Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

T he Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) is a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) initiative to increase the level of collaborative research and development activity between the aquaculture industry and the department, and in some instances with other funding partners. ACRDP is an industry-driven program that teams industry with DFO researchers.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible industry applicants are:

• aquaculture producers operating within Canada who are directly involved in producing an aquatic species for pre-commercial or commercial purposes;
• producers undertaking commercial or developmental production activities on existing or new aquaculture species;
• aquaculture companies or associations involved with sea ranching mariculture operations;
• industry producer associations or consortia of producers; and
• other aquaculture sector stakeholders are eligible to participate as a partner with an industry producer.

Summary

Projects will be conducted at DFO Research facilities or possibly industry partner facilities. The program will allocate ACRDP funds to collaborative research projects that are proposed and jointly funded by aquaculture producer partners. ACRDP funding is approximately $4.5 million per year and will be subdivided regionally.

The key goals of the program are to:

• improve the competitiveness of the Canadian aquaculture industry;
• increase collaboration between the department and industry on scientific research and development that will enhance aquaculture in Canada;
• facilitate and accelerate the process of technology transfer and research commercialization through closer collaboration with the Canadian aquaculture industry; and
• increase scientific capacity for essential aquaculture research and development in the aquaculture sector.

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria (technical review and comprehensive review):

Technical Review

• the project has scientific merit;
• the project is original;
• the problem and objectives are well defined;
• there is a clear and sufficient description of the experimental methodology;
• the scientific approach is valid; and
• the project team is qualified to conduct the work in a thorough and professional manner.

Comprehensive Review

• the project is consistent with the program objectives and regional industry R&D priorities;
• the project addresses a significant constraint to the Canadian aquaculture sector;
• the project contributes significantly to the advancement or competitiveness of the industry partner or sector;
• the project contributes to the skills and knowledge required to advance the industry partner;
• the project has sufficient industry input to generate potential practical benefits. This can include input from other funding partners, which is desirable and encouraged;
• the project facilitates technology transfer and (or) research commercialization through closer collaboration with the Canadian aquaculture industry;
• the project is cost effective; and
• the overall project objective and methodology is described in a clear manner.

Contributions

A formula will be negotiated for each project, taking into account in-cash and in-kind contributions of both parties to the agreement. Industry cash contributions to a project will be managed through a DFO Specified Purpose Account (SPA). The minimum industry contribution is 30% of the ACRDP amount requested, at least 7.5% of which must be a cash contribution.

Eligible Project Expenses

Eligible project expenses are as follows:

• wages and salaries plus associated required payroll benefits of project personnel (scientific and technical) or post-doctoral or graduate student support;
• equipment directly related to the work;
• laboratory and filed supplies;
• travel costs directly related to the goals of the project; and
• other expenses agreed to be necessary to the success of the project.

Reporting

Industry and DFO partners will be required to provide progress reports at six months, annually, and a final report.

Deadlines to Submit your Application

There will be two deadline dates for project proposal submission throughout the year: January 15 and April 15. A subsequent round may be established in a particular region, if required.

Regional ACRDP Committees will review and evaluate proposals in a timely manner and final notification of the project assessment will be provided no later than 60 days after the deadline dates.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Mr. Gilles Olivier
Gulf Fisheries Centre
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
343 University Street
P.O. Box 5030
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 9B6
Telephone: (506) 851-2054
Fax: (506) 851-2079
E-mail: Olivier@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/home-accueil_e.htm

National Contact(s):
See regional contact(s).