Application Guide: Innovative Solutions Canada
Use this Application Guide to help you complete the "Innovative Solutions Canada Application Form".
General Instructions
Read the challenge information
- Look at the challenge details and deadlines on our website.
- Save key dates in your calendar:
- When an application opens for a challenge that interests you.
- When the question period opens and closes.
- Any deadlines.
- For contract-based challenges, Applicants/Bidders must review the Call for Proposals (CFP) solicitation document number EN578-170003/C on the Buy and Sell website.
Get ready
- Subscribe to our newsletter.
- Look at the evaluation criteria before you start writing to make sure you don't miss anything.
Get started
- Go to the "Challenge" webpage.
- Click on the challenge that interests you.
- Click the Propose a solution button.
Comments
Deadlines could include:
- When the application opens for the challenge.
- When the question period for that challenge opens or closes.
- Any other deadlines.
How do you know if the challenge you are responding to is supported by a Grant, or a Contract?
Go to the "Challenges" section of the website, click on the challenge you wish to respond to and it will state the Funding Mechanism to the right of the icon.
Comments
The newsletter will give you information about upcoming challenges.
Completing the Application Form
* Challenge ID | Use the drop-down arrow at right to choose the Challenge you are responding to. |
Section A—Applicant/Bidder Information
* Questions marked with an asterisk are mandatory (they must be completed).
Original Text | Explanation |
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* 1. Legal Name | The legal name of the business. |
* 2. Is operating name same as legal name? Operating name (if different) | Click Yes or No. Indicate the operating name of the business you are representing if it is different than the legal name for the business. |
* 3. Official Language preferred for correspondence | Click "English" or "French" to indicate which language you prefer for communications with ISED. |
* 4. Date of Incorporation | The official date on which the business became a corporation. |
* 5. (Federal or Provincial incorporation) | Click to put a checkmark in the correct box – indicating whether your business was incorporated at the federal and/or provincial level in Canada. |
* 6. Applicant/Bidder Business Number | 9-digit business number provided by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) |
* 7. Head Office
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The number and street address of the business headquarters. |
* 8. Mailing Address in Canada
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* 9. Does the Applicant/Bidder have a class of shares listed on a designated stock exchange in Canada? | Click 'Yes' or 'No'.
See also the ISC Glossary. |
* 10. Number of full-time employees in Canada, including affiliates located in Canada. | Click the "?" on the form for more information.
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* 11. Number of full-time employees globally, (inside and outside of Canada if applicable) including affiliates located inside and outside of Canada? | Click the "?" on the form for more information. |
* 12. Brief description of the principal line(s) of business: | Your main product(s) or service(s).
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* 13. Are you a subsidiary company? | Click "Yes" or "No". A subsidiary is a business which has more than 50% of its ordinary shares or voting power owned by another business or individual. |
* 14. Are you a parent company? | Your main product(s) or service(s).
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If you answered yes to 13 or 14, please identify all affiliated organizations (e.g., parent companies, subsidiaries, etc.) and their location (City/Country): | Enter the name of the parent company, and the City and Country of its location. |
* 15. Is the Applicant/Bidder, its directors or officers, party to legal proceedings? | Click 'Yes' or 'No'. |
* 16. Authorized project contact: | The full name of the person responsible for this project. |
Section B—Statistical Information (Voluntary)
Original Text | Explanation |
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The Innovative Solutions Canada Secretariat (ISC) collects the statistical information below for aggregate reporting. | It is not mandatory to answer these questions. |
It will not influence the evaluation of your proposal. | This section helps us to know more about the different types of entrepreneurs in Canada.
Your company won't be evaluated on this section. The answers are completely anonymous. |
Size of business | Choose from the dropdown list. |
If applicable, please provide the last three financial years statement Gross Revenues Earned:
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Complete all blank areas for "Financial Year" and "Gross Revenue". |
Section C—Mandatory Eligibility Requirements
* Mandatory (this section must be completed).
Original Text | Explanation |
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All of the following eligibility requirements must be met by the Applicant/Bidder, regardless of whether the Applicant/Bidder is a business that has a Head Office in Canada or has a global Head Office outside of Canada.
Calculations must take into account and include affiliated businesses, such as parent companies and subsidiaries, that are within Canada or outside of Canada. I agree and certify that all statements above are true. |
Click to place a checkmark indicating that all the statements are true. |
Section D—Challenge Application Questions
* Questions marked with an asterisk are mandatory (they must be completed).
Original Text | Explanation |
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As part of your bid, you may optionally attach a diagram, schematic, or chart as a reference to your proposed solution. Please note that if the attachment does not meet the requirements below, the image will be removed from your bid prior to evaluation.
Note that including an attachment is not mandatory and no points will be given for including an attachment. The Applicant/Bidder acknowledges that it is within Canada's sole discretion to determine whether the attachment is removed or included in the bid. |
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* Project Name | Enter any text you want to describe your project or innovation. |
* Provide the primary physical address where the project will occur: (Street, Unit Number, etc.) | |
* City | |
* Province | |
* Country | |
* Postal Code | |
Does the company own, or have the rights to, the required background Intellectual Property (IP) required to complete the project? Background IP refers to work created prior to, or independently of the project being proposed in this application. | Click Yes, No, or N/A. |
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1. Scope | Carefully read the Desired Outcomes and Considerations section in the Challenge Notice and explain how your proposed solution meets all Essential Outcomes (if identified) or some/all Additional Outcomes (if identified). |
1 (a) Describe your proposed solution and how it responds to the challenge. Clearly include in your answer how your solution meets all of the Essential Outcomes (if identified) in the Desired Outcomes and Considerations section in the challenge notice. (maximum 5000 characters) | |
1 (b) Describe how your proposed solution addresses the Additional Outcomes (if identified) in the Desired Outcomes and Considerations section in the Challenge Notice. If no Additional Outcomes are identified in the Challenge Notice, text entered in this section will not be considered. (maximum 3000 characters) | |
2. Technological Readiness Level | |
2 (a) Indicate the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) (1-4) of your proposed solution. | Explain the Research and Development (R&D) that has taken place to bring the solution to the stated TRL. See also: What is a company's Technology Readiness Level? |
2 (b) Describe the research and development activities that have taken place to bring the proposed solution to the stated TRL. (maximum 2,500 characters): | |
3. Innovation | Describe how your solution is an advancement over existing solutions. |
Describe the novelty of your solution and how it advances the state-of-the-art over existing technologies, including competing solutions. (maximum 2,000 characters) | |
4. Identify potential scientific and technical risks to the successful development of the proof of concept, and how they will be mitigated Phase 1. (maximum 2,000 characters) | |
5. Benefits to Canada |
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Describe the benefits that could result from the successful development of your solution. Applicant/Bidders are asked to consider the potential benefits using the following three categories: Innovation Benefits, Economic Benefits, Public Benefits. |
Explain your solution's potential benefits using the following three categories:
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Describe how your solution will help enhance or develop innovation within your firm. |
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Describe how your solution will help your firm grow and contribute to the growth of other organizations or firms in Canada. |
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Describe public benefits that may ensue from your solution, such as improvements in:
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6. Phase 1 Project Plan |
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Demonstrate a feasible Phase 1 project plan by completing the table below. Include project milestones, project activities under each milestone, the time required to complete each milestone (e.g., days, weeks and/or months), the total time required to complete the project, and the success criteria. Complete the table below. Indicate if any milestones and activities will be completed concurrently. *Note: Phase 1 cannot exceed 6 months and TRL4. |
Complete the table with columns labeled "Project milestones", "Activities to complete the milestones ", "Time to complete the milestone", "Success criteria", and "Total time to complete the project". |
7. Phase 1 Project Risks | |
Identify potential risks (e.g. Human resources, financial, project management, etc.) to the successful development of the proof of concept and how they will be mitigated in Phase 1? (maximum 1,500 characters) |
Describe all potential risks involved and how they will be managed in Phase 1. |
8. Phase 1 Implementation Team |
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Demonstrate how your project implementation team has the required management and technological skills sets and experience to deliver the project plan for Phase 1 by completing the table. Please note that a member can have more than one role. Include the labour rates and level of effort for each member. A day is defined as 7.5 hours of work, exclusive of meal breaks. The labour rates and level of effort will be reviewed as part of the evaluation of Question 10. |
Describe all team members and partners involved in the project. Complete the columns labeled "Name and Title", "Project Role", "Project Responsibilities", "Relevant experience and skills (e.g. past experience, credentials, professional designation)", "Labour rate per day", "Level of effort (number of days on project)" and "Indicate if the Team member is an Employee of the Applicant/Bidder or subcontractor". |
9. Inclusivity | |
If your business were to receive funding from Innovative Solutions Canada, describe what actions (e.g., recruitment strategy, internships, co-op placements, etc.) might be taken in Phase 1 to support the participation of under-represented groups (e.g., women, youth, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, visible minorities) in the research and development of the proposed solution. Each bidder/applicant in their response to this question must focus only on describing relevant programs, policies, or initiatives that it currently has in place or would put in place to support the R&D effort in Phase 1. Do not provide any personal information of individuals employed by your company or that of your subcontractors in the response below. | Describe what actions might be taken in Phase 1 to support the participation of under-represented groups in the research and development of the proposed solution. |
10. Financial Proposal |
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Demonstrate a realistic financial proposal for the Phase 1 project plan by completing the table below. Note: The maximum funding available to an eligible small business for Phase 1 is identified in the challenge notice. |
How do you know if the challenge you are responding to is supported by a Grant, or a Contract? Firstly (1) Go to the "Open Challenges" section of the website. (2) Click on the challenge you wish to respond to and (3) click again on the "Maximum Value and Travel" tab. This will indicate if the challenge is supported by a grant, or a contract. |
All costs must be in accordance with Contract Cost Principles 103 1-2: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/policy-and-guidelines/standard-acquisition-clauses-and-conditions-manual/3/1031-2/6 as amended in the Call for Proposals. All labour rates must reflect all-inclusive firm rates (e.g. firm hourly rate, inclusive of overhead and profit). |
For grant-based challenges, costs must be in accordance with the terms of the ISC grant information on eligible costs and stacking limits outlined in the Eligible Costs and Stacking Limits for Grants FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). |
Table A. |
Complete the table with dollar amounts for each line-item. |
11. Financial Control, Tracking and Oversight |
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Describe the financial controls and oversight that will be used to manage public funds throughout Phase 1. (maximum 1,000 characters): |
Describe how public funds will be managed, including financial controls and oversight. |
12. Phase 2 Strategy |
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Describe a realistic strategy for the prototype development of selected two participated Phase 2. Responses should include:
(maximum 2,000 characters): |
Describe the project plan for Phase 2 (prototype) of your solution. |
13. Commercialization | Describe how you think commercialization will proceed after Phase 2 (prototype phase), including perceived risks or possible barriers. |
Describe your overall commercialization approach for the proposed solution. Responses should include:
(maximum 3,000 characters): |
Describe how you think commercialization will proceed after Phase 2 (prototype phase), including perceived risks or possible barriers. |
Section E—Certification (Legal Statement)
* Mandatory (this section must be completed).
Original Text | Explanation |
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Grant Challenges:
Contract Challenges:
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Mandatory. Must be completed. Click to place a checkmark indicating that you agree with and certify all the statements |
Submitting your applicatiion
Text on Application Form | Explanation |
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You are about to submit your proposal. By proceeding to do so, you certify that you have the authority to submit this information on behalf of the Applicant/Bidder, and that you have approval of the organizations listed in Section 1 to include their information. You also certify that you and the organizations that support this application understand that no funding will be disbursed based on the Application Process. See the Program and Applicant Guides for more information on the funding application process. Once your application has been received, the Applicant/Bidder will receive a confirmation email / letter and a file number for further reference. Please ensure that the contact information has been correctly included on this application. To submit an application:
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Check that you have an active Internet connection. Click the Submit button when your form is complete. This will upload the application. You can also visit http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/101.nsf/eng/home for further information. |
Authorized officer
* Mandatory (this section must be completed).
Text on Application Form | Explanation |
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* Name | Indicate the name of the Authorized Officer for your business. An Authorized Officer is someone is authorized to represent your company and has been given signing authority. |
* Title | Indicate the Title of the Authorized Officer. This could be different than the "Authorized Project Contact" in Question 10 (Section 1) above. |
* Date | The date the Application Form was completed. |
- Date modified: