NSERC supporting R and D
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) aims to make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports university students in their advanced studies, promotes and supports discovery research, and fosters innovation by encouraging Canadian companies to participate and invest in postsecondary research projects. NSERC researchers are on the vanguard of science, building on Canada’s long tradition of scientific excellence.
So what does this mean to the local companies? This means that there are grants available to pay for university professors to do research for a specific problem you have! One of the most popular programs they run is called Engage. Engage Grants are designed to give companies that operate from a Canadian base access to the unique knowledge and expertise available at Canadian universities. These non-repayable grants of up to $25,000 are intended to foster the development of new research partnerships between an academic researcher and a company that have never collaborated before, by supporting short-term research and development projects aimed at addressing a company-specific problem in the natural sciences or engineering fields.
The field of natural sciences or engineering is incredibly broad so it is important to reach out to see if you are eligible. The NSERC contact person for the Pacific region is located in Vancouver but is a former Smithers resident. Megan Griffith wants to hear from businesses in the area who would like to take advantage of this program. She can be reached at 604-666-8815 or [email protected].
The University of Northern British Columbia and College of New Caledonia in Prince George are the closest eligible institutions to the Bulkley Valley but companies can use any eligible institution that fits their needs.
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