This CQDM and Brain Canada initiative specifically focuses on brain research. The intent of the initiative is to:

• Increase research collaborations and partnerships between universities and companies in the life sciences industry in Quebec and other Canadian provinces and territories to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders.
• Foster technological maturation and industrial value creation leading to economic benefits for the project’s stakeholders, Quebec and the rest of Canada.
• Promote the knowledge, capabilities and new technologies developed in public institutions, and facilitate uptake by industry.

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. CQDM and Brain Canada are committed to excellence through equity and encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to this funding opportunity, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups.

Eligible Applicants:

• Investigators must be affiliated with and conduct research at an eligible Canadian institution, as defined by CIHR, for the full duration of the grant.
• The principal investigator must be based at a research institution in Quebec (university and affiliated hospital, research institute, public research center). They must work in close collaboration with at least one other independent researcher working in a research institution in another Canadian province, as well as with at least one Quebec small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Please note: College Centers for the Transfer of Technology [CCTT] are not eligible to serve as the host institution, but team members and collaborators from CCTTs may receive up to 50% of the total budget as sub-sites.
• Investigators must be considered an independent researcher at their institution. Such an individual normally holds the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor; can initiate and direct their own independent lines of research as principal investigator; has full responsibility for running their research group; has full control of their research funds; and is permitted to supervise trainees (if applicable, as per their institution’s policy). Postdoctoral fellows or adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Projects:

• Research teams must include a minimum of two independent researchers, one from a research institution in Quebec and one from a research institution in another Canadian province.
• R&D projects with industrial impact applicable to neuroscience, including the conduct of clinical studies.
• The technology readiness level must be between 1 and 6 at the start of the project – see the TRL Guide here.
• Socio-economic benefits must be generated for all of Canada and for the company partners involved in the project.
• At least one trainee (MSc student, PhD student, and/ or postdoctoral fellow) must take part in the project.

Grant Duration

Minimum 1 year, maximum 3 years

Earliest funding start date

January 1, 2024

Budget

The project budget must be between $500,000 and $2M;

Between 20% and 30% of eligible expenses from the total budget submitted must be incurred by at least one research institution in a Canadian province other than Quebec.

Funding details

The combined financial support of CQDM and Brain Canada could represent up to 82% of the eligible project expenses.

In addition, at least one eligible Quebec SME must contribute to the funding with a cash contribution. The expected contribution of the SME may vary according to the proposed activities and financing structure, but under no circumstances may it represent less than 12% of eligible expenses in Quebec. In-kind contributions are not eligible for the matched funding calculation.

• To be eligible, an SME must:
  • Have a significant participation in the project;
  • Have a place of business in Quebec, be legally constituted according to the federal or Quebec laws in force and be registered with the Quebec Enterprise Register;
  • Have R&D and/or production activities in Quebec;
  • Have 249 employees or less.

A portion of the required funding may come from other sources, including Canadian and foreign companies, foundations or non-Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) government contributions, such as federal grants offered by Mitacs.

Only expenses incurred by Canadian research institutions are eligible:

• Fellowships, wages and fringe benefits for research personnel assigned to the project (technicians, research assistants and associates, postdoctoral fellows and students);
• Laboratory equipment, consumables and supplies, as well as animal facilities and platform fees;
• Travel expenses (project-related travel, collaborations, conferences, etc.) and knowledge dissemination costs.
• Intellectual property costs (patent applications, patent maintenance fees for the duration of the project). Please note that costs related to intellectual property must be incurred by a research institution in Quebec to be eligible.
• The rental or purchase of small equipment of a maximum value of $25,000 that is necessary for the realization of the project.
• Some subcontracting expenses to Quebec companies that are not partners in the project can be authorized when the activity is essential to the project and cannot be performed by the research institution.

The following expenses are not eligible:

• In-kind expenses by partner companies are not eligible.
• Lease (or purchase) of facilities and equipment in excess of $25,000.
• Salary of the principal investigator (PI), co-investigators, or any team members holding an independent academic or research position.
• Indirect and overhead costs.
• Intellectual property costs incurred by a research institution outside Quebec.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and that CQDM and Brain Canada must be consulted on expenses that are not listed here to determine the eligibility of other categories of expenditure. Applicants are encouraged to contact CQDM before applying for other types of expenses.

Deadline: July 10, 2023

Please note that you must notify us no later than July 3, 2023 of your intent to submit a Full Application.

Steps for submitting an application:

1. Contact Mathieu Paquette, Director – Business Development, to validate the eligibility of your project and obtain the application form and budget template at the following address: mpaquette@cqdm.org.
2. Submit a half-page non-confidential scientific summary (including the project title, the names and affiliations of the researchers, the total budget and the names of the company partners, as well as the amounts of their respective contributions) to the following address by July 3, 2023: appliquez-apply@cqdm.org.
3. Obtain letters of support from the company partners and include them as an appendix to the application.
4. Submit the completed application to appliquez-apply@cqdm.org by July 10, 2023.

• Scientific merit and feasibility;
• The innovative and competitive nature of the proposed technology;
• Quality of the team and collaboration;
• Quality of the development and commercialization plan;
• The expected benefits for the company partners;
• Expected socio-economic benefits for Quebec and Canada.

The key evaluation steps are:

• An independent scientific evaluation based on the evaluation criteria listed above.
• A review of the non-scientific aspects of the project, including the level of commitment of the companies, the added value of the collaboration and the specific risks inherent to the project.
• The overall evaluation of the project by CQDM’s scientific advisory committee, which is responsible for making funding recommendations.
• Approval of the project by CQDM and Brain Canada.
• Approval of funding by the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE).

The recipients will be notified in October 2023.

• The research institutions that will be awarded a research grant from CQDM and the successful projects’ company partners must commit to sign a research agreement within 3 months following the receipt of the CQDM’s approval letter.
• CQDM will provide the template of the research agreement which will precisely define the milestones to be reached, the timeline (Gantt chart) and the deliverables at the end of the project.
• As a co-funder, the principal investigator’s institution will receive a separate research agreement from Brain Canada for review and signature.
• An intellectual property agreement in which CQDM and Brain Canada are not involved will also have to be signed by all the research institutions and company partners associated with the project and attached to the research agreement.

For any question regarding the eligibility of your project, please contact Mathieu Paquette, Director – Business Development, at the following address: mpaquette@cqdm.org.