Glossary

A

A&D: Collectively describes the aerospace, defence, space and security industries.

Aerospace and defence technologies sector: Research and development within aerospace and defence companies. This can range from designing and constructing complete systems and aircrafts to fabricating components, developing technologies used in simulation and training exercises, and maintaining and repairing existing systems.

Annual Information Update (AIU): An annual report prepared by a recipient company that provides information on the activities and benefits of the funded research and development project during that year. A recipient company is obligated to provide an AIU during both the Work Phase and the Benefits Phase.

Applied research (see also: industrial research): R&D which is carried out specifically to bring a product, process or service to market.

B

Basic (or fundamental) research: R&D that does not have a specific commercial objective but which is carried out for the purpose of advancing knowledge in a particular area.

Benefits Phase: The period during which a recipient company brings technology developed through the research and development project to market, generating the anticipated benefits for the company and for Canada.

C

Commercialization: The phase during which a product or service is introduced into the marketplace.

Contribution: Financial assistance provided by the Crown to a recipient company to support a specific project and to increase economic growth, create jobs and wealth, and support sustainable development.

Contribution Agreement: The legal agreement, signed by both a recipient company and the Crown, which sets out the terms and conditions of a strategic industrial research and pre-competitive development project and the repayable contribution.

D

Due diligence: The thorough analysis and appraisal of an application for project funding or an amendment proposal to determine whether to recommend for or against its approval under a program.

E

Eligible activities: Project activities that are eligible for repayable contributions under a Contribution Agreement with ITO as per a program's Terms and Conditions (SADI).

Eligible costs: Project costs that are eligible for repayable contributions under a Contribution Agreement with ITO as per a program's Terms and Conditions (SADI).

Enabling technologies: Critical technologies that have the potential to significantly improve the performance and productivity of a wide range of Canadian industries. The Technology Partnerships Canada legacy program's focus was on five key enabling technologies: information and communications technologies, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Environmental technologies: Promising Canadian technologies that contribute to achieving sustainable development, or that have significant environmental benefits. Under the Technology Partnerships Canada legacy program, five key areas were targeted for support: traditional environmental media such as clean air and water, eco-efficient industrial practices, enhanced energy efficiency, sources of alternative energy including hydrogen and fuel cell applications, and renewable energy.

F

Fiscal year: The federal government fiscal year, which begins on April 1 and ends on March 31.

H

h2EA (Hydrogen Early Adopters): A legacy program that was designed to support the demonstration of new hydrogen technology concepts.

Higher value-added activities: Activities such as R&D, engineering, and product design, which tend to be more capital and knowledge-intensive.

I

IC: Industry Canada

Industrial research: Planned research and investigation aimed at discovering new knowledge, with the objective that such knowledge may be useful in developing new products, processes or services, or in bringing about a significant improvement to existing products, processes or services.

Intellectual property: Certain kinds of creative endeavours – ideas, designs, plans, knowledge – are considered "intellectual property" and can be legally protected.

Investment officer: An ITO employee who is assigned to an applicant company during the preparation of an investment or amendment proposal. The investment officer manages the due diligence process and prepares documents for consideration and approval by senior management within ITO and Industry Canada.

Investment outline: Mandatory for TPC applicants, the investment outline was a brief description of the proposed pre-competitive research and development project prepared by the applicant company. The investment outline provided: general applicant information, a description of the proposed initiative, discussion of commercial viability, resources of the company, discussion of the need for TPC contribution and the anticipated benefits to the company and to Canada.

Investment proposal: An extensive description of a company's proposed R&D activities and benefits, prepared by the company. ITO completes due diligence and obtains formal approval of the company's request for a contribution on the basis of this document.

IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program): An innovation assistance program offered by the National Research Council of Canada.

ITA (Industrial Technology Advisors): A National Research Council network of advisors that deliver innovation assistance under the IRAP program.

ITO (Industrial Technologies Office): A special operating agency of Industry Canada, which supports strategic private sector industrial research and pre-competitive development undertaken by Canadian companies. It provides repayable contributions to eligible recipients under the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative, and manages projects previously contracted through the following legacy programs: Technology Partnerships Canada, the Hydrogen Early Adopters Program, and the Program for Strategic Industrial Partnerships.

J

JSF (Joint Strike Fighter): A multinational acquisition program for the United States Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight co-operative international partners (including Canada). The stealth, supersonic F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is expected to replace a wide range of aging fighters and strike aircraft.

N

NRC: National Research Council of Canada

P

Pre-competitive: The phase prior to a product or service going to market.

Pre-competitive development: The translation of industrial research findings into a plan, blueprint or design for new, modified or improved products, processes or services; conceptual formulation and design of products, processes or service alternatives; initial demonstration or pilot projects, and prototypes; and other related pre-production activities.

Proactive disclosure: The Canadian Government's mandatory publication on departmental websites of contracts entered into by the Government of Canada for amounts over $10,000 (with only limited exceptions, such as national security); grant and contribution awards over $25,000, travel and hospitality expenses for selected government officials; and the reclassification of positions.

Project Completion Date: The date established in the Contribution Agreement for completion of the proposed research and development portion of the project.

R

R&D (Research and development): A scientific investigation that explores the development of new consumer goods and services, new inputs into production, new methods of producing goods and services, or new ways of operating and managing organizations.

Recipient: Any company that receives R&D funding through the Industrial Technologies Office's programs.

Repayable Contribution: Repayable funding provided by the Crown to the recipient company in support of the project and to further the objectives of benefiting Canadians.

S

SADI (Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative): A program which provides Canadian aerospace, defence, space and security industries with repayable contributions for strategic R&D projects.

SDI: Supplier Development Initiative

Sharing Ratio: Ratio of the Crown's contribution to the total eligible costs of a project.

SME (Small and medium-sized enterprises): Generally considered as businesses with fewer than 500 employees or $100 million in consolidated annual revenue.

SOA: Special Operating Agency

Special purpose equipment: Equipment including systems, instrumentation and special test equipment, with total costs exceeding $250,000, that is acquired or manufactured for the purpose of completion of the project, prototypes and pilot plants. Special purpose equipment also includes prototypes and pilot plants created to demonstrate the technology to be commercialized.

Sustainable development: Achieving economic and social goals in ways that can be supported for the long term by conserving resources, protecting the environment, and ensuring human health and welfare.

T

Technology diffusion and spill-over: Part of the innovation process, diffusion is the spread and subsequent adoption of technology knowledge through such means as registered patents and employees moving to different companies. This knowledge spills over to other countries during collaborative projects.

TPC: Technology Partnerships Canada

TPC Innovation Officer: An Industry Canada employee located in a regional office in Canada, who assisted applicants and recipients during the TPC application and review process, presenting Innovation Outlines to headquarters for consideration.

W

Work Phase: The period during which the recipient completes the pre-commercial research and development phase of the project described in the Contribution Agreement.