RFPs: Semiconductors Collaborative Industrial Research and Development

Deadline: 9 July 2025

Applications are now open to organizations from Canada and the UK that wish to form consortia to perform collaborative projects focused on developing innovative products, processes, or technology-based services in semiconductors.

Focus Areas

Project must focus on innovative technologies that enable the development and commercialization of semiconductors.
Technologies of interest include, but are not limited to:
- compound/wide band gap (WBG) semiconductors
- emerging materials
- photonics (including Silicon Photonics)
- heterogeneous/hybrid integration
- advanced packaging
- prototyping and low volume piloting
- semiconductor design/intellectual property (IP)
- processing/processes
- simulation tools
Key application areas include, but are not limited to:
- high-voltage systems (including utilities, industry and public power systems)
- sustainable technologies (including electric vehicles, batteries, solar, wind)
- communications (including Wi-Fi, cellular 5G and 6G, satellite)
- sensors
- data centres

Funding Information

In Canada, this call for proposals is offered through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). NRC IRAP is responsible for delivering this call for proposals and for managing any resulting funding agreements.
Canadian SMEs
- Eligible Canadian SMEs may receive up to 50% reimbursement of eligible project costs up to a maximum total funding amount of $500,000 CAD over 12 to 24 months.
In the UK, this call for proposals is offered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Innovate UK, part of UKRI, is responsible for the delivery of this call for proposals and the management of any resulting funding agreements.
Please consult the Innovate UK IFS call for proposals’ announcement for UK funding parameters.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for funding, applicants must form a project consortium and develop a collaborative research and development (R&D) project that meets the following criteria:
- The project consortium must include at least:
  - 1 Canadian incorporated, profit orientated small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
  - 1 grant claiming UK registered business of any size
- The parties listed above must be unrelated parties (i.e., no direct, indirect, beneficial or constructive ownership interest between these parties)
- The project partners that form the consortium must agree on a plan addressing intellectual property rights and intent to commercialize.
- To lead a project, your organization must either be:
  - a Canadian incorporated, profit oriented small or medium sized enterprise (SME)
  - a UK registered business of any size
- The Canadian applicant must meet all the following criteria:
  - be an incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Canada (defined as having 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees)
  - have been in operation for a minimum of 12 months prior to the project proposal deadline specified above
  - have a minimum of 5 full-time equivalent employees located in Canada (on your company payroll and issued a T4), excluding any founders and contract employees
  - pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes in Canada
  - have a differentiated and protectable technology with commercial potential in global markets
  - have the financial capacity (working capital, sales revenue, investment, etc.) and the operational capacity (personnel, expertise, resources, etc.) to undertake an international multi-year R&D collaboration while maintaining regular operations, and to subsequently commercialize the results
  - be committed to significant growth through international market expansion
- Preference may be given to SME applicants that meet the criteria below. If one or more criteria are unmet, a strong rationale must be provided in the Expression of Interest (EOI) form for possible consideration:
  - have a minimum of 15 full‑time equivalent employees located in Canada (on your company payroll and issued a T4), excluding contract employees
  - have commercialized one or more products internationally
  - have more than $500,000 CAD in annual sales revenue.
- The project must focus on co-development, adaptation, and/or validation of an innovative product, process, or technology-based service that has:
  - commercial potential and outcomes that can be realized within 2 to 3 years of completion of the project
  - a civilian (non-military) purpose
- The project must demonstrate:
  - a complementary technological contribution from each partner
  - an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants
  - a balanced contribution between project partners and countries (i.e., no more than 70% of the effort contributed by any one partner or country)
  - benefits to Canada commensurate with the funding requested
- UK eligibility requirements:
  - Please consult the UK Innovation Funding Service (IFS) call for proposals’ announcement for UK eligibility requirements.