NSERC Prizes
Synergy Awards for Innovation
About the award
The Synergy Awards for Innovation were launched in 1995 by NSERC to recognize partnerships in natural sciences and engineering research and development between universities and Canadian industry. In recognition of an evolving research environment, the Synergy Awards for Innovation now also reward research partnerships taking place with colleges and research partnerships beyond those with industrial partners. Since their inception, the Synergy Awards for Innovation have honoured the most outstanding achievements of these collaborations. By working together, award-winning partner organizations and post-secondary institutions have proven that effective partnerships and innovation are the foundation of achievement. Their success has enriched the academic and research programs within Canadian post-secondary institutions while providing concrete benefits to Canadians.
Award categories
The Synergy Awards for Innovation are intended to showcase innovation and the benefits of uniting strengths to make the most of Canadian ingenuity. Synergy Awards for Innovation are offered in two categories:
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University partnerships
A partnership between one or more eligible Canadian universities and one or more non-academic partner organizations. The highlighted research partnership must focus on the natural sciences or engineering.
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College partnerships
A partnership between one or more eligible Canadian colleges and one or more non-academic partner organizations. The highlighted research partnership can be across the spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering, humanities or health.
Partnerships involving both eligible Canadian colleges and universities and one or more partnering organizations are eligible. The partnership should be presented under the category (University partnerships or College partnership) corresponding to the nominee’s affiliation.
Prizes
The Synergy Awards for Innovation competition is held annually.
University partnerships: Three awards will be offered to up to three different Canadian partnerships. The winners (principal nominees) will each receive a $200,000 NSERC research grant. Eligible partner organizations will each receive a $50,000 voucher valid for the cash portion of their required contribution to a new research partnerships project (Alliance Advantage grants, College and Community Innovation program, or Idea to Innovation grants; please refer to the relevant funding opportunity description for applicable rules). Applications using the voucher must be received within three years of the Synergy Award for Innovation being awarded. The value of the voucher can be divided and applied across multiple years of the new project. The intent is to offer one voucher to each partner organization that is included in a winning nomination; however, NSERC reserves the right to limit the value of the vouchers for nominations in which multiple partners are involved. Research grant funds paid to winners of this prize are subject to the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, including the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern, where applicable.
College partnerships: One award will be offered. The institution of the winning partnership will receive a $200,000 NSERC research grant. Eligible partner organizations will each receive a $50,000 voucher valid toward the cash portion of their required contribution in a new research partnerships project (Alliance Advantage grants, College and Community Innovation program, or Idea to Innovation grants; please refer to the relevant funding opportunity description for applicable rules). Applications using the voucher must be received within three years of the Synergy Award for Innovation being awarded. The value of the voucher can be divided across multiple years of the project. The intent is to offer one voucher to each partner organization; however, NSERC reserves the right to limit the value of the vouchers when multiple partners are involved. Research grant funds paid to winners of this prize are subject to the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration. The Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern does not apply to College Partnerships’ prize recipients.
