AgriScience Program – Clusters: Step 1. What this program offers

Step 1. What this program offers

The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector and Canadians.

Program objectives

The program has 2 components:

1. Clusters Component — supports projects intended to mobilize industry, government and academia through partnerships, and address priority national themes and horizontal issues
2. Projects Component — supports a single project or a smaller set of projects that would be less comprehensive than a Cluster.

Support is available in the form of non-repayable contributions and/or collaborative support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research scientists.

Funding

You may apply for one of three options:

1. non-repayable contribution funding (referred to as Vote 10 at AAFC) for research activities conducted by industry
2. collaborative research and development support (referred to as Vote 1 at AAFC) for research performed by AAFC scientists
3. both (Vote 10 and Vote 1)

Contribution funding (Vote 10)

Successful applicants (recipients) enter into a contribution agreement with AAFC that stipulates a number of reporting requirements, including reporting on expenses incurred for the purpose of reimbursement.

Collaborative research assistance (Vote 1)

AAFC Science and Technology Branch scientists can conduct research on behalf of research applicants. Successful applicants (collaborators) who obtain this support must enter into a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with AAFC. The CRDA outlines the milestones, licensing options and payment schedule for the applicant's share of funding supporting the project activities. The approved Vote 1 financial allocation is not paid to the collaborator but provided within AAFC.

AAFC funding

The AAFC funding for a Cluster (combined contribution funding and collaborative research assistance) will not exceed $15 million and will be no less than $5 million over 5 years (combined Vote 1 and Vote 10).

Cost-sharing

The contributions toward eligible costs for projects will vary by activity, determined by the priority area that is selected for each activity. Contributions toward eligible costs may be shared between AAFC and you as follows:

• Activities that have a primary focus on greenhouse gaz (GHG) emissions reduction or carbon sequestration
  • AAFC — a maximum of 70%
  • You — a minimum of 30%
• Activities that have a primary focus on climate change and environment other than GHG emissions reduction or carbon sequestration
  • AAFC — maximum of 50%
  • You — minimum of 50%
• Activities that have a primary focus on Economic Growth and Development and Sector Resilience and Societal Challenges
  • AAFC — maximum of 50%
  • You — minimum of 50%
• For non-research related activities, including Science Co-ordination, Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT), and the new Impact Assessment activity
  • AAFC — maximum of 50%
  • You — minimum of 50%

Your cost-share portion can be comprised of internal resources and other industry and/or partner sources of funding including:

• industry associations and networks
• businesses
• academia

You're encouraged to seek additional funding sources which may also include other government sources of funding such as:

• other federal government departments
• provincial/territorial governments
• municipal, regional and local governments

In-kind contributions may be considered as part of your cost-share (up to 10%) and total government sources of funding will not exceed 85%.