Going Global Science and Technology Fund

Program Overview

The Going Global Science and Technology (S&T) Program is specifically designed to promote and enhance Canada's international science and technology efforts by supporting Canadian researchers in accessing international R&D collaborative opportunities through the development of partnerships with key players in other countries/economies.

The Going Global S&T Program supports activities ("projects") that aim to build on targeted relationships between Canadian researchers and key players in other countries and allow them to proceed with the formal discussions required to initiate collaboration on future international research and development initiatives. The Program funding is used for the face-to-face encounters needed to solidify the partnership and move it forward to the point where the researchers can begin the R&D phase of the initiative. These meetings may be used to formulate the partnership and conduct detailed planning of their collaborative R&D initiative (i.e. to define objectives, activities, timelines, responsibilities, etc.).

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Eligibility Criteria

The Going Global S&T Program supports projects designed to bring together Canadian researchers to foster identified opportunities for collaborative partnerships with key players in foreign countries.

Eligible beneficiaries are Canadian researchers from private companies, universities and non-government research centres. Researchers at government research centres (federal, provincial, municipal, Crown Corporations) are not eligible as recipients of the funding, however, they may participate in projects funded by the Going Global S&T Program provided their expenses are covered by other sources (i.e. they pay for their own expenses). The agreement is signed with the Project Lead Institute which must be a private company, a university or a non-government research centre.

The merit of each proposal will be assessed based on its:

• potential in establishing significant collaborative R&D initiatives with foreign partners;
• economic benefits to Canada;
• potential to engage other Canadian participants in the project;
• coverage of international relationships and field/sector specific interests that are in accordance with federal S&T priorities;
• effectiveness, particularly through the methodology used, the people involved and the proposed work plan; and
• demonstration that sources of funding for subsequent international collaborative R&D initiatives are being investigated (i.e. to cover the actual research costs).

While the Program will give preference to groups of two or more applicants representing various research organizations, cases where one applicant is submitting a proposal will be considered provided the applicant can demonstrate that the project will benefit the broader S&T community and not just the individual applicant.

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Financial Assistance

The Going Global S&T Program provides assistance by contributing up to 50% of eligible expenses. Eligible expenses include travel (e.g. airfare, local transportation, etc.), accommodation, meals, incidentals and other non-research expenses (such as workshop or seminar expenses, translation services, photocopies, or hospitality). Expenses for travel, accommodations, meals and incidentals are as per Treasury Board guidelines.

Applicants must request, from the Going Global program, a minimum of $8,000.00 in order for the proposal to be considered ($8,000 is considered the 50% of eligible project costs allowed by the program parameters, therefore total eligible project costs must exceed $16,000). The maximum payable to any organization for an approved project is $50,000.

Activities and costs that are not eligible are:

• search costs (stipends to students for R&D, technicians, samples, equipment acquisition, etc.)
• costs of transportation and warehousing of samples and equipment
• technology or equipment development costs
• salaries and honoraria of applicants and participants
• activities not directed at establishing specific partnerships (e.g. general marketing, promotion or trade activities)

As per the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payment, costs incurred before the project start date are not eligible for reimbursement. Expenses incurred prior to the submission of the Project application will not be considered eligible for reimbursement.

The normal stacking limit of Total Government Assistance (federal, provincial and municipal assistance for the same eligible expenditures) for this Program is 75%. This stacking limit must be respected when assistance is provided.

In the event that actual Total Government Assistance to a recipient exceeds the stacking limit, it will be necessary for the department to adjust its level of assistance (and seek reimbursement, if necessary) so that the stacking limit is not exceeded.

The Program requires all potential recipients to disclose all sources of funding for a proposed project in the Project Application. Recipients must disclose all sources of funding again at the end of a project in the Project Report. Any compensation received while executing the project (i.e. fees collected during a conference) is to be included as a source of funding.

Financial assistance is in the form of contributions and payments are made upon completion of the project activities by the recipient. Final payments are not considered until the recipient has submitted a Project Report to the Science and Technology Division which includes the following:

• a narrative report indicating: a list the participants; the project's objectives, activities and achievements; an analysis of the activities and achievements; any downstream international R&D collaboration expectations; lessons learned; conclusions and recommendations;
• a financial statement showing planned and actual itemized costs and all sources of funding for eligible expenses; and
• an invoice from the institution.

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How To Apply

The Project Leader applying to the Going Global S&T Program must complete an application Form detailing the project their group proposes to undertake. The completed Application Form will include an explanation of how the proposed collaborative activity will solidify a joint R&D partnership with the key players in foreign countries and will describe the potential economic benefits to be gained by Canadian interests as a result of the project. Applicants are required to describe the complementary knowledge, expertise or technology brought to the collaboration by foreign participants and to describe potential downstream activities and the funding sources being planned for subsequent international collaborative R&D initiatives which may result from the partnership. The application will also include a budget indicating planned costs and all funding sources. The Application Form must be signed or approved by the applicant's institution, and will list the names and positions of the other Canadian participants and the foreign participants/partners.

Applicants must disclose the involvement of former public servants of Canada who are under the post-employment provisions of the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for the Public Service or the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders as no public office holder or former public servant of Canada who is not in compliance shall derive a direct benefit from a contribution from the Going Global S&T Program. Where lobbyists are utilized, applicants must provide assurance that the lobbyists are registered pursuant to the Lobbyist Registration Act, no actual or potential conflict of interest exists and no contingency fee arrangement exists with respect to any contribution received under this Program.

When all required information has been received by the Department, the Program Administrator of Going Global Program will contact the Project Leader via telephone or email. This correspondance will indicate whether the project has been approved or not and the amount of financial support provided.

If the project is successful the Science and Technology (S&T) Division will send to the Project Leader a Contribution Agreement stating the general conditions of relationships as well as the obligations and responsibilities of all parties. This Contribution Agreement needs to be signed by the Project Leader and a witness and returned to the S&T Division prior to the departure of the project participants.

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