Xecs – electronic components and systems 2022-2023 call for proposals

Xecs, the Eureka cluster focused on electronic components and systems (ECS), has launched their second annual call for collaborative research and development project proposals.

1. Sector of focus

Micro/nano-electronics and photonics with applications in the following areas:

• Agri-food and natural resources
• Digital industry
• Digital society
• Energy
• Health and well-being
• Mobility

2. Application deadlines

• Project outline: February 23, 2023
• Full project proposal: May 25, 2023

3. How to apply

To apply, applicants must register through the Xecs Project Zone.

4. Related events

• ECS Brokerage Event: February 7-8, 2023

5. Canadian funding eligibility

In Canada this call for proposals is offered through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). Funding is only available for eligible Canadian small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Project participants who are not eligible for funding are welcome to participate on a self-funded basis.

To be eligible for funding, a Canadian SME applicant must:

• be an incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Canada;
• have 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees;
• pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven, new or improved products, services or processes in Canada;
• have a differentiated and protectable technology that could become competitive in global markets;
• have sufficient working capital and resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results; and
• be committed to significant growth through international market expansion.

Preference may be given to Canadian SME applicants who:

• have a minimum of 15 full-time equivalent employees;
• have commercialized one or more products domestically or internationally; and
• have greater than $500,000 CAD in annual revenue.

Note: Canadian SME applicants must be eligible for funding as National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) clients before they can be considered for funding through this call for proposals. For more information on NRC IRAP eligibility and becoming an NRC IRAP client, please contact NRC IRAP at 1-877-994-4727.

6. Project funding

Eligible project participants in collaborative projects selected through this call for proposals may receive funding from their respective national funding body. Funds will be provided in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, rules and procedures established by the relevant national funding body, country, jurisdiction and/or program.

Non-eligible project participants (e.g. universities, research institutes and participants from other countries) are welcome to participate on a self-funded basis or as sub-contractors to funded participants, according to each country's funding regulations.

7. More information

Xecs is a new cluster under the Eureka clusters program and builds on the highly successful Euripides² and Penta programs. This cluster is managed by the AENEAS Industry Association, with strategic focus provided by AENEAS and its partners Inside and EPoSS. For more information, see the ECS Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (PDF). AENEAS is supported by key industry players including Adimec, Airbus, ASML, Bosch, CEA, Fraunhofer, IBS, Imec, Infineon, IU.Net, LPE, muRata, NXP, Philips, Recif Technologies, STMicroelectronics, Soitec, Thales, Volkswagen Group and Zeiss.

Xecs provides networking tools and organizes ECS community events where participants can generate and present project ideas, build consortia and find projects.

8. Contact

To learn more about Xecs and this call for proposals, please visit the Xecs website or contact Kasturi.Narayanan@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca