IDeal - Bootstrap

The Alberta Prion Research Institute has developed an industry program to provide further opportunity for Alberta-based companies to get involved in prion research. Through the Innovation and Delivery Program , also known as IDeal , the Prion Institute is expanding its mandate from funding primarily basic research to include support for product development and technology commercialization efforts. The program is also intended to encourage collaboration among industry, Alberta universities and research organizations.  The Prion Institute has developed a collaboration with PrioNet Canada to stimulate research.

Scope

Prion Institute IDeal Grants support well-defined projects undertaken by Alberta-based private-sector organizations or public-sector-based researchers and their private-sector partners. Direct project costs are shared by industrial partners and the Prion Institute. Projects may range from one to three years in duration.

Prion Institute IDeal Grants will generally be at the development end of the R&D spectrum. Eligible collaborations include focused projects with specific short- to medium-term objectives, as well as discrete phases in a program of longer-range research. All proposals require evidence of detailed planning and sound budget justification, and must clearly spell out the underlying assumptions, intended approaches, milestones and deliverables.

Projects that focus on the routine application of existing technology, provide routine analysis, collect data without interpreting underlying mechanisms, or provide professional practice or consulting services (contract research) are not eligible for funding through this program. Similarly, proposals that involve the set-up and operational management of an institute, a formal or informal group of researchers, or the acquisition and maintenance of scientific equipment will not be considered.

Project Size

The IDeal Program has the ability to fund several significant development projects. Letters of Intent with budgets exceeding $200,000 over two years will be accepted for evaluation by the Prion Institute Management Board. Projects under $200,000 may be eligible for funding under another prion program but will not be funded through the IDeal Program.

Application Process

The IDeal Program funding process is two-tiered. A Letter of Intent (LOI) must be first submitted to the Prion Institute Management Board. Letters of Intent can be submitted at any time. Although there is no formal deadline, LOIs will be reviewed by the Prion Institute's Management Board during the Board's regular quarterly meetings. Consequently, all LOI materials to be considered by the Board must be submitted to the Prion Institute at least two weeks prior to the upcoming quarterly meeting.

Following review of the Letters of Intent, the Management Board will issue invitations for Full Applications to selected applicants. Timelines, special processes required for evaluation of the Full Application and other details will be discussed with the successful applicants at that time. An Evaluation Committee will be established to review and provide due diligence on each Full Application. This Committee will typically be comprised of Alberta-based and international experts with scientific and industrial domain knowledge directly relevant to the specific nature of each proposal.

Selection Criteria for Letters of Intent

Letters of Intent are evaluated by the Prion Institute according to the following criteria:

  1. Scientific merit: The project must be scientifically sound, technically feasible, and promise either to generate new knowledge or to apply existing knowledge in an innovative manner.
  2. Research competence: Applicants must have all the expertise required to address the defined objectives competently and to complete the project successfully. Know-how residing in the industrial applicant may be complemented by relevant academic expertise.
  3. Industrial relevance: The LOI must identify how the work will benefit the company and demonstrate that exploitation of the project results will benefit the Alberta economy within a reasonable time frame.
  4. Private-sector support: The industrial partner must contribute an appropriate amount from its own resources to the project, consistent with the risks and rewards involved, and must be in a position to exploit successful research results.
  5. Benefit to Alberta: The proposal should outline any additional, potential social and/or economic benefits that will be realized in Alberta as a result of the project.

Partnerships with Alberta-based research organizations are encouraged, and the LOIs should reflect the research organization's commitment to the proposal.

Selection Criteria for Full Applications

Each full application will be subjected to stringent due diligence and scientific review using established, consistent criteria:

  A
The Initiative		 B
The Benefits
1 The Project Market Analysis
2 Project Plan Product Offering
3 R&D Facilities Company Growth
4 Training Environment  
5 Commercialization Strategy  


Funding decisions on IDeal grant applications will typically be made within three to five months of receiving a full application. Applicants will be provided with a timetable for the review process within two weeks of the Prion Institute's receipt of the application.

Confidentiality

The Prion Institute recognizes the importance of protecting confidentiality of all partners putting forward Letters of Intent and/or Full Applications, with particular attention to the intellectual property, trade secrets and other competitive intelligence relating to products and processes under development. Evaluation Committee members will sign Confidentiality Agreements consistent with the Prion Institute's Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Policies.

Financial Responsibility

Appropriate due diligence will be carried out to ensure the commitment and ability of the industrial applicant to carry through with the project. The industrial applicant must contribute to the direct project costs in an amount equal to, or greater than the amount requested from the Prion Institute. The industrial cash must be at least one-half of the amount requested from the Prion Institute, with the balance provided as in-kind contributions to the project by the industrial partner(s).

  • The Prion Institute will match industrial partner cash contributions dollar for dollar.
  • The Prion Institute will match industrial partner in-kind contributions dollar for dollar, as long as the industrial partner cash contribution is equal to or greater than the in-kind amount.

For a full discussion of valid in-kind and appropriate cost-sharing ratios, please refer to the NSERC Guidelines for Evaluating Cost-Sharing Ratios and In-Kind Contributions in University-Industry Collaborations section of the Guidelines for Organizations Participating in Research Partnerships Programs.

Industrial partner cash contributed prior to submission of the proposal may be used to start the project, but the Prion Institute will not recognize industrial funds spent more than three months prior to the date of submission. Prion Institute IDeal funds cannot be applied to expenses incurred before a project was approved.

The approved Prion Institute funds will be paid to the lead industrial partner in four-month (trimester) installments and must be spent in accordance with the approved budget submitted in the original IDeal grant application. The Prion Institute will consider written requests to change budget allocations. The Prion Institute requires that a Performance Update be prepared by the industrial partner at the close of each trimester, outlining IDeal project status in relation to established timelines and how the Prion funding has aided in this progression. NOTE: Release of upcoming trimester installments will be contingent, at the discretion of the Prion Institute, upon submission of the IDeal Project's Performance Update for the previous trimester.

The lead industrial partner bears primary responsibility for ensuring all appropriate receipts and statements of expenditures are maintained for verification by the Prion Institute, upon request. The lead industrial partner is also responsible for appropriate disbursement of IDeal Project funds to other research teams within collaborating institutions. A complete list of collaborating institutions must be included in the IDeal Project proposal, as only those listed therein will be eligible for disbursement of IDeal funds. Collaborations with academic groups will typically be handled as industrial contracts entered into with the academic collaborators. Any unused funds must be returned to the Prion Institute upon termination of the project.

Reporting

The progress of each funded project is monitored on an on-going basis through three inter-related mechanisms:

  • Brief performance updates (semi-annually), including a financial update
  • An annual, year-end performance summary report
  • An annual operating plan and budget.

Detailed information on reporting requirements will be provided to successful applicants.

Alignment with Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures Industrial Program

Through its Industry Associates program, Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures provides salary support to researchers in all areas of science and engineering to work in Alberta's companies at the forefront of research. Invited applicants to the IDeal program are encouraged, where appropriate, to consider congruent application(s) for Industry Associate positions to augment the reach and impact of their IDeal application.

Board Meeting Dates

The Prion Institute Management Board meets every three months. Please contact the Prion Institute for the next proposed meeting date.