Sponsor
NSERC
Description
Program details and timeline are not yet confirmed. This information will be updated
The Synergy Awards for Innovation honour outstanding research and development partnerships between a university or a college and industry, in the natural sciences and engineering. Winners of the awards show effective use of human, technical and financial resources, leading to tangible commercial benefits with their industrial collaborators. Universities must demonstrate a sustained partnership.
Eligibility
The nominated partnership must be in the natural sciences and/or engineering and be between a Canadian university professor, or group of professors.
An individual, team of individuals or a college may be nominated for the NSERC Synergy Awards for Innovation and other major NSERC prizes in the same year, but can receive only one such prize in a given year. There is no limit to the number of nominations for the Synergy Awards for Innovation that a university or college can put forward in a given competition.
Nominations can be made in one of four categories:
For universities
- Small and medium-sized companies: A partnership with a single company of up to 500 employees.
- Large companies: A partnership with a single company of more than 500 employees.
- Two or more companies: A partnership with two or more companies of any size or a consortium of companies.
For colleges (only nominations in the natural sciences and/or engineering will be considered)
- Colleges: An innovative applied R&D partnership with demonstrable impact between a college research team and one or more companies, of any size.
Prize
University: $200,000 NSERC Research Grant
Industrial Partners: $30,000 voucher towards a cash portion of their required contribution in a new Collaborative Research and Development Grant.
Special Notes
Nominated partnerships are expected to promote approaches that increase the inclusion and advancement of women and other under-represented groups in the natural sciences and engineering. See the Guide for Applicants in considering equity, diversity and inclusion.
Nominees
Before you, as a nominee, can submit your documents to the nominator, you must read and agree to the 
Terms and Conditions Form for Nominees. It is your responsibility to retain a copy of the agreed terms and conditions for your records.
Nominators
Before you, as a nominator, can submit your documents to NSERC, you must read and agree to the Terms and Conditions Form for Nominators. It is your responsibility to retain a copy of the agreed terms and conditions for your records.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Please submit your Expression of Interest (details below) to research.honours@uoguelph.ca | |
External Deadline | Nominations must have received institutional endorsement prior to submission. See How to Apply. |
How to Apply
An Expression of Interest will include:
- A draft letter (two-three pages) addressed to the VPR which outlines how you/your nominee meets the criteria outlined on the program website
- an up-to-date CV (up to 10 pages) for nominee (and each member of the team, if applicable)
For More Information
For more information, contact Ailsa Fullwood at research.honours@uoguelph.ca or see: NSERC website