and outcomes that can be realized within 2 to 3 years of completion of the project 
  • has a civilian (non-military) purpose
• The project must demonstrate all of the following:
  • a complementary technological contribution from each partner
  • an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants
  • a balanced contribution between project partners and countries (with no more than 75% of the effort contributed by any one partner or country)
  • an increase in the international competitiveness of Japanese and Canadian partners, including the development of market potential

Overhead Eligibility

Overhead is eligible at a rate of 10% of total eligible project costs.

Summary

Working together, the governments of Canada and Japan aim to foster and support collaborative industrial research and development (R&D) projects with a high potential for commercialization. This call for proposals is open to organizations from Canada and Japan who wish to form project consortia for collaborative projects focused on developing AI-based solutions for well-being, better living environments and social connection for aging populations.

Sectors of Focus

Projects must be focused on the development of pre-commercial technologies that address an identified need in the area of utilizing AI-based solutions to improve well-being, living environments and social connection, in particular in the context of an aging population.

Preference will be given to technologies which use AI-based solutions for healthy aging and research that adopts a life-course approach/perspective. AI-based technologies should be a significant component in the development and/or design of the healthy aging solution. Projects are encouraged to focus on, but are not limited to, the following AI-based technology themes:

• Supporting integrated decision-making for safe and injury-free living
• Advanced assistive technologies to enhance social connection and interaction to support activities of daily living and help aging adults to maintain their independence and/or reduce caregiver burden associated with tasks of care (including robotics) 
• Health and safety monitoring which will lead to predictions of adverse events and should be linked to interventions supporting knowledge/awareness of risk factors and change
• Frailty detection and prediction linked to interventions supporting knowledge/awareness of risk factors and change
• Reducing computational time for experiments and to reduce the need of human input
• Identification of risk factors and detection of early-stage dementia, long-COVID and/or delirium
• Enabling self-actualization and connection for aging society (i.e. developing a realistic metaverse) 
• Older adult's mobility (i.e. last mile solutions, door-to-door transportation) to increase well-being and/or reduce caregiver burden

Funding

Eligible project participants in collaborative projects selected through this call for proposals may receive funding from their respective national funding bodies. Funds will be provided in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, rules and procedures established by the relevant national funding bodies, country and jurisdiction.  

Canadian funding

In Canada, this call for proposals is offered through the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) and through the NRC National Program Office (NRC NPO). NRC IRAP is responsible for the delivery of this call for proposals and for the management of any resulting SME funding agreements. The NRC NPO is responsible for the management of any resulting funding agreements with research institutions. 

Canadian SMEs

Eligible Canadian SMEs may receive up to 50% reimbursement of eligible project costs up to a maximum total funding amount of $600,000 CAD.

Canadian research institutions

Eligible Canadian research institutions may receive funding of up to 100% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $100,000 CAD per year per consortium. This maximum funding is irrespective of how many Canadian research institution participants are in a consortium. Indirect (i.e. overhead) costs may represent up to 10% of total eligible project costs. Eligible direct costs include salaries (excluding academic principal investigator salaries); research support costs (including student stipends, research materials and minor equipment purchases up to $10,000); travel and accommodation costs; and professional services (amounts invoiced by a contractor for services rendered directly to the project).

NRC researchers

NRC researchers may request up to $100,000 CAD per year to cover incremental operating costs. Eligible operational costs include research related expenses such as: student research staff salaries or stipends (e.g., students or post-doctoral fellows), consumables, minor capital acquisitions, workshops, consortium in-person meeting coordination expenses, and travel. NRC research centres will be expected to provide in-kind contributions of at least $50,000 CAD, i.e. if $100,000 CAD funding is awarded for the project, the Research Centre must provide at least $50,000 CAD worth of in-kind contribution for a total minimum project contribution value of $150,000 CAD.

Japanese funding

In Japan, this call for proposals is administered by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). JST is responsible for the delivery of this call for proposals and the management of any resulting funding agreements. Eligible Japanese consortium partners may receive funding up to a maximum amount of 58.5 million Japanese yen per project (including 30% overhead expenses): approximately 19.5 million Japanese yen per project per year. JST expects Japan-based commercial companies to cover at least 50% of project related costs through their own contribution. All of the eligible costs can be calculated in the project-related costs, including personal costs and equipment cost.Please consult JST call for proposals announcement for Japanese funding parameters and eligible direct and indirect costs.

Note: One country and/or project partner cannot represent more than 75% of the total project budget and the project duration must be between 24 and 36 months. All projects must start by November 2023 and end no later than March 2027. Additional country-specific funding parameters are outlined in the Funding section of the CFP.

Agency Application Process

Application processes and evaluations will be performed independently by national funding bodies in accordance with their national and institutional laws and regulations. Once the national funding bodies have evaluated the submitted applications, a final joint project selection will be performed. Each country lead participant must submit all required consortium application documents on behalf of the consortium, to the appropriate national funding body (NRC IRAP for Canada and JST for Japan) and meet its due diligence process requirements.

Canadian application process

The Canadian application process has four phases: 

Step 1. Registration Phase: 

The lead Canadian applicant must register electronically and complete the online registration form which requests basic information about the Canadian applicants and their organizations. NRC IRAP will review registrations for this call for proposals and contact applicants if more information is required. Qualifying applicants will proceed to the next phase and be invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI) form. Canadian registration deadline: January 10, 2023

Step 2. Expression of interest (EOI) Phase: 

During this phase, the lead Canadian applicant seeking funding must submit an EOI form outlining basic information on the applicants and the collaborative project. While completing the EOI form, each Canadian SME applicant is encouraged to contact their NRC IRAP representative to discuss their project idea and to receive guidance on preparing their submission. 

Canadian research institutions must have their project idea approved by the NRC's Aging in Place Challenge program or the NRC's AI for Design Challenge program director prior to application submission. Research institutions are encouraged to contact the NRC innovation investment advisor to discuss their project idea and to receive guidance on preparing their submission. 

It is recommended that applicants submit the EOI as early as possible. EOIs will be evaluated by an NRC evaluation team. Qualifying applicants will be invited to submit the more detailed international consortium project proposal (ICPP) in collaboration with their project partners. The lead Canadian applicant will be provided all templates needed to submit an ICPP. Canadian expression of interest deadline: January 23, 2023

Step 3: International consortium project proposal (ICPP) phase

During the ICPP phase, all project partners work together to complete and submit an application package to each lead national call administrator. The contents of the ICPP package are unique to each national call administrator. 

In this call for proposals, the Canadian ICPP application package consists of: 

1. International consortium project proposal (ICPP)/joint application form outlining the:
   • project consortium 
   • collaborative project 
   • expected outcomes 
   • funding request 
2. NRC IRAP Canadian SME annex form containing additional information required to assess the Canadian SME applicants and the project consortium
3. NRC NPO Canadian researcher annex form containing additional information required to assess the Canadian researcher applicants and the project consortium

Canadian ICPP applications will be evaluated by an NRC evaluation team including the applicant's NRC IRAP representative, the NRC National Program Office and the NRC IRAP International Office. Next, the amalgamated evaluation results will be shared between national funding bodies to jointly select the collaborative projects that will be invited to proceed to the final national funding body proposal and funding agreement stage. International consortium project proposal (ICPP) deadline: April 3, 2023

Step 4. National funding body proposal and funding agreement phase

During the national funding body proposal and funding agreement phase, all eligible project partners work independently to complete funding proposals and sign legally binding funding agreements with their respective national funding body.

Additionally, during this phase an international consortium agreement contains descriptions of the consortium member roles and responsibilities, the project management framework, the division of intellectual property rights, any confidentiality and publication agreements, and any liability clauses. The agreement must be signed by all consortium partners and submitted before funding is approved.

Canadian SME applicants will work with their NRC IRAP representative to prepare an NRC IRAP funding proposal and contribution agreement. Canadian research institutions will work with the NRC NPO to prepare a funding proposal and contribution agreement.

Japanese application process

Each Japanese consortium project partner must submit all required documents by 17:00 JDT on April 3, 2023 to the Cross-Ministerial R&D Management system (e-Rad) portal. Please consult the JST call for proposal announcement for full official instructions related to the Japanese application process and requirements.

University of Calgary Submission Process

All applications must also be submitted through the Research Management System (RMS) to initiate internal approvals. Please note that when the RMS record finally reaches Research Services by the internal deadline, it should contain all the relevant Department and Faculty approvals. Please allow additional time for these approval steps. Late applications will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you will need to secure additional late approvals from your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) and the Executive Director, Research Services. Training resources are available on the RMS website.

Expression of Interest (EOI) submission process

1. Complete a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record in RMS (with an uploaded copy of your expression of interest) and submit for academic approvals. Please ensure that you allow enough time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services (RSO) final internal deadline of 12:00pm MT, January 18, 2023. Please note this is a hard deadline. Exceptions will only be made with the approval of your faculty Associate Dean (Research).
2. RSO will provide institutional sign-off on the application and internal approvals in RMS. RMS will notify you that institutional approval has been provided and any institutional signatures will be provided 

International consortium project proposal (ICPP) process

1. Notify the Research Services Office (RSO) of your invitation to submit the more detailed international consortium project proposal
2. Upload a copy of your final and complete ICPP application to the RMS Application record, and submit for academic approvals.  Please ensure that you allow enough time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services (RSO) final internal deadline of NOON, March 28, 2023. Please note this is a hard deadline. Exceptions will only be made with the approval of your faculty Associate Dean (Research).
3. RSO will provide institutional sign-off on the application and internal approvals in RMS. RMS will notify you that institutional approval has been provided and any institutional signatures will be provided 

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Contacts 

For questions or for more information, please contact the appropriate call for proposals representative listed below:

Canadian contacts

Small and medium-sized enterprises
Harvey Lam
NRC IRAP Japan National Program Coordinator
National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
Harvey.Lam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Research institutions and NRC researchers 
Joel Savard
Innovation Investment Advisor, National Program Office
National Research Council of Canada
NRC.3plus2-3plus2.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Japanese contact

Shiho Hashimoto
Chief, Department of International Affairs
Japan Science and Technology Agency
jointca@jst.go.jp