By fostering collaborative scientific and industrial research and development projects, both countries aim to build on existing strong and lasting partnerships to accelerate the development of new innovations with high potential for commercialization. A call for proposals was launched in which eligible Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may receive funding through NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) for approved projects, ultimately creating jobs and opportunities to grow the middle class. In Germany, support will be provided to German companies by the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (BMWi ZIM).
The signing took place as part of bilateral meetings between Mrs. Iris Gleicke, Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister of Economy and Energy and the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canada’s Minister of Science.
Parliamentary Secretary Iris Gleicke:
- “Innovation and Internationalization create growth and wealth. With the ZIM-Programme, we, therefore support the development of innovative products or more efficient production processes and initiate networks between science and international partners. In particular SMEs benefit from international knowledge transfer by research and development. We are particularly committed to create ideal framework conditions, because SMEs are the backbone of our success. Canada and Germany already have intensive relationships, and we are happy to strengthen them with this cooperation.”
Canada’s Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan:
- “Innovation is a national priority that will strengthen the middle class and enhance the global competitiveness of Canadian businesses, putting them on a clear path to create jobs and long-term economic growth. Through scientific and industrial collaboration between our two resourceful nations, as well as the recently launched Innovation Agenda, the National Research Council will explore valuable new partnerships to benefit both our countries’ small and medium-sized enterprises while sustaining our scientific excellence.”
