The NSERC Engage Grant is a popular way for researchers to collaborate with new industry partners. The ‘approachability’ of Engage – no company cash contribution, easy application process, fast turnaround time – makes it attractive for first-time partners.

The success of Engage for initiating new industry collaborations is beyond question. However, six-month projects pass quickly. To capitalize on the momentum and trust that they establish with their Engage project, researchers need to plan their steps for follow-on work in a strategic and timely fashion.

To transition to a longer-term project like the NSERC Collaborative R&D Grant (‘CRD’), the industry partner has to agree to a longer-term commitment – one that involves both a cash contribution and a negotiated IP agreement. In addition, the CRD application process is more demanding than Engage. The researcher must therefore play an important role in helping their industry partner to understand the ‘risks vs. rewards’ of the post-Engage options.

With this in mind, NSERC is pleased to offer a special new workshop aimed at helping Engage researchers (and companies) to move successfully to a longer-term project using NSERC CRD support. NSERC CRD and Engage specialists will be on hand to guide you through the ‘Engage-to-CRD’ process.