I4G Program Technovate Grant Spark Grant Accelerate Grant

Technovate Grant

The Technovate Grant supports innovative solutions to performance-related challenges, and produces new, performance relevant technology products and applications for the training and competition environment. This Grant is partnered with Mitacs and provides opportunities for young researcher-practitioners to work with NSOs in developing new performance-related technology innovations.  Priority will be given to technology innovation projects related to computer vision and specifically POSE estimation and/or motion capture.

National Motion Capture & Analysis Technology (MCAT) Research Cluster 

Motion capture and analysis technology is a focus for Canadian high performance sport.  The MCAT Research Cluster via a Committee approach coordinates and guides research project planning in this area and provides recommendation to Own the Podium regarding potential projects.  The intent of the Committee is to collaborate on computer vision projects to optimize transferability of knowledge and technology application between national sports, and to align research interests and funding availability.

Technovate funding is provided to projects that focus on developing new technology or significantly improving existing technology use in high performance sport. It provides protected funding to accelerate Canada’s deployment of technology in HP sport. Although technology can be viewed as a tool, it is critical to developing new products, processes, and practices.

Future technology research clusters with prioritized funding could emerge in other areas as determined by the Research & Innovation Council. Other technology related proposals are possible under the Spark Grant and Technovate Grant but again, technology-related submissions focusing on POSE estimation and motion capture will be prioritized. 

Mitacs 

Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit research and training organization dedicated to advancing collaborations between industry, academia and government in Canada, and to fostering international research networks between Canadian universities and the world.

Technovate applications will leverage funding from the Mitacs Accelerate program for Masters and PhD student interns and the Elevate program for Post Doctoral Fellows. Applicants should be conscious of program eligibility and expectations to access this funding. 

Funding Available: 

  • Masters and PhD student funding follows criteria for the Mitacs Accelerate program:
    • Funding starts at $15,000 for a 4-6 month internship project (one internship unit)Funding for longer projects with current Masters and PhD students follows the Mitacs Accelerate Fellowship contribution model
    • Current Masters students can complete up to 6 internship units
    • Current PhD students can complete up to 12 internship units
    • Masters and PhD students must remain registered students for the duration of project
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow funding follows the criteria for the Mitacs Elevate program 
    • Funding of $120,000 over 2 years  
    • Open to Post Doctoral Fellows within 5 years of graduating from their PhD

Project Duration 

  • PhD - up to 4 years
  • Masters and Post-Doc - up to 2 years  

Eligible Research & Innovation Themes:

  • Sport Technology & Engineering

Eligible Partnerships 

  • Projects must be driven by the needs of a Canadian National Sports Organization (NSO). The NSO must be an active member of the project team and provide support and interaction opportunities for the student(s). 
  • Projects must include an academic supervisor at a Canadian university who will support the research and project administration and is eligible to hold tri-council funding. 
  • Projects must name any Masters, PhD or Post Doctoral students to be paid by the grant. Students must maintain their registration status at the partner university for the duration of the project.
  • Projects may include additional partners organizations that expand the capacity and expertise available to execute the project. 

Submission Deadline:

  • February 15th (annual)
  • Successful applications will be contacted by April 14th, 2023 (revised date)
  • Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal to Mitacs

Year-End Reporting

  • Annual Report due March 15th
  • Final Report & Presentation (SPIN Summit)
  • Additional reporting will be requested by Mitacs

Application Instructions: 

  • Select the appropriate application for which you will apply (Spark, Accelerate, Technovate)
  • For Accelerate and Technovate grants, a student(s) has been secured to undertake the research
  • Download Project Rationale Form and complete with a description of the proposed research (the Project Rationale Form provides opportunity to collaborate with your research team before application submission)
  • Use the “APPLY NOW” button.   Fill in the application online and attach your Project Rationale Form


Technovate Grant

Applications are now closed


Frequently Asked Questions

Projects with a focus on technology innovation in high performance sport will be received via the Sport Scientist Canada submission portal.  Submissions will be reviewed internally by an OTP Panel. Projects with a specific focus on computer vision will be review by the Computer Vision  Research Cluster Committee (RCC). The Technovte application package has set questions that closely match the assessment criteria for the grant. Successful projects must have a research student(s) and a supervising professor at a partner university or universities.

Successful applications will be invited to submit an application to Mitacs Accelerate or Mitacs Elevate.
 
Technovate funding is provided to projects that focus on developing new technology or significantly improving existing technology use in high performance sport. It provides protected funding to accelerate Canada’s deployment of technology in HP sport. Although technology can be viewed as a tool, it is critical to developing new products, processes, and practices.
The area of computer vision has a significant presence in high performance sport and can play a major role in performance analysis and real-time feedback to coaches and athletes. A research cluster approach mimics best practices in Canada in other business and research sectors. It capitalizes on the collective expertise of COPSIN and partner universities, leveraging access to new knowledge and growing our next generation of skilled researchers and applied practitioners. It supports collaboration and a growth mindset, reducing redundant research and optimizing transfer of knowledge within and between sport in Canada.
Yes. Commercial third-party partnerships are often an important requirement for breakthrough technology. Technovate grants and RCCs in general support commercial partnerships but require research contracts that outlines nondisclosure, publication permissions, intellectual and commercialization rights. 

RCCs supports Canadian commercial partnerships as a priority and ones that can transfer its application to one or more sports. 
 
For information about Mitacs please reach out to the Mitacs Advisor at your academic institution or contact Sarah Fairlie, Senior Advisor Strategic Partnerships (Social Innovation) [email protected]