[SGS] Grad Student Awards - NSERC Innovation Challenge Award

Dear Colleagues,

Please bring the NSERC Innovation Challenge research award opportunity described below to the attention of your graduate faculty.

The completed applications should be sent to the

Innovations & Partnerships Office
MaRS Centre, Heritage Building
101 College Street, Suite 320
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1L7

and should be received by Monday April 18/2011

Thanks

Peter Lewis

P. N. Lewis, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, Research

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NSERC Innovation Challenge Award
(see http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Ica-Pdi/Index-Index_eng.asp)

The Innovation Challenge Awards honour graduate students in the natural sciences or engineering who have demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit by identifying ways in which their research thesis results can be developed into products and processes to benefit Canadians. Since 2004, these awards have recognized and rewarded Canada's brightest minds.

The awards are aimed at fostering, in master's or PhD students who are in their final year or have recently graduated, an appreciation of real-world applications of their research. The students review their thesis work and submit an essay identifying potential products or services that could result from applying their research. Since universities play a crucial role in the innovation cycle in Canada, university Industrial Liaison Offices, or their equivalent, are charged with selecting and submitting their institution's nominations.

There are three awards: one $10,000 grand prize and two $5,000 runner-up prizes. Honourable mention prizes may also be awarded if applications are deemed meritorious. The winners will receive a cheque and a certificate at an event hosted by NSERC.

Eligible nominees must:

• have conducted research at the master’s or PhD level in one of the fields of natural sciences or engineering that NSERC supports at an eligible Canadian university;
• have submitted, or expect to submit, their thesis between May 15, 2010, and May 1, 2011 (students must successfully defend their thesis before the award is offered);

and

• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in Canada at the time of nomination.
It is the responsibility of the universities, rather than the students, to submit nominations (self-nominations will not be accepted). Administrative heads of the Industrial Liaison (technology transfer) Office (ILO), or its equivalent, at Canadian universities can nominate up to two eligible candidates from their own university.

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