2014-2015 Quebec-Ontario Cooperation for Agri-Food Research Competition
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Deadline: September 16, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
Value: $80,000 (one-year projects) $160,000 (two-year projects) $250,000 (three-year projects)
Description:
This program offers funding for joint Ontario-Quebec projects supporting water management and integrated pest management research issues of interest to both provinces.
Competition Objectives:
- Develop solutions to agri-food issues shared by Quebec and Ontario
- Encourage partnerships between Quebec and Ontario researchers
- Enhance graduate student training through internships in the cooperating province
Priority Research Areas
The 2014-2015 competition involves the following two priorities:
Optimizing water use in terms of quality and quantity in agricultural production and food processing
Water supply is a critical factor for agricultural productivity. While water resources may appear abundant, the reality is that seasonal source variability, climate change and competition with other sectors present a series of challenges. The research projects must improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the water use required to meet the needs of the agri-food sectors in terms of quality and quantity. These improvements may involve water collection methods, irrigation management techniques, water requirement monitoring tools, water conservation and recycling techniques, and wastewater treatment processes.
Integrated pest management for economically important crops
Eligibility: Universities and non-profit, non-governmental applied research centres are the research institutions invited to apply. Each application must be submitted jointly by a research institution based in Quebec and another based in Ontario. Other public or private institutions cannot apply, but they can contribute to the project as research team members or partners. These other institutions include college centres for technology transfer, colleges, centres of expertise, government departments, and industry.
For complete details, visit: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/research/onqc_research/index.html
Build in Canada Innovation Program – Fifth Call for Proposals
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Deadline: September 16, 2014
Contract value: The maximum funding available for an innovation is $500,000.00 for the Standard Component and $1,000,000.00 for the Military Component.
The Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) is a procurement program created to bolster innovation in Canada’s business sector, and to help companies bridge the pre-commercialization gap for their innovative products and services.
The program provides the opportunity for innovators to:
- sell their pre-commercialized goods and services to the Government of Canada through an open, transparent, competitive and fair procurement process
- connect with potential clients in federal government departments and showcase their innovations to them
- feedback on the use of their innovations in an operational setting before taking them to market; and
- enter the marketplace with a successful application of their innovations
Whether or not innovators are successful in being awarded a contract, they will also:
- find out how to sell to the Government of Canada;
- learn more about opportunities for supplying innovative goods and services to the Government of Canada; and
- improve their understanding of how to do business with the Government of Canada
The BCIP has two complementary objectives. The first is to identify Canadian innovations to test within federal operations to support businesses as they move their innovations to commercialization. The second builds on improving small and medium enterprises’ (SME) access to federal procurement activities, and enables companies to showcase innovative products and services to potential government users.
The BCIP targets innovations in five key areas:
- the environment (see e.g., “traditional environment”, which includes areas such as water/wastewater technologies
- safety and security
- health
- enabling technologies
- a military component
For complete BCIP information, visit: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/initiatives-and-programs/build-in-canada-innovation-program-bcip
Note that the BCIP Tender Notice will be posted on the following website in late June 2014: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-13-00540157
Energy Recovery from Thermal Oxidation of Wastewater Solids: Request for Proposals
Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF)
Value: $50,000
Deadline: September 3, 2014
Description:
Approximately 120 water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) utilize thermal oxidation (incineration) to manage their biosolids. Many more WRRFs are striving toward energy neutrality or net energy production. With the promulgation of the SSI MACT Rule in March 2011, WRRFs that operate thermal reduction systems may be faced with significant costs to comply and may elect to pursue other biosolids management avenues. If utilities maintain incineration, there is an opportunity to consider and include energy recovery as they implement facility upgrades to comply with the federal rule. With the addition of efficient energy recovery, WRRFs that operate or are contemplating thermal oxidation will have a real incentive to pursue thermal oxidation to achieve energy neutrality. Many of the WRRFs using incinerators can benefit from the recovery of heat and power from incineration. Many utilities are facing the difficult decision of whether to upgrade, install new equipment, or pursue other biosolids management options. More information on the renewable energy potential of biosolids incineration is urgently needed to help inform these important decisions.
This research will:
- Examine the energy potential from the thermal oxidation of biosolids and other residuals by documenting the effectiveness of energy or heat recovery from up-to-date thermal oxidation units with combined heat and power (CHP)
- Determine the potential for renewable energy recovery from thermal oxidation of wastewater residuals at WRRFs practicing incineration nationwide
- Compare the triple bottom line (TBL) value of energy recovered from biosolids by thermal oxidation in contrast to the same units of energy obtained from coal. TBL evaluation must include air emissions and environmental impact of obtaining and processing both biosolids and coal prior to thermal conversion to electric power
- Assist WERF to inform the Department of Energy, regulators, and lawmakers of the renewable energy potential in biosolids and residuals in domestic wastewater and related feedstocks, such as food waste and fats, oils, and grease (FOG) by providing technical information and industry examples
For complete details, visit: http://www.werf.org/i/Funding/Open_RFPs/a/o/rfp.aspx?hkey=05bda2a1-23af-4891-badf-815b2960d4f3
MITACS Elevate
Deadline: August 19, 2014
Award Value and Duration: $115,000 over two years
Description:
Mitacs Elevate is a two-year training program for postdoctoral fellows, in which participants lead and undertake an industrially relevant research project. During this time, fellows receive experiential training in R&D directly through their industry-academic research collaboration and leadership training and business acumen through the program’s training curriculum. With a suite of skills development workshops and activities unique to Mitacs Elevate, fellows learn about communication, leadership & management and other critical business skills relevant to R&D management careers in academia and industry. These training opportunities complement fellows’ specialized expertise and ensure they are ready to lead large-scale research projects throughout their careers.
Fellowship
During the fellowship, fellows apply these skills within a real-world industry environment as they work on a two-year research project with their partner organization and university faculty supervisor, typically spending half of the fellowship with each. Depending on the nature of the research, Mitacs may consider applications where fellows spend less than half of their time with the partner organization, with appropriate justification.
In addition to their research project, fellows spend from one to two days per month participating in training activities. Throughout this time, fellows have multiple opportunities to connect with fellow PhD graduates in their cohort, as well as industry representatives, potential employers and workshop facilitators.
Matching Funds required: $25,000. Note: For every $1 of a partner organization’s $25,000 contribution, Mitacs provides $1.30 in matching funds for a total research grant of $57,500 per year. This includes support for fellows and up to $7,500 in research costs for equipment, additional research personnel, conference travel and publishing costs.
For complete information, visit: https://www.mitacs.ca/elevate
MITACS
MITACS Accelerate Internships – Standard
Mitacs-Accelerate is Canada’s premiere research internship program. It connects companies with over 50 research-based universities through graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, who apply their specialized expertise to business research challenges. Interns transfer their skills from theory to real-world application, while the companies gain a competitive advantage by accessing high-quality research expertise.
MITACS Accelerate Clusters
Mitacs-Accelerate clusters are an alternative for larger research projects involving multiple Graduate students and/or Post-doctoral Fellows. Applicants may apply once for an Accelerate Cluster involving a minimum of three interns, at least six 4-month internship segments, and a minimum of one industrial partner.
For more information, please contact Anna Ziolecki or visit the MITACS website.