OCIP: The Innovation Voucher Program

Fostering innovation and collaboration between SMEs and academic institutions

The Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform (OCIP) simplifies access for small and medium-sized Canadian businesses into the research and innovation ecosystem. OCIP connects businesses with academic researchers with expertise in their industries, making it easier for entrepreneurs to turn ideas into prototypes and solutions that drive businesses to the next stage of growth.  

The Innovation Voucher Program provides funding for entrepreneurs seeking research and collaboration with academic experts across Ontario. Eligible businesses will receive a $3000 in-kind voucher to supplement the cost of an academic consultation on their proposed research project. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to meet 1-1 with the academic matched to their proposal and receive key insight into the feasibility of their work. 

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Bring value to your business through an OCIP Innovation Voucher

Innovation Translation: OCIP helps transform business innovation needs into practical, actionable solutions using insights from academic experts.

Reduced Research & Development (R&D) costs: OCIP provides businesses and organizations with a low-cost feasibility and scope assessment of their proposed development.

New Industry Partnerships: OCIP connects businesses with the right academic expert for their project at one of 54 Ontario Higher Education Institutes.

Funding Alignment: OCIP matches project objectives with suitable funding opportunities from a selection of over 400+ funding programs.

Eligibility

To participate in the Innovation Voucher Program, businesses must:

Be a for-profit company with a valid Canada Revenue Agency business number

Be from Northern, Rural, or Indigenous communities, or be a business at least 50% owned and led by an equity deserving group as defined by the Employment Equity Act: Women, LGBTQ2+ Canadians, Indigenous peoples, Black and racialized Canadians, persons with disabilities, and other under-represented groups

Have a challenge to overcome in bringing a commercializable innovation to market or improving an existing product

Submit an Innovation Challenge by September 15th, 2025

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Stages of the Program:

1. Application and Selection Process

Businesses create an OCIP account and confirm eligibility for the program. 

Approved businesses get matched with an academic expert based on project requirements. 

Businesses submit an Innovation Challenge (IC), which is a detailed project proposal issued by a business or organization, outlining the nature of the challenge they are currently facing. We use this information to connect the business with an academic expert who will develop a  Scope of Work (SoW).  

2. Collaboration

Once a business is matched with an academic expert, they work together to initiate the collaboration. This begins with an introductory meeting where both parties discuss the Innovation Challenge and explore how academic expertise can help solve the problem. 

The academic expert develops a Scope of Work (SoW) based on the business’s needs and the challenge at hand. The  SoW  offers valuable insights from an academic expert on the resources needed to execute the entire project.

Following the SoW’s completion, there may be an opportunity for businesses to explore a full-scale project partnership with an academic expert. This includes leveraging recommended facilities and funding programs to move the project forward. Learn more about the OCIP process on our ‘How it works’ page.  

After the SoW is finalized, the business and academic expert may opt to continue the partnership by formalizing a more detailed project plan. This may involve applying for additional funding, signing a collaboration agreement with the academic institution, using specialized research facilities, or continuing long-term collaboration to bring the project to completion. 

How to Apply

Register your Business

Apply to the Innovation Voucher Program and take your business to the next stage of growth.

For questions, contact us at ocip@ecampusontario.ca.

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OCIP and eCampusOntario

OCIP is a product of eCampusOntario, a provincially-funded non-profit organization that supports Ontario’s higher education institutions. We support digital transformation and encourage innovation, collaboration and education partnerships to connect Ontario’s campuses to the future of learning and innovation. 

eCampusOntario is a not-for-profit centre of excellence and global leader in the evolution of teaching and learning through technology.

OCIP is made possible with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.