Canada-Italy Innovation Award 2023 - Call for proposals

Overview

The Embassy of Canada to Italy is pleased to accept applications for the 11th edition of the Canada-Italy Innovation Award. This Award provides funding to members of the Italian innovation ecosystem including start-ups, innovation experts, researchers, scientists, or creative industry professionals to develop collaborative projects with Canadian partners in areas that will drive innovative, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development.
Over the last decade, the award has resulted in transformational discoveries, research and applications, showcasing the significant impact of Canada-Italy cooperation.

Mission

The Canada-Italy Innovation Award aims at developing new partnerships between Canadian and Italian experts and deepen existing collaborations to deliver innovations that have impact.
Applications are open to Italian individuals who connect to Canadian counterparts that they will identify.
Initial outcomes should be delivered over the first 6 to 12 months following the completion of the project.  Ideal outcomes would result in real world applications that can be incubated or scaled in evolving domains. This can include:

• Joint publications and projects
• Student/researcher exchange programs
• Institutional linkages
• Sharing of equipment, materials and facilities
• Exchange of skills and techniques
• Applied technology development
• Creative products and applications
• Technology transfer

The development of innovative models of collaboration is strongly encouraged as well as the development of sustained relationships that remain lasting/active beyond the first 12 months.

Scope and priority areas

Through this Award, the Embassy of Canada to Italy aims to support the development of strong, targeted relationships between leading individuals, researchers and institutions in Italy and their counterparts in Canada.
Projects must address 1 or more of the thematic priorities detailed below, which are aligned with Government of Canada policy priorities:

• Mental health
• Collection and recycling of critical minerals
• Production, storage, and transport of hydrogen as an energy source to combat climate change
• Quantum technology
• Preventing gender based violence

Thematic priority 1: Mental health

“Mental health is the state of our psychological and emotional well-being, and contributes significantly to our overall ability to thrive. Finding innovative ways to foster healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages is essential to sustainable development.”
Projects funded through the Award are meant to develop and/or amplify new or existing networks and relationships between Canada and Italy that will:

• Help create a safe and healthy environment where we live, learn, work and play;
• Build resilience and skills to help improve positive mental health; or
• Prevent the onset of mental health problems.

Thematic priority 2: Collection and recycling of critical minerals

“Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential components in many of today's rapidly growing clean energy technologies – from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles. Demand for these minerals will grow quickly as clean energy transitions gather pace, however the extraction and processing of these minerals often have negative impacts on the environment and local communities.”
Projects funded through the Award are meant to develop and amplify new or existing networks and relationships between Canada and Italy that will:

• Enhance our ability to produce critical minerals from secondary sources - e.g. mining waste (tailings), discarded electronics, etc.
• Develop new production methods and product designs that facilitate the recovery and recycling of critical minerals from the products in which they are used.
• Discover any other technologies or techniques that help reduce reliance on critical mineral production from primary sources.

Thematic priority 3: Production, storage, and transport of hydrogen as an energy source to combat climate change

“As all countries work to urgently address the impact of climate change and foster a more sustainable future, there is a need to develop effective solutions that will enable an effective and efficient energy transition. Hydrogen fuel may have a key role to play in achieving our climate action goals by providing a source of affordable, low-carbon energy.”
Projects funded through the Award are meant to develop and amplify new or existing networks and relationships between Canada and Italy that will:

• Develop the use of hydrogen as a fuel;
• Discover new technologies for hydrogen production, storage and transport, as well as fueling station components and technology;
• Facilitate the integration of fuel cells into products;
• Discover new fuel cell engine and electrolyser components and technology (i.e. membrane, catalyst, Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), plates, Balance of Plants (BOP) components).

Thematic priority 4: Quantum technology

“Quantum science presents considerable opportunities for new insights, discoveries, technological developments and applications that can enhance lives and livelihoods. As quantum technologies evolve, there is a need to maximize their benefits.”
Projects funded through the Award are meant to develop and amplify new or existing networks and relationships between Canada and Italy focussed on:

• Quantum computing and simulation: Co-design of hardware and software to advance the state of the art in quantum computing and/or the development of computer science theory of quantum algorithms and architectures;
• Privacy and security: Concepts, proofs and applications for secure quantum communication, including device-independent protocols, quantum network/repeater protocols, and space-based hardware solutions;
• Application-specific quantum sensor development: Device fabrication and characterization, e.g. for magnetometry, prospection, imaging, navigation, and biomedical applications, employing strategies such as the use of entanglement and error correction;
• Foster greater participation and enhance conditions for women or gender diverse people to engage in the advanced technology and quantum science field.

Thematic priority 5: Preventing gender based violence

“Violence against women and girls in all their diversity, including that which occurs in digital contexts, is prevalent in all societies and is a distinctive feature of conflict and crisis. Finding innovative ways to support them to control their own lives, bodies and futures without fear is an essential component of promoting and protecting human rights, freedom of expression and inclusive democracies.”
Projects funded through the Award are meant to develop and/or amplify new or existing networks and relationships between Canada and Italy that will:

• Foster collective action against gender-based violence, including online harassment and violence;
• Contribute to the development of laws, policies, tools (including digital tools) and institutions that ensure that all people are supported and protected, and that their rights are upheld in both physical and digital spaces.

All applicants shall use the tools and concepts of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in the development of their project.

It should be explained in the application how the applicant and the Canadian partner promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the composition of their team and/or in their approach. The application should clearly explain how gender equality, diversity and inclusion considerations have been taken into account in the design of the project and how they will be promoted through the project’s objectives and implementation.

Funding scope

Awards are to support the applicant’s travel to Canada. The value of an Award will be up to a maximum of €3,000 (EUR). Travel expenses that are eligible for reimbursement include:

• economy class airfare (not premium economy)
• accommodation
• local transportation
• €60 (EUR) per diem (per day of travel)

 Insurance is not eligible for Innovation Award funding.

Eligibility and funding criteria

The Canada-Italy Innovation Award is available to start-ups, innovation experts, researchers, scientists, and creative industries professionals, collaborating with Canadian partners. Private/public partnerships are encouraged.

Funding through the Canada-Italy Innovation Award is to support expenses incurred by the Italian awardee only for travel to Canada. Successful applicants will be required to complete a report immediately following the completion of the travel or project and must commit to providing brief updates on follow-up activities and outcomes 6 and 12 months after the completion of the project.

Evaluation criteria

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Degree of innovation of the proposed project
• Quality of proposed outcomes and expected ability for their delivery
• Relevance to the Canadian priority described above
• Potential for significant, long-term collaboration
• Potential to broaden the collaboration to a wider, institutional level
• Use of creative / innovative collaboration models
• Innovative use of research infrastructures
• Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+)

Special consideration will be given to applications that demonstrate why the proposed project would particularly benefit from an international collaboration.

Applications will be reviewed by relevant experts from the Embassy of Canada to Italy.

How to apply

Applications should be prepared in English or French using the Canada-Italy Innovation Award application form and submitted according to the instructions. If the link will not open the PDF, you can right-click on the link and select “Save link as…” to download it to your device. For more information, please contact rome-pa@international.gc.ca.

Disbursement of the Canada-Italy Innovation Award

Canada-Italy Innovation Award funds will be provided as reimbursement for incurred expenses. Original receipts, invoices, and expense summaries, as well as a letter by the Canadian partner, must be returned together with a final report before payment is issued. Disbursement of funds is contingent to the submission of all the requested documentation.

Important dates

April 3, 2023 (11:59 pm, Rome time): Deadline for applications
May 16, 2023: Announcement of Award winner(s)
November 15, 2023: Deadline for completion of travel to Canada
Within 2 weeks of completion: Final report and expenditure records must be submitted.