Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

The Synergy Awards for Innovation honour outstanding research and development (R&D) partnerships between a university or a college, and industry, in the natural sciences and engineering. Winners of the Synergy Awards must show effective use of human, technical and financial resources, leading to tangible commercial, social or environmental benefits with their industrial partners. Universities must demonstrate a sustained partnership while colleges may focus on the impact of near-term applied research. The winner (principal nominee) in each category will receive a $200,000 NSERC research grant. Industrial partners will each receive a $30,000 voucher valid toward the cash portion of their required contribution in a new Alliance grant.

Eligibility: Canadian university professor(s) and Canadian-based company(ies) with commercial activities in Canada. Industrial partners must be at arm's length from nominee and co-nominee(s). Nominator can be President or VPR of institution or CEO of partner company. No limit on # of nominations that a university can submit per competition. 

Internal process: Institutional Strategic Awards (ISA) coordinates the internal selection of SFU candidates and leads the development of institutional nominations or endorsements for this opportunity. To promote equity, diversity and inclusion, departments and faculties should ensure that all eligible candidates are considered and given the opportunity to self-identify. To recommend a candidate to the President’s Advisory Committee on Awards, Honours and Prizes, please submit a candidate suggestion form by the internal deadline noted below. For more information, please visit the ISA website or contact awards@sfu.ca.

As this award carries research funding, an SFU Signature sheet and copy of the full nomination package will be due to ors@sfu.ca no later than 3 business days before agency deadline

Agency Website:  www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Synergy-Synergie/About-Apropos_eng.asp