Sponsor
Protein Industries Canada (PIC)
Program
Technology Program
Description
Protein Industries Canada (PIC), under a newly allotted $150 million funding from the Government of Canada, is helping foster this collaboration through a second round of technology programs to develop new ingredients, put new products on grocery store shelves and strengthen Canada’s plant-based ecosystem.
Projects may be either solicited or unsolicited. There may be instances when Protein Industries Canada issues a specific call for projects to fill an identified gap; however, companies across the country are encouraged to put forth projects that are aligned with and contribute to the objectives of advancing Canada’s plant-based food and ingredients ecosystem.
Technology projects will have a continued focus on Canada’s plant-based value chain. However, PIC is placing an increased emphasis on ingredient processing, as well as commercialization at every point in the value chain. Four areas of focus for technology projects are as follows:
- Genetics – Germplasm development with an aim to improve processing efficiency, quality, sensory characteristics and the development of novel ingredients.
- Crops – Technologies to measure and improve on-farm sustainability and information flow along the value chain.
- Ingredients – The development, scaling and optimization of plant-based ingredients.
- Products – The conversion of Canadian-made ingredients and co-products into consumption-ready goods.
The project application process is made up of two parts:
- The Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Full Project Proposal
Please read through the Program Guide before beginning the project process. This outlines the program structure and eligibility requirements.
Eligibility
To be eligible to submit an EOI, all consortia members must be a member of Protein Industries Canada. For a project to be considered eligible for investment, it must be submitted by a consortium of at minimum two PIC members, at least one of which is a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME). Universities and academic institutions may be a member of a consortium and receive money to do work via the project; however, universities on their own are not eligible. The research must have a commercial purpose. For complete eligibility please review the above mentioned Project Eligibility Form.
Funding Availability
There is no upper limit with respect to total project costs, within the confines of funding available. Generally, support from PIC will not exceed 45 per cent of eligible project costs and will not exceed total industry contributions. In-kind contributions from industry partners up to 25 per cent of industry matching funds will be considered at fair market value. PIC will invest more than a $150 million into eligible projects over four years.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
External Deadline | If a researcher at the University of Guelph is part of a consortium that is invited to full proposal, the researcher should submit an OR5 and copy of the full proposal to research.services@uoguelph.caone week prior to the deadline established by PIC. |
How to Apply
Once you have reviewed the Program Guide, fill out the form (see the bottom of this page), and PIC be in touch to discuss your project. PIC will work in step with consortia through the project application process. This includes helping you understand if your project is eligible, identifying other potential partners you may want to work with, supporting development of the EOI, and working through IP, data and commercialization strategies, and more.