How It Works
The Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform (OCIP) connects Ontario businesses/organizations with expert researchers at the province’s postsecondary institutions, accelerating innovation and enabling faster, more confident market entry for businesses/organizations.
Discover more about each step by clicking on the boxes in our process map below.
START
Business/Organization
Register on OCIP
Submit an Innovation Challenge
Get matched with a research expert
Submit fees*
Get matched with funding programs
Explore potential collaboration on the full project with HEI
From start to finish, OCIP provides support for both business/organization and HEI
Higher Education Institution (HEI)
Submit HEI registration form
Work with your affiliated institution to complete expert profile
Get matched with an Innovation Challenge
Provide a Scope of Work (SoW) for Innovation Challenge
Your affiliated institution receives the scoping fee*
Explore potential collaboration on the full project with business
Start the project
Complete the project
Protect your intellectual property (IP), If applicable
Apply for SR&ED tax credits, If applicable
END
*Scoping fee of $2500 (plus applicable HST + $250 admin fees)
OCIP and eCampusOntario
OCIP is made possible with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
Register on OCIP
If you are an Ontario business/organization, you can register for OCIP at no cost. Note that you must provide a valid CRA Business Number (BN) to register.
Submit an Innovation Challenge
Once you have successfully completed your registration, you can submit an Innovation Challenge.
What is an Innovation Challenge?
An Innovation Challenge is a comprehensive project proposal issued by a business/organization, outlining the scope of the challenge they are currently facing. You will be asked to provide details about project costs, timelines, resources, and business value.
Get matched with a research expert
Once you receive approval for your Innovation Challenge, OCIP will work to identify relevant HEI experts/researchers willing to scope it. The more comprehensive your Innovation Challenge is, the higher the quality matches for HEI experts/researchers.
Submit fees*
The HEI expert/researcher will begin preparing the Scope of Work (SoW) and will have a maximum of 30 calendar days to complete this work.
What is the SoW?
The SoW provides the HEI expert/researcher’s perspective on the resources required to undertake the full project.
*Please note: A fee of $2500 (plus applicable HST and a $250 admin fee) is required for an identified HEI expert/researcher to complete the SoW. Additionally, please be aware that certain programs or initiatives may impact the cost of service.
Get matched with funding programs
Once the SoW is successfully completed, the OCIP team will create a Project Proposal that best matches your organization’s criteria for scaling and undertaking the full project.
What is a Project Proposal?
A Project Proposal encompassess the full Scope of Work, along with the recommended facilities and funding programs that best align with your specific Innovation Challenge needs.
Explore potential collaboration on the full project with HEI
At this stage, your business/organization, and HEI can collectively decide whether you both wish to move forward together and formally initiate the full project.
Submit HEI user registration form
If you are from a HEI, you can register on the platform at no cost. To register, please complete the HEI User Registration Form. Please note that if you register as a HEI expert/researcher, you will need to provide at least one primary SR&ED code that best reflects your expertise. Learn more about SR&ED.
Work with your affiliated Institution to complete expert profile
If you are a HEI expert/researcher, you will collaborate with your assigned HEI administrator to complete your expert profile.
Get matched with an Innovation Challenge
The more comprehensive your HEI expert/researcher profile is, the higher the quality matches you will receive for Innovation Challenges.
What is an Innovation Challenge?
An Innovation Challenge is a comprehensive project proposal issued by a business/organization, outlining the specific scope of the challenge they are currently facing.
Provide a Scope of Work (SoW) for Innovation Challenge
What is the SoW?
The SoW outlines your (expert/researcher) perspective on the resources needed to undertake the entire project for an Innovation Challenge submitted by a business/organization.
Once you have been matched and awarded the SoW, you can commence preparing the SoW and will have a maximum of 30 calendar days to complete this task.
Affiliated Institution receives the scoping fee*
Upon successful completion of the SoW, payment for your work will be issued to your affiliated institution.
*Please note: A fee of $2500 (plus applicable HST and a $250 admin fee) is required for an identified HEI expert/researcher to complete the SoW. Additionally, please be aware that certain programs or initiatives may impact the cost of service. The allocation of payments is at the discretion of your HEI.
Explore potential collaboration on the full project with business/organization
At this stage, you as the HEI expert/researcher and the business/organization can collectively decide whether you both wish to move forward together and formally initiate the full project.