Five Steps To Effective Research Proposals

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Five Steps To Effective Research Proposals
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Ontario Centres of Excellence
Materials and Manufacturing Ontario
OCE
Photonics Research Ontario
CRESTech
Communications and Information Technology Ontario
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CITOs Stakeholders
Project Leaders and Students
Universities and Colleges
Ontario Business
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CITOs Value Proposition

• For researchers
• For business and industry
• For the economy

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CITOs Strategy

• Invest in research and innovation
• Facilitate partnerships between academic
  researchers and industry
• Facilitate technology and knowledge transfer
• Manage commercialization initiatives new
  business growth

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Research and the Institution
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The role of research

• Why do research?
• How does your research agenda fit strategy and
  direction of the institution?

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Institutional Culture

• A commitment and shared understanding by all
  concerned parties as to the role and direction of
  research
• Ability to undertake a research agenda
• Tech transfer capabilities that have the capacity
  to be effective internally and externally

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Play to your strengths

• What is your institution known for?
• Are there key business sectors in your market
  that can guide this focus?
• How do you differentiate yourself from other
  institutions?
• How does the focus fit with the overall direction
  of the institution?

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Securing Research Investment

• How to lever your value proposition?
• Clearly articulated strategy plan?
• Relationships with research investment agencies
• Relationships with government

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Industry Relationships
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Developing industry relationships

• What are your research strengths and their
  industrial relevance?
• What is your value proposition?
• Identify appropriate companies contact and build
  relationships with key people understand their
  direction Get out there and know your partner

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Securing Industry Partnerships

• What programs are available to the industry
  partner that might strengthen your case?
• Be aware of them

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Business centric Tax credits and other programs

• SRED tax credit program
• Provincial RD tax credit programs
• IRAP
• Others

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Planning your proposal
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What are the goals of the research investment
agency?

• Understand their vision and goals - position your
  proposal accordingly
• Carefully read the instructions and program
  criteria
• Understand the review criteria - address all
  aspects and requirements

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Considerations for a good proposal

• Why is your work innovative?
• What work is being done is this area by others
  is it a crowded space?
• What is its relevance? What market exists and
  how will it be adopted / commercialized?
• What is the commitment and capability of your
  industrial partner to commercialize your work?

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A good proposal includes

• A clear, concise and compelling abstract (Clear
  goals and rationale)
• Focused objectives and methodologies
• Clearly articulated technical and industrial
  merits
• Demonstrable commitment from the industrial
  partner

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Writing a good proposal

• Be mindful of your audiences
• Stay focused and clear in all aspects
• Have measurable goals and milestones
• If your proposal raises questions, does it
  provide plausible answers?
• Have it reviewed by a peer and a layperson
• Make sure it is well written, has all required
  signatures and meets deadlines

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Results

• Being accountable
• Demonstrating results
• Building long-term relationships

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Research Tools

• The various research investment agencies and
  their programs - your tools

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CITO Investment Programs
A Suite of Complementary Programs

• Student Internships
• Research Partnerships
• Champions of Innovation
• Tech Readiness Fund
• Accelerator Pre-seed Fund
• Entrepreneur Training

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Student Internship Program

• Supports grad students for one year
• CITO Funds 20k with a matching in-kind and cash
  contribution from industry (10k minimum)
• A good tool to attract or retain students
• A good tool to begin a relationship with a
  business a win win for all

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Research Partnership Program

• Supports projects usually for 2 years with
  investment of up to 200k per year
• Projects should have industrial relevance and are
  undertaken in collaboration with industry
• Collaborator is the receptor of the technology
• In best case scenarios will realize a ROI for all
  parties

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Champions of Innovation

• Invests in innovative projects that have the
  potential to result in the next disruptive
  technology
• Researchers have a proven track record in
  innovation and commercialization
• No Industry partner is required
• Expected to feed in to commercialization programs

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Tech Readiness Program

• Invests in the commercial development of research
  results
• Short term projects, usually no more than 6
  months with budgets of 20 30k
• No IP agreements or any other encumbrances
• Very flexible in terms of how funds can be used

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Accelerator Program

• Invests in start-up or early stage companies that
  involve a CITO researcher and their work
• Pre-seed funding of up to 250k invested as a
  convertible debenture
• Designed to help get new companies off the ground
  and secure further financing
• Converts at the same rate as series A or can be
  repaid at prime 1

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Entrepreneur Training

• Benefits researchers interested in developing
  their business and entrepreneurial skills.
• Available to CITO-supported researchers and
  students - past and present
• Can be used to support participation in
  appropriate courses and seminars

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Tech Transfer and commercialization

• Licensing and other Tech Transfer services
• Extensive business and finance network
• Assist institutions in establishing institutional
  TT capabilities
• Assist with the start-up of new companies

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Questions ?

• Five Steps To Effective Research Proposals

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Investment Structure
Research Project Results

• IP owned by its inventor, subject to the policies
  of the college
• Colleges can use IP for research and educational
  purposes
• The inventor(s) may publish and disclose the IP
  and research results with written consent of the
  college, CITO and third party sponsors
• CITO acts as commercialization manager and has
  right to an exclusive license
• business partner receives a non-commercial
  license to use any IP for internal RD at the
  start of the project
• partners develop commercialization plan together
  at the end of the project
• business partner has a time-limited exclusive
  option to negotiate a commercial license
• Commercial license should ideally result in a
  return of at least three (3) times CITOs
  investment, or a commercially reasonable return