Sponsor

Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN)

Program

Innovation Booster Program

For More Information

Visit the Innovation Booster [1] website for additional information regarding:

• Program guidelines [2]
• Eligibility and application criteria
• Important dates

Description

The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) is an industry-led, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to becoming the world-leading innovation network for food and beverage.

CFIN's Innovation Booster is designed to provide flexible and rapid support to Small or Medium Enterprises (SMEs), a business with 499 or fewer employees and less than $50 million in gross revenues, as they address food innovation challenges or technical hurdles that have created a barrie for achieving their commercialization goals. Applications must be led by a business that is incorporated in Canada. 

The Innovation Booster Program will support high potential projects from companies and Canadian researchers, providing funds to:

• Assess product market fit
• Test a minimum viable product
• Scale and expand globally
• Prepare for investment
• Leverage and protect intellectual property

Eligibility

To qualify for funding, all projects must:

• Be led by a business that is incorporated in Canada
• Be undertaken by a CFIN member;
• Address an area of the post- farmgate food production supply chain
• Identify a specific technical hurdle with a clear methodology;
• Identify a defined goal or outcome that has commercial application;
• Conduct research and development at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 to 7. Projects including TRL 8 and 9 components will only be considered if they are part of a project that also includes a TRL 1 to 7 (see 4.3 Technology Readiness Level Eligibility Requirements for further information); and,
• Projects should be no more than one year (12 months) in length.

Funding Availability

Total eligible project costs should be between $20,000 and $200,000. The maximum level of matching funding from CFIN will be 50% of total eligible project costs (between $10,000 and $100,000). 

Maximum Project Value

$100,000

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs should not exceed  15% of total eligible project costs.

In the case of applicants with high Subcontractors and Consultants costs or low Direct Labour costs: Indirect Costs thresholds will be calculated to a maximum of 5% on eligible Subcontractors and Consultants costs.

CFIN require a non-refundable project management fee of 5% of total project costs eligible for CFIN funding (as calculated in the budget template). The fee will be invoiced to the Lead Applicant and payable to CFIN prior to the first reimbursement of funds, as outlined in the Master Project Agreement. This fee cannot be claimed as an Eligible Project Cost.

Project Duration

 Projects must be completed no later than one year from the start date.

Special Notes

Please note that research activities carried out in the context of COVID-19 need to adhere to the University of Guelph COVID-19 research principles, policies, guidelines and processes as they may be updated from time to time and communicated on the Office of Research web-page [3].

How to Apply

• Applicants will be required to submit proposals online via the Innovation Booster website [4].
• The Lead Applicant must register as CFIN members through www.cfin-rcia.ca [5].
• CFIN co-funding webinars and application packages are available through www.cfin-rcia.ca.
• Applications will be accepted on a rolling 60 day intake. The next intake deadlines are posted on the CFIN website. [6]
• Projects led by UofG Researchers will require submission of a signed OR-5 to research.services@uoguelph.ca [7]. 

Attachment(s)

Attachment	Size
Innovation Booster Program Guide (January 2022) [8]	287.5 KB