Funding and resources

The Faculty of Science has invested in a funding opportunity for its faculty members wishing to take the next steps toward concept development for the commercialization of research.

• Learn more about the Research Innovation and Commercialization Grant

Contribution to Organization (CTO) Program is a funding opportunity to help Canadian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) collaborate directly with the Faculty of Science researchers. SMEs can leverage this program to solve technical challenges by accessing top-tier scientific expertise and cutting-edge lab facilities.

This program is made possible with funding support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

Why work with UM Faculty of Science researchers?

• Build the future together
• Address the complex challenges in-house
• Drive growth through innovation and technology
• Offset the cost of hiring talent
• Access the extensive network of resources and valuable expertise  
• Benefit from technical and advisory services

Apply now

Funding for research services may be available to SMEs who are eligible for the NRC Industrial Research Assistance (IRAP) Program. To learn more about this opportunity, contact your NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) or email Robert Vinet, business development officer at UM Faculty of Science, at Robert.Vinet@umanitoba.ca. To learn more, visit the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program. 

Build research partnerships while funding your students and postdocs. Apply any time for flexible funding — your partner organization’s financial contribution starts at $7,500.

• Mitacs website

Lab2Market bridges the gap between a research idea and commercialisation. Participants who complete the Lab2Market program are rewarded with critical entrepreneurial skills and $10,000 (through Mitacs) to help fund their research.

• Lab2Market Prairies website

About the grant

The Innovation Proof-of-Concept Grant aims to strengthen Manitoba-based research innovation and development projects by filling a funding gap in the Manitoba innovation ecosystem. Through two independent streams, this program provides funding for innovation and commercialization research that is not otherwise accessible. Funds from this program help support activities directly related to process validation and proof-of-concept research.
Note: Funding is targeted toward Bioscience, ICT, Advanced Manufacturing, and Infrastructure and Transportation Industries and Technologies.

Stream 1

Manitoba-Based Consortium supports local collaboration that is addressing a company-specific discovery or innovation toward market usability. This stream allows academics to use their world-class knowledge, facilities, and highly qualified personnel (HQP) to close the knowledge gaps identified during the industry partner’s innovation development.

Stream 2

Manitoba Post-Secondary Researchers support the advancement of discoveries or innovations within an academic setting, which may result in products or technologies, towards market usability.

• Learn more about the Research Manitoba Proof of Concept Grant

About the grant

Alliance grants encourage university researchers to collaborate with partner organizations, which can be from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. These grants support research projects led by strong, complementary, collaborative teams that will generate new knowledge and accelerate the application of research results to create benefits for Canada.

How to apply

If you are a Canadian university researcher who is eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply on your own or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers. You must have at least one partner organization (in the private, public or not-for-profit sector) whose cash contributions will be recognized for cost sharing.

Alliance grants support projects of varying scale and complexity, from short-term smaller projects involving one researcher to long-term projects involving researchers across several universities, and from one-on-one collaborations with one partner organization directly involved in the research to projects involving many partner organizations across multiple sectors.

• Learn more about the NSERC Alliance Grant

The objective of Idea to Innovation (I2I) grants is to accelerate the pre-competitive development of promising technology originating from the university and college sector, and to promote its transfer to a new or established Canadian company. I2I grants provide funding to college and university faculty members to support research and development projects with recognized technology transfer potential. This is achieved through defined phases by providing crucial assistance in the early stages of technology validation and market connection.

• Learn more about the Idea 2 Innovation Grant