What is the IDF?

The Innovation Demonstration Fund (IDF) is a discretionary, non-entitlement funding program administered by the Ministry of Research and Innovation that focuses on the commercialization and initial demonstration of globally competitive, innovative technologies, processes and/or products.

The objective of the IDF is to help companies in their efforts to commercialize innovative technologies in Ontario.

What Initiatives will IDF Consider Supporting?

Subject to funding limits, and the discretionary nature of the program, IDF will consider support to proponents developing and commercializing innovative new and emerging technologies that are shown to be among the most competitive and advanced in North America. Preference will be given to bio-based, environmental and alternative energy technologies. The funding is to be used for technology demonstration activities at the pilot stage.

What Amount of Support Would IDF Provide?
IDF will provide financial support covering up to 50 percent of eligible costs for approved Eligible Projects that have as their goal commercialization. The funding potentially available under IDF ranges from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $4,000,000 per project.

Who May Apply?

Companies with Eligible Projects that will be undertaken in Ontario, and where the project will result in full scale commercialization in Ontario.
Applicants must demonstrate how:

• The proposed technology demonstration at the pilot stage will provide a competitive advantage for Ontario or other significant benefits.
  
• The technology, product or process is best in class and will lead to a globally competitive business and market opportunity.
  
• Following a successful pilot, the technology product or process will be moved into the global market.
  

The legal structure of the venture, the requirement for further assurances such as guarantees from related parties, and the parties with whom a contractual relationship would be expected would be part of the conditions of any funding approval.

Launched in June 2005, the Ontario Research Commercialization Program (ORCP) is part of the Ontario government's comprehensive strategy to help business innovators take their products to market.

ORCP helps Ontario's world-class researchers and entrepreneurs combine their skills, expertise and resources to help commercialize their innovations, creating high-value jobs and a better quality of life for Ontarians.

A total of $31.4 million has been committed to public research institutions and not-for-profit organizations through this program to help them identify promising research and shape the ideas into innovative products or services. This includes funding for medical discoveries and devices, and environmental and energy-related technologies.

ORCP is providing support for four important commercialization goals:

1. Linking research institutions to companies

ORCP facilitates "technology transfer" — the movement of technology or scientific discovery from public universities and research institutions to the private sector, where business knowledge and skills can help develop the technology into a marketable product or service.

ORCP supports 55 Ontario public research and not-for-profit organizations in their collaboration with numerous technology-based companies to identify promising technologies, develop them, and move them more rapidly to market. This initiative is the first of its kind in Canada, with the goal of making Ontario a global leader in technology transfer.

For example, the Regional Innovation Development Program will forge alliances and allow the sharing of knowledge and technology transfer expertise across Ontario's regional technology centres in Ottawa, Toronto, and Waterloo. Led by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI), this initiative will build collaborations between and among participants in the information and communications technology industry, life sciences industry, and research institutions.

2. Linking companies to researchers

ORCP supports working partnerships between companies and Ontario researchers to help speed the development process and give each partner a competitive advantage. These collaborations allow small and medium-sized businesses quicker access to intellectual property, Ontario's top researchers, and the latest sophisticated equipment and research tools within institutions.

For example, the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) will organize "Discovery Workshops" with funding from ORCP to bring together industry, academia and government researchers in the field of environmental technologies. The parties will develop strategies to bring products and services that address Canadian environmental priorities to market. ORCP support to OCETA will also help Ontario companies access markets, and expand its business support services for companies with environmental technologies.

A provincial network of 10 Ontario colleges called The College Network for Industry Innovation is also being established. This partnership will help small and medium-sized businesses solve technical problems, adapt new technologies for the marketplace, and develop new or improved products and processes.

3. Building regional and province-wide networks

ORCP is linking researchers, investors and entrepreneurs locally, regionally and provincially. Small and medium-sized companies have the chance to work with research institutions in their region to identify the commercial value of great ideas and help get promising technologies to market. These regional networks will be linked together to form an Ontario-wide network of information and expertise — accessible from any part of the province.

For example, BioEnterprise Corporation ― a Guelph-based, not-for-profit organization that helps promote the creation, growth and expansion of businesses in the agri-food, agri-life sciences and bio-products (made from biological or renewable materials) industries ― will expand its operations to provide expertise to different regions across the province. Their ORCP supported project will link Ontario's research institutions to rural and northern Ontario companies developing new uses for agricultural products and waste. ORCP support will also help BioEnterprise work with entrepreneurs to assist with business planning and financial strategies.

4. Developing Ontario’s next generation of innovative thinkers

ORCP includes an internship program that will give the next generation of Ontario thinkers the practical business skills they need to help shape future discoveries into products and services.

For example, the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) ― a key MRI supported not-for-profit organization ― is developing the Ontario Internship Program through which OCE will coordinate the strategic placement of highly-skilled science and technology graduates with Ontario technology companies.

Students participating in the program gain the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to get innovative products and services to the marketplace in a business setting, while participating companies gain an infusion of new talent and the opportunity to develop the next generation of Ontario’s technology leaders.