The Embassy of Canada to Italy is pleased to accept applications for the Canada-Italy Innovation Award 2019. This award provides funding to Italian innovation experts, researchers, scientists, startuppers, creative industries professionals, and innovative individuals to undertake a trip to Canada to develop collaborative projects.
Mission
The Canada-Italy Innovation Award aims to develop new and existing relationships between Canadian and Italian experts into long-term collaborations. Applications are open to Italian individuals connected with Canadian counterparts, to be identified by applicants.
Ideal outcomes include joint publications and projects; student/researcher exchange programmes; sharing of equipment, materials and facilities; exchange of skills and techniques; institutional linkages; applied technology development; creative products and applications, and technology transfer. The development of innovative models of collaboration is strongly encouraged. Initial outcomes should be delivered over the first 6 to 12 months following the visit and lead to the development of long-term relationships.
Scope & Priority Areas
The Embassy of Canada to Italy aims to support the development of strong, targeted relationships between leading individuals, researchers and institutions in Italy and their counterparts in Canada.
Projects considered for the award must address the sub questions detailed below. These are aligned with the Government of Canada Policy and with the future challenge areas resulting from an extensive foresight exercise led by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Please ensure your project responds to at least one of these objectives and sub questions.
Diversity and Inclusion
If you have an innovative idea, of all sorts, to improve Diversity and Inclusion in our societies, here is an opportunity for its promotion. Be creative!
Definition of Diversity and Inclusion:
Diversity is the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.
Inclusion means the full and meaningful participation of all people in the social, economic, cultural, civic and political life of their communities.
Projects have to address one of the following objectives:
- recognizing, preventing and eliminating disadvantage or discrimination; and
- creating and maintaining a culture that supports a diverse, inclusive and welcoming society.
Eligibility and Funding Criteria
The Canada-Italy Innovation Award is available to innovation experts, researchers, scientists, startuppers, creative industries professionals, and innovative individuals collaborating with Canadian partners. Private/public partnerships are encouraged.
Funding through the Canada-Italy Innovation Award is to support a short visit to Canada by the Italian awardee.
Successful applicants will be required to complete a report immediately following the visit and must commit to providing brief updates on follow-up activities and outcomes 6 and 12 months after the visit.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Degree of innovation of the proposed project
- Quality of proposed outcomes and expected ability for their delivery
- Relevance to Canadian priorities described above
- Potential for significant, long-term collaboration
- Potential to broaden the collaboration to a wider, institutional level
- Use of creative / innovative collaboration models
- Innovative use of research infrastructures
Special consideration will be given to applications that demonstrate why the proposed research would particularly benefit from an international collaboration.
Applications will be reviewed by the Embassy of Canada to Italy in collaboration with relevant experts.
How to Apply
Applications should be made on the Canada-Italy Innovation Award application form and submitted according to the instructions.
Disbursement of the Canada-Italy Innovation Award
Canada-Italy Innovation Award funds will be provided as reimbursement for incurred expenses. Receipts, invoices, and expense summaries, as well as a letter by the Canadian partner, must be returned together with a final report before payment will be issued. Disbursement of funds is contingent upon return of all requested documentation.
Important Dates
- April 1, 2019 (11:59 pm, Rome time) – Deadline for applications
- May 20, 2019 – Announcement of Award winner(s)
- November 15, 2019 – Deadline for completion of Award travel to Canada
- Within 2 weeks of return – Final report and expenditure records due
Completed applications should be sent to Rome-PA@international.gc.ca
Please write “Canada-Italy Innovation Award” in the subject line of your message.
All applicants will receive by email first an acknowledgment of receipt of their submission and later a notification of its status. Winners will be further notified and announced on the Embassy website and social media accounts. All other applicants will not be subject of additional communications regarding their submission.
