The Government of Canada is placing greater priority on the commercialization of publicly-funded research to derive economic value from it for Canadians. CIHR recognizes this opportunity and responsibility, and the value of working with private-sector partners to achieve this goal, and uses industry-partnered programs and institute strategic initiatives to enable research collaborations between academics and the private sector. This bridging of the two sectors strengthens the research and training capabilities of Canada's academic institutions and supports the development of health innovations that contribute to a more productive health system and prosperous economy. Examples of such initiatives are stated below.

CIHR is expanding its investment in commercialization through its Commercialization and Innovation Strategy. This effort will result in programs to support partnerships among government, academia and industry to move promising ideas from the academic setting to the marketplace.

The CIHR Industry-partnered programs are designed to help the academic community interact with Canadian companies with an interest in health research and development. The programs promote a wide variety of peer-reviewed research and training projects jointly funded by Canadian companies and CIHR. The research planned should be beneficial to both parties, while improving the quality of health of Canadians. CIHR currently has two collaborative research programs with industry:

• the CIHR/Rx&D Collaborative Research Program: a partnership with Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies 
• the CIHR/SME Program: a collaboration with Canada's biotechnology industry

The program Proof of Principle Phase II (POP-II) Grants funds proof of principle research projects up to 12 months duration at the co-investment stage undertaking follow-on proof of principle activities in partnership with a non-academic investor. This funding opportunity is aimed at providing a platform to better enable the academic institution/researcher to move the discovery/invention further down the innovation pipeline. The stage that best fits the POP Phase II is one where the principle of the IP has already been proven and the applicants have acquired interest from companies willing to invest in the new technology. The proposal should be for further confirmatory testing of the IP.

Communicate with the Innovation and Industry Contacts for more information.