Contribution to Organization funding to assist innovation
The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) at the University of Manitoba and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) recently finalized a Contribution to Organization (CtO) agreement providing short-term scientific or technical assistance to Canadian, for-profit, small-to-medium size enterprises (SMEs).
The CtO program helps build and integrate innovation capacity in Canada and encourages investment in research and development activities that have clear commercialization goals. NRC-IRAP provides up to $5,000 in funding to SMEs for technical assistance performed within FAFS. The program is managed through the Dean’s office.
“This support provided by NRC-IRAP creates opportunities for organizations to access targeted research services in collaboration with researchers and staff in our Faculty,” said Dr. Nazim Cicek, FAFS Associate Dean (Research). “Not only are we able to assist small businesses with their research needs, we are furthering joint research and HQP development needs which are critical to the agriculture value chain.”
To date, five CtO projects have already been approved with organizations who are collaborating with the Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research and other research units in the Faculty on research technical services.
For more information, contact Dr. Nazim Cicek at agresearch@umanitoba.ca.