About the Award

The Innovation Challenge Awards honour students pursuing graduate studies in the natural sciences, engineering or computer sciences who have demonstrated an entrepreneurial flair by thinking of ways to transform their research thesis results into products and processes that will potentially benefit Canadians. These awards recognize and reward the power of imagination and innovation within Canada’s brightest minds.

The awards are aimed at fostering, in master’s or Ph.D. students who are in their final year or have recently graduated, an appreciation of real-world applications of their research. The students review their thesis work and submit an essay identifying potential products or services that could result from applying their research. Since universities play a crucial role in the innovation cycle in Canada, university Industrial Liaison Offices (ILOs), or their equivalent, are charged with selecting and submitting their institution’s nominations.

There are three awards: one $10,000 main prize and two $5,000 runner-up prizes. Honourable mention prizes may also be awarded if applications are deemed meritorious. The winners will receive a cheque and a certificate at the Synergy and Innovation Awards ceremony hosted by NSERC in the fall.

NSERC and GrowthWorks, a leading venture capital fund manager, provide the major funding for the Innovation Challenge Awards. Financial contributions received from Bell Canada, MDS Sciex, Research In Motion and 3M are used to provide honourable mention recipients with cash prizes.

For further information, send an e-mail to innovation@nserc.ca or call (613) 947-9452.