by John Marshall, DirectorOutreach, Promotion and Business Development Branch

Ministry of Ministry of Research and InnovationResearch and Innovation

Overview of the Overview of the International Strategic Opportunity International Strategic Opportunity

Program (ISOP)Program (ISOP)

2

Why is innovation important?

“Places around the world that invest in innovation,

that cap and stoke the creativity of their people,

that market their ideas most effectively

will be home to the most rewarding jobs,

to the strongest economies and the best quality of life.”

The Honourable Dalton McGuintyPremier of Ontario and

Minister of Research and Innovation

3

What is ISOP?

The International Strategic Opportunities Program (ISOP) provides discretionary, non-entitlement funding for new strategic international collaborations between Ontario research institutions and the global research community.

Collaborations need to be part of an overall strategic project designed to further Ontario’s research and innovation agenda.

Program Overview

4

Program Objectives

The program has been developed to:

Facilitate research of scientific importance;

Increase Ontario’s long-term economic potential;

Attract and retain top international research talent; and

Enhance Ontario’s profile in the international research community.

While collaborations with all countries are welcome, priority will be given to collaborations with researchers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, China and India.

The program is open to all scientific disciplines.

5

Pilot Project Summary: GENOVAThe GENOVA Project (or Genome Structural Variation) is an Ontario-led consortium assembled to catalogue the complete range of large-scale DNA variation in worldwide populations, and to find those alterations that predispose to - or cause - human disease. Dr. Steven Scherer is the lead scientist for the project.

ISOP is providing funding to the consortium for project management and coordination of research grant proposals.

Consortium partners include:

The Hospital for Sick Children (Ontario)

The Sanger Institute (United Kingdom)

Affymetrix Corporation (USA)

Barcelona University (Spain)

The University of Tokyo (Japan)

Harvard University (USA)

6

Eligible ApplicantsThe ISOP program is open to not-for-profit organizations where Ontario researchers are engaged in strategic international collaborations.

An applicant, institution, or a consortium of institutions may apply jointly with their private sector partner(s), with one institution as the lead applicant.

The lead organization must be a not-for profit corporation.

These include:

• universities;• affiliated research and teaching hospitals;• colleges; and• non-profit research institutions.

7

Eligible Program Activities

It will fund:

• consortia project management, including coordination and administration costs and management of research grant proposals;

• missions to develop or expand research links in target sectors;

• travel, including research exchange programs and hospitality costs for networking;

• planning, coordinating and/or participating in international workshops, seminars, conferences, exhibitions and meetings to deliver information on best practices and international links; and

• publishing proceedings associated with the above activities.

ISOP funds activities related to the development and/or project management of an Ontario-led international research consortium. It does not fund research.

All proposed activities must be an integrated component of a strategic project. For example, travel to a conference would only be eligible if it were part of a strategic international research project.

8

Eligible Expenditures

Eligible expenditures may include, but are not limited to:

• salaries, wages and benefits for project management staff;

• office lease and maintenance;

• office equipment, including supplies, furniture and software;

• travel, accommodation and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for researchers and project staff to attend workshops and conferences;

• marketing and outreach to promote the consortia, including meetings, events and websites;

• production and delivery costs for promotional material;

• facilities and services related to conferences, workshops, meetings; and

• materials for conference exhibits.

Costs must be managed with a view to economy, practicality and appropriateness. For example, air travel costs must not exceed full economy fares.

9

Funding

The program will generally fund up to 50% of eligible costs on a one-time basis for approved applications.

The balance must come from non-Ontario government sources. Specific purpose grants received from Ontario government ministries and agencies cannot be used as a match for ISOP funding.

The level of funding will depend on the activities and deliverables proposed.

Maximum project funding, regardless of the number of components, will normally not exceed $150,000 over three years.

10

Matching FundingMatching funds can take the form of either cash or in-kind contributions.

Cash Contributions

Cash contributions from all sources that will be applied to the project are to be listed as part of a project's total budget.

In-Kind Contributions

In-kind contributions must:

• be essential to the implementation of the international collaboration;

• represent an item or service that would otherwise have to be acquired with cash; and

• be priced at the lesser of fair market value or the actual cost to the donor.

11

In-Kind Contributions

Eligible in-kind contributions may include:

• office equipment;

• office materials and expendable supplies;

• software and databases/datasets;

• salaries of professional, technical or project-specific administration personnel directly related to the project; and

• travel services (e.g., vehicles, fuel and shipping services).

Ineligible in-kind contributions include:

• services normally performed for free;

• staff salaries and benefits not directly related to the project management (e.g., research salaries);

• standard discounts; and

• research equipment.

12

Applying to ISOP

Application Requirements

• Eight hardcopies of the completed application must be submitted, along with a CD-ROM containing one completed copy of the application and budget in MS Word and Excel formats, respectively.

• The application must be signed by an officer of the organization with the authority to legally bind it.

• Letters of participation are required from each funding partner.

• Letters of support are required from an independent source that addresses the project's ability to facilitate excellent research of scientific importance. This should come from an organization that will not receive any direct benefit from the research project or its results.

• Additional application instructions can be found on the MRI website.

There will be no formal call for proposals for ISOP. Completed applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.

13

Project Terms & ReportingWhile project terms will vary depending on the activities proposed, the maximum term will not exceed three years.

For multiyear projects and agreements, the lead organization will submit annual progress reports that will include status updates on:

Reports on annual performance measures will also be required. A final project report will be required upon completion of the project.

Funds will be dispersed annually. Ten percent of the ISOP funds will be held back until the final project report is received.

• deliverables;

• results;

• budget;

• partner contributions; and

• successful and unsuccessful research grant requests, including all funds received, as well as expected funding not received.

14

Project EvaluationMRI staff will perform the preliminary assessment of proposals to ensure consistency with program objectives.

An Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Committee comprised of ADMs from MRI, MEDT and MIA will review applications on a quarterly, or in the case of time sensitive opportunities, on an as-needed basis.

The Committee members will determine which proposals are recommended for funding.

The Ministry reserves the right to ask applicants with similar projects to collaborate in broader partnerships.

15

For More Information…

John Marshall, Director

Outreach, Promotion and Business Development Branch

Ministry of Research and Innovation

Email: john.w.marshall@ontario.ca

Phone: (416) 325-6644

www.mri.gov.on.ca

Lee Marsden, Senior Advisor

Outreach, Promotion and Business Development Branch

Ministry of Research and Innovation

Email: lee.marsden@ontario.ca

Phone: (416) 314-7220

M:\RTIB\PROGRAMS\International Research\ISOP\Presentations\ISOP summary 2007 May 07.ppt