About the Award

Innovation paves the road to success in the new global economy. The Synergy Awards for Innovation were launched in 1995 by NSERC to recognize partnerships in research and development between universities and industry. Since their inception, the awards (originally known as the Synergy Awards for University-Industry R&D Partnerships) have honoured the most outstanding achievements of university-industry collaboration.

Winning universities receive a $25,000 NSERC research grant. Industry partners receive the prestigious Synergy sculpture.

The Synergy Awards for Innovation showcase innovation and the benefits of pooling resources to make the most of Canadian ingenuity. The awards are judged on:

• Partnership;
• Effective Use of Resources;
• Tangible Benefits; and
• For the Leo Derikx Category Only: Innovative Model.

The Leo Derikx Award

For two decades, Leo Derikx was a driving force in building and developing university-industry partnerships in Canada. As Director General of Research Partnerships for NSERC, it was Leo Derikx who helped to create the Synergy Awards. Upon his retirement in 1999, the award for innovative models of long-standing interaction in the precompetitive stage of R&D was named in his honour.

By working together, award-winning companies and universities have proven that effective partnerships are the foundation of achievement. Their success has enriched the academic and research programs within Canadian universities while providing tangible benefits to Canadians.