Atlantic Investment Partnership (AIP) - Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF)
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Last Verified:
2006-08-21
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T he Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) finances research and development and related initiatives in the areas of natural and applied sciences, social sciences, humanities, arts and culture where these are linked explicitly to the development of technology-based products, processes or services. The AIF strives to strengthen the region's system of innovation.
The AIF is a federal program within the Atlantic Investment Partnership framework designed to strengthen the economy of Atlantic Canada by accelerating the development of knowledge-based industry.
Eligibility Criteria
The AIF will entertain proposals from commercial and non-commercial entities such as universities, colleges, other research institutions and private sector firms.
Federal departments, including federal research laboratories and institutes, and provincial government departments are not eligible recipients. Nevertheless, they may be active participants in, and may contribute funding to, AIF projects.
To be considered for AIF funding, projects must meet the following essential criteria:
- must be compatible with the AIF objectives;
- must be scientifically and/or technically sound;
- must demonstrate management capability to successfully undertake the project;
- must demonstrate significant economic benefits for Atlantic Canada;
- must demonstrate commercialization potential of project;
- must support new or improved technologies or new applications of technologies;
- must have adequate financing for the duration of the project;
- must be incremental i.e., new or additional activities over and above existing or ongoing activities that cannot proceed without funding from the AIF; and
- must support one or more strategic sectors/technologies.
Summary
The AIF is an initiative through which the Government of Canada is making strategic investments in leading-edge research and development that directly contributes to the development of technology-based economic activity.
Objectives
The objectives of the AIF are to:
- increase activity in and to build capacity for innovation and research and development (R&D) that leads to technologies, products, processes or services that contribute to economic growth in Atlantic Canada;
- increase the capacity for commercialization of R&D outputs;
- strengthen the region's innovation capacity by supporting research, development and commercialization partnerships and alliances among private sector firms, universities, research institutions and other organizations in Atlantic Canada; and
- maximize the regions' ability to access national R&D funding programs.
Types of Projects Eligible for Funding
The Atlantic Innovation Fund focuses on R&D projects in the area of natural and applied sciences, as well as in social sciences, humanities, arts and culture, where these are explicitly linked to the development of technology-based products, processes or services, or their commercialization.
More specifically, the Atlantic Innovation Fund is designed to focus on areas of strategic importance to the region that offer the most potential for future growth, including information technology, ocean technologies, aquaculture, bio-technology, health/medical technologies, and environmental technologies. AIF investments could also strengthen the region's ability to develop technologies that allow natural resource industries - such as oil and gas, agriculture and agri-food, fisheries, forestry and mining - to maintain and increase their competitiveness.
What Level of Financial Assistance Is Available?
The Atlantic Innovation Fund can provide assistance up to 80% of total eligible costs for non-commercial projects and up to 75% of total eligible costs for commercial, private sector projects.
Applicants are encouraged to lever funding from other private and public sources prior to applying for AIF funding.
Commercial applicants seeking funding of $1 000 000 or less are not eligible under the Atlantic Innovation Fund. However, such projects may be eligible for assistance under the Business Development Program of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
Delivery
The AIF is guided by an Advisory Board that makes recommendations on specific project proposals, and provides advice on policy matters related to the AIF to the Minister of ACOA.
New Brunswick Contact(s):
Janice
Nishikawa
ACOA New Brunswick - Regional Office
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
570 Queen Street
P.O. Box 578
Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 5A6
Telephone: (506) 452-4256
Fax: (506) 452-3285
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-4030
E-mail: Janice.Nishikawa@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Newfoundland & Labrador Contact(s):
Mr.
Clayton
Higdon
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
Telephone: (709) 772-2458
Fax: (709) 772-2712
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010
E-mail: Clayton.Higdon@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Web site:
http://www.acoa.gc.ca/e/
Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Glen
MacDonald
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
70 Crescent Street
P.O. Box 1750
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 6T7
Telephone: (902) 564-7328
Fax: (902) 564-3825
Toll-free (information): 1-800-705-3926
E-mail: Glen.MacDonald@ecbc.ca
Web site:
http://www.ecbc.ca/e/default.asp
Rob
McDonald
ACOA Nova Scotia - Regional Office
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Suite 600
1801 Hollis Street
P.O. Box 2284, Station M
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3C8
Telephone: (902) 426-5471
Fax: 902-426-2054
Toll-free (information): 1-800-565-1228
E-mail: Rob.McDonald@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Web site:
http://www.acoa.gc.ca/e/
Prince Edward Island Contact(s):
Gerard
Watts
ACOA Prince Edward Island and Tourism - Regional Office
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
3rd Floor
Royal Bank Building
100 Sydney Street
P.O. Box 40
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
C1A 7K2
Telephone: (902) 566-7192
Fax: (902) 566-7098
Toll-free (information): 1-800-871-2596
E-mail: Gerard.Watts@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
National Contact(s):
Gilles
Paulin
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
3rd Floor
Blue Cross Centre
644 Main Street
P.O. Box 6051
Moncton, New Brunswick
E1C 9J8
Telephone: (506) 851-2928
Fax: (506) 851-7403
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-7862
E-mail: Gilles.Paulin@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
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