Western Innovation (WINN)
Initiative
APPLICANT GUIDE
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) reserves the right to modify these guidelines at
any time without notice.
(Intake 3)
TABLE OF
Table
of CONTENTS
Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................................... 2
OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
2. BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
3. OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5
4. ELIGIBILITY ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5
4.1 ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS – MANDATORY CRITERIA................................................................................................................... 5
4.2 INELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
4.3 ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
5. FUNDING .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6
5.1 LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2 SR&ED AND OTHER TAX CREDITS........................................................................................................................................ 7
5.3 DISBURSEMENTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 7
5.4 REPAYMENT ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7
5.5 PROJECT DURATION ........................................................................................................................................................... 7
5.6 ELIGIBLE COSTS .................................................................................................................................................................. 8
5.7 INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES & COSTS ..................................................................................................................................... 8
INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS ......................................................................................................................................... 9
6.1 APPLICATION PROCESS ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
6.2 REVIEW PROCESS .............................................................................................................................................................. 9
7 . INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ............................................................................................................................................... 10
8 . CONFIDENTIALITY .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
9 . OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ....................................................................................................................................................... 11
10. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMPLIANCE .............................................................................................................. 11
1 1 . REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................ 11
12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) ........................................................................................................................ 11
1 3 . GLOSSARY ....................................................................................................................................................................... 12
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS .................................................................................................................. 13
1 4 . APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 13
1 5 . SAVING AND SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION ......................................................................................................... 14
1 6 . A P P L I C A T I O N I N S T R U C T I O N S .............................................................................................................................. 17
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PART ONE ............................................................................................................................................................................... 17
PART TWO .............................................................................................................................................................................. 25
17. ATTACHMENTS................................................................................................................................................................. 26
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OVERVIEW
The Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative is a $100-million, five-year federal government initiative that offers
repayable contributions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) proposing to commercialize a new
technology (product, process or service) in Western Canada. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) will
accept applications for WINN through a Call for Proposals (CFP) with dates to be announced on the WD website.
Applications must be supported by a current business plan, recent financial statements and confirmation of all
other funding sources.
Under WINN, eligible firms may apply for a repayable contribution of up to 50 percent of the incremental costs of a
new technology commercialization project. Qualifying organizations must demonstrate evidence of the
commercial viability of their proposal (e.g. existing market and/or expected market demand, successful beta testing
conducted, clear market advantage, etc.), including the ability to generate commercial sales within three
years. WINN contributions will only support specific activities and are fully repayable. After a one-year grace period
following project completion, the principal will be repaid over 60 equal monthly payments.
Twenty percent of WINN funding will be directed to small projects, while the remaining 80 percent will be directed
to large projects. The strongest applications, demonstrating the highest merit that fit with WINN objectives, will
be considered for funding. The Initiative will be delivered through a CFP process where applicants will have 30
days from the commencement of the CFP, to submit an application. No applications will be accepted outside the
application period.
The focus of WINN is on ensuring new and innovative products and processes developed by SMEs reach the
marketplace. Examples of innovative projects include, but are not limited to, the introduction of a new product or
process to new or existing markets; an improvement to an existing product, process or service; accelerating the
development of a proven technology; implementing a technology demonstration project; and obtaining validation
of market potential and end-user acceptance.
Incubators, accelerators, universities and other non-profit organizations would not be considered eligible under
WINN, but will continue to be eligible under the Western Diversification Program (WDP). For more information
on the WDP, please visit our website at http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/301.asp.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
2. BACKGROUND
WINN will promote the development and diversification of the western Canadian economy by providing financial
support to qualified SMEs to help them accelerate the commercialization of innovative products, processes and
services in Western Canada, and by stimulating greater private sector investment in western Canadian
commercialization activities.
Attracting early-stage capital for technology commercialization has been identified as a key challenge for SMEs in
Western Canada. WINN will address the pre-commercialization funding gaps inhibiting firms from bringing new
knowledge-based products and services to market.
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WINN Relative to Pre-Commercialization Funding Gaps
3. OBJECTIVES
WINN aims to:
 Commercialize innovative, technology-based products, processes and services;
 Stimulate greater private sector investments in commercialization activities;
 Increase the number of jobs for highly qualified personnel (HQP) in Canada; and
 Enable company growth.
4. ELIGIBILITY
4.1 ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS - MANDATORY CRITERIA
WINN is open to enterprises that meet the following mandatory eligibility criteria:
 For-profit businesses incorporated to conduct business in Canada;
 Less than 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (parents and subsidiaries included in final FTE count);
 Have been in operation for at least one year;
 Have operating facilities located in Western Canada (defined as British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan
or Manitoba);
 Have a viable plan to commercialize (i.e., generate revenues from sales) an innovative, technology-driven,
new or improved product, service or process within three years of project commencement;
 Have sufficient intellectual property rights to carry out the proposed project and to commercially exploit
the results of the project; and,
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Have provided a current business plan, that includes elements of the proposed project and recent
financial statements;
Have confirmed, at the time of application, funding from all other sources, including government and nongovernment (non-government funding must represent at least 50 percent of the proposed project costs);
and
Are requesting no more than $3.5 million in WINN support.
4.2 INELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS
The Initiative is intended to help for-profit firms bring new technologies to market. As such, ineligible
recipients include, but are not limited to:
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Federal and provincial government departments, agencies, boards, corporations, and commissions;
Municipal governments;
Universities, colleges, hospitals;
Not-for-profit organizations; and,
Accelerators, incubators.
Depending on the project, organizations of this type may be eligible for support under other WD programs. Please
consult the department’s website for further information on WD’s programs (http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/16.asp).
4.3 ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
Project activities should be those that allow your firm to introduce a new product, process or service to a market or to
technologically improve an existing product, process or service for new or existing markets. Examples of eligible activities
include, but are not limited to:
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Technology development/acceleration;
Product certifications, including Controlled Goods Registration;
Pilot projects (first user) and technology demonstration projects;
Validation of market potential and end-user acceptance; and
Support for marketing, human resources development, productivity, and process or quality improvement
directly related to the commercialization of new opportunities.
5.1 LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE
Applicants may apply for WINN funding for up to 50 percent of total eligible costs for each project, to a maximum
of $3.5 million per project. Applicants who have received past WINN funding are eligible to submit additional
projects, but total support to any one organization cannot exceed $7.5 million over the life of the Initiative (20132019). An applicant can submit only one application per intake period.
In addition, total government assistance, from any level of government (see glossary for definition) cannot exceed
50 percent of eligible project funding.
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In-kind contributions will not be considered in the calculation of project costs. Applicants must provide confirmation of their
cash investment into the project at the time of application and show non-governmental funding equal to or greater than the
value of the funding request (i.e. the WINN contribution must not exceed 50 percent of the cash required to carry out the
project).
5.2 SR&ED AND OTHER TAX CREDITS
WD considers tax credits received for activities defined under the project, as a source of government assistance.
Such credits are considered for WINN stacking purposes. Likewise, the Canada Revenue Agency may consider
funding received from WINN to be government assistance, even though it will eventually be repaid.
Applicants are strongly advised to seek independent professional advice to determine the potential effect of
WINN funding on project activities for which SR&ED tax credits, or other federal and provincial tax credits, are
likely to be sought.
Successful applicants who are in receipt of SR&ED tax credits and other similar federal or provincial tax credits for
activities defined in the project are required to inform WD. WD may be required to reduce its overall level of
project funding to ensure the total amount of government assistance remains at 50 percent of the project.
Should you also successfully receive WINN funding, CRA will consider that funding as taxable income.
5.3 DISBURSEMENTS
If you are successful in obtaining WINN funding for your project, WD will provide the repayable funding in periodic
reimbursements. These periodic reimbursements will be released to you for the approved portion (e.g. 50
percent) of eligible project costs that you have incurred and paid. Since successful applicants must submit a claim
for reimbursement, there will be a delay between the time costs are incurred and when claimed costs are partly
reimbursed. Successful applicants will therefore need to plan their project cash flow accordingly. WD will provide
detailed instructions on this process to those Applicants approved for WINN funding.
5.4 REPAYMENT
Agreements under the WINN will require recipients to repay the entire principal within six years of project
completion. Following a one year grace period after project completion, recipients will be required to make 60
equal monthly payments. Interest equal to the average bank rate plus 3 percent will be charged for any late principal
payments.
There is no penalty for early repayment.
5.5 PROJECT DURATION
Projects may vary in duration, ranging from a few months to multiple years; however, the intent of WINN is to
support projects that demonstrate plans to commercialize a new technology within three years of the Project Start
Date (see glossary).
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5.6 ELIGIBLE COSTS
Incremental expenditures that are essential to the implementation of the project that may be eligible for
reimbursement include, but may not be limited to:
 Quantifiable design, engineering and other professional services;
 Costs of prototype development materials consumed;
 Costs of transportation of prototype to location of demonstration site;
 Costs of third party certification, testing, quality assurance, etc.;
 Costs of specialized insurance while item is onsite for demonstration;
 Material and supplies costs consumed in the product development and production stages;
 Capital costs for machinery and equipment;
 Labor costs; and
Procurement of project-related innovation services (independent of the applicant), including, for example,
patenting costs.
Where necessary for the implementation of the proposed project, WD may consider ongoing costs (e.g. labor)
associated with incremental project activities eligible for the purposes of WINN. WD reserves the right to make
the final determination on the value of contributions and to exclude expenditures deemed to be ineligible or
outside the scope of the WINN program.
5.7 INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES & COSTS
Costs that are deemed unreasonable, not incremental, and/or not directly related to project activities will be
ineligible for reimbursement. These include, but may not be limited to:
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Land and buildings;
Basic or applied research;
Entertainment expenses;
Salary bonuses and dividend payments;
Allowance for interest on invested capital, bonds, debentures, and other debt;
Losses on investments, bad debts and associated expenses, other projects and contracts;
Refinancing of existing debts;
Amortization or depreciation of assets;
Federal and provincial income taxes, GST (recoverable portion), taxes or surtaxes on excess profit;
Provisions for contingencies or commissions paid to consultants to secure funding;
Lobbying activities; and
Donations, dues and membership fees.
Costs incurred prior to the WD Project Start Date will not be eligible. The WD Project Start Date should occur in
the future, and after project decisions are made by WD. WD anticipates project decisions will be made
approximately 6 months after the close of the application period.
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INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS
6.1 APPLICATION PROCESS
The WINN program will be delivered through a two stage “Call for Proposals” (CFP) process where applicants will
have 30 days from the commencement of the CFP, to submit an application. Dates for these application periods
will be posted on WD’s website. You may only submit an application once the application period opens. No
applications will be accepted outside the application period. Saved applications that have not been submitted
prior to the deadline will not be accessible and cannot be submitted. All applications will be evaluated on their
ability to achieve the objectives of WINN (see section 3 of these guidelines) and on their relative strengths in the
following areas:
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Market potential;
Management capability;
Technology readiness; and
Financial capacity.
6.2 REVIEW PROCESS
Stage One: Eligibility & Pre-Screening
Part One of the application will be used to assess eligibility based on the mandatory WINN criteria. Eligible
applicants whose applications are supported by a current business plan, recent financial statements and
evidence of confirmation of other funding sources will be included in the competitive pre-screening process and
will be evaluated against other proposals received during the intake. The strongest proposals, based on an
evaluation against the assessment criteria, will be invited to complete Part Two of the WINN application form
and advance to Stage Two of the assessment process.
WD will notify applicants if they will be advancing to Stage Two approximately 4 weeks after the application deadline.
Application volumes may impact all timelines.
Stage Two: Detailed Assessment
After the strongest proposals/applicants have been invited to Stage Two of the assessment process, the information
that will subsequently be provided in Part Two of the application form will be used in conjunction with the
information already received to assess the full application. Invited applicants will have 5 business days to complete
Part Two. Part Two applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. As the assessment proceeds,
WD may request additional information and supporting documentation from applicants. This would be required
within established deadlines. Note that invitation to Stage Two does not constitute an offer of funding.
WD will engage the technical services of the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program
(IRAP) to conduct the technical assessment of proposals. IRAP will use its network of Industrial Technology
Advisors for this purpose.
WD has established an Advisory Council comprised of experts in the field of technology commercialization,
entrepreneurs, and others in related fields that will provide strategic advice on the suite of projects under
consideration by WD. Members of this Council have signed a confidentiality agreement and a conflict of interest
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agreement with WD.
WD anticipates that final project funding decisions will be made approximately 6 months after the close of the application
period.
A summary of the application process is depicted below:
7 . INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient intellectual property (IP) rights in, and appropriate
protection for, technology that has been developed prior to the beginning of the project that will be required to
carry out the project and to commercially exploit its results. This would include, but is not limited to, ensuring that
sufficient provisions have been made in any agreements with employees, contractors, collaborators (partners), etc.
Proof of IP ownership and/or rights to access IP may be requested by WD in the assessment process.
The title to any new IP rights arising from the activities of the project must remain with the Recipient:
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The Recipient shall not dispose of, or relinquish control over, any asset utilized in the Project, including IP
developed or acquired as a result of carrying out the Project, during the term of the Agreement, without
the prior written consent of the Minister; and
The consent of the Minister is not required when the transfer of ownership or relinquishment of control
over IP is needed to commercialize the process, product, and/or technology, as identified as part of the
funded project.
8 . CONFIDENTIALITY
All proprietary data, commercially sensitive information and potentially valuable results or ideas will be protected
from unauthorized, inadvertent or untimely disclosure. Information provided by applicants in the application and
in all supporting documentation is collected under the authority of the Western Economic Diversification Act. This
information will be treated in accordance with that Act and with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
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These laws govern, protect and limit the collection, use and disclosure of personal and confidential information by
federal government departments and agencies. Confidential commercial information will not be shared without
the applicant’s consent.
For all projects that are invited to Stage Two Detailed Assessment, information will be shared with Industrial
Technology Advisors from the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program, who will be
assisting in the technical assessment of projects. In some cases, WD may seek to confer with other external
experts (e.g. scientific, technical, financial, marketing, commercialization) to assist with project
review/evaluation. This may include credit agencies. By submitting an application, the applicant affirms that they
acknowledge and consent to the sharing of information for this purpose. Before an application is released to an
expert for project review/evaluation, the expert will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement and a
conflict of interest agreement with WD.
9 . OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
WD is committed to providing quality service to all applicants and funding recipients in the official language of
their choice. In support of building a society that is respectful of Canada's linguistic duality, in cases where WINN
projects benefit members of both official language communities:
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The project’s design and delivery will respect the obligations of the Government of Canada as set out in
Part VII of the Official Languages Act through consultation with the Official Language Minority
Community; and
Where appropriate, equitable services and benefits will be made available in both official languages either
directly through the funded activities or through an alternative arrangement, in compliance with the
Official Languages Act.
10. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMPLIANCE
Projects involving physical works may be subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Recipients of
WINN funding will be responsible for obtaining all certificates, consents, permits and approvals required for
compliance with applicable legislation and for complying with the requirements of such legislation. Should an
environmental assessment be required, it will be necessary to plan several months before the WD Project Start
Date to allow sufficient time for the completion of the assessment.
1 1 . REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
All contribution agreements issued under the Initiative will include performance indicators to measure the
individual project performance and the WINN program effectiveness relative to objectives. Recipients will be
required to submit, along with funding claims, regular progress reports and financial statements to WD throughout
the project: implementation through repayment period.
12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Please refer to FAQ page for more information: http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/14860.asp. For additional information
on WD programs, please go to www.wd.gc.ca.
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1 3 . GLOSSARY
Below is a short glossary of terms used in this guide:
Assessment
Thorough review and analysis of all aspects of an application prior to entering into a
contribution agreement. This includes scoping of the project to meet program and
departmental objectives, as well as Government of Canada guidelines for funding
contributions.
Commercialization
For the purposes of WINN, commercialization is the process of introducing a new product,
process, or service into the market place and is achieved when commercial level sales and/or
production are realised.
Full-Time Equivalent
The number of full-time employees working for the organization.
Highly Qualified
Personnel (HQP)
Canada's Highly Qualified personnel (HQP) are defined as individuals with university degrees at
the bachelor's level and above.
Government assistance Funding from any level of government (Federal, Provincial or Municipal). Also includes funding from
any organization that does not make investment decisions independent from government or on a
commercial basis.
Incremental
Activities to be undertaken that are additional to the proponent’s current operations or
activities.
In-Kind Contributions
Contributions toward project costs that do not involve a cost incurred or paid for by the
recipient.
Project
The group of activities and actions, which are cost-shared, that occurs in the period
between the WD Project Start Date and the Project End Date.
Project End Date
The date it is anticipated that project activity will cease. This does not include the
repayment period.
Repayable
Contribution
A repayable contribution is a contribution that will be repaid to WD according to
repayment conditions specified in the contribution agreement.
WD Project Start
Date
This is the date that an agreement between a recipient and the department comes into
effect. Any costs incurred prior to this date are not eligible for reimbursement under the
terms of the agreement. It can be thought of as the start date for the project as defined by
the WINN contribution agreement. WD anticipates project decisions will be made
approximately 6 months after the close of the application period.
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APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
1 4 . APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
WINN is a competitive two-stage application process. It is highly recommended that you read this Applicant Guide before
completing the application form. Stronger projects will evidence a complete and sufficiently detailed application which will
allow WD to thoroughly review and validate the information.
For Stage 1, applicants must submit:
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A completed Part One WINN Application Form, with a request for no more than $3.5 million in WINN support;
A business plan, which includes elements of the project and is complete as to each area outlined below. The plan
should include clear rationale/assumptions where necessary and must include:
o Description of the business .
o Description of the new product, process, or service being commercialized.
o An operating/execution plan for commercializing the new product, process, or service.
o An analysis of the marketplace (including industry factors, competition, and customers).
o Strong projects will demonstrate how its new product, process or service differentiates
Itself from those already in the marketplace; or, if new, what the market demand is and
why it would be needed.
o A detailed sales and marketing strategy.
o A description of the management team and corporate governance structure. This should include both
abilities to manage day to day operations as well as to manage the project. If the management team is not
yet complete please comment as to the reasoning and if applicable future intentions.
o Operating/execution plan for commercializing the new product.
o Forecasted income statements and cash flow for the duration of the project, plus two additional years.
These statements should be for current operations, for the new project alone and on a combined basis. The
forecasts must include all rationale/assumptions on which they are based and could include various
scenarios such as breakeven.
o The expectation is that WINN applicants will normally have already sought funding from other
sources (e.g., banks, venture capitalists, etc.) prior to applying to WD, and as such, will already
possess a written business plan and financial statements. It is recommended that you consult
the Canada Business Network website to access a variety of business plan tools from the BDC
and Canada’s major banks to ensure that your plan is complete and contains sufficient
information to be assessed.
Most recent financial statements, as well as current (i.e. no less than three months from the date of this application)
interim statements for the current period. The financial statements should be prepared by an external accountant. If
such an externally prepared statement is not available please provide a rationale as to why no externally prepared
statement is available.
Proof of confirmed funding at the time of application from all other sources, including government and nongovernment (non-government funding must represent at least 50 percent of the proposed project costs).
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Note that WD considers proof of confirmed funding to include:
 (for funding to be provided by your own) current bank statements detailing existing cash balances
or the unused portion of lines of credit.
 (for third-party funding sources) official letters (on letter head) of confirmed or conditional funding;
and/or funding agreements.
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WD does not consider the following as proof of confirmed funding:
 forecasted revenues from future activities;
 accounts receivable;
 commitments to raise equity;
 commitments to obtain future bank financing; and
 Scientific Research & Experimental Design (SR&ED) credit receivables.
The following information could also be attached in order to strengthen your application:
 Written endorsement or review of the technology;
 Independent market assessment; and
 Evidence of market demand such as purchase orders, letters of intent, etc.
For Stage 2, invited applicants will be required to complete, Part Two of the application which captures additional information on
the technology being commercialized, as well as the IP strategy. In addition, you will also be asked to provide a detailed list of
expenditures proposed under the project along with their specific timing and cash flow; and information related to the
repayment and remuneration of shareholders, partners, and management bonuses during the course of the project. Invited
applicants will have 5 business days to complete Part Two of the application.
1 5 . SAVING AND SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
All applicants are strongly encouraged to use Western Economic Diversification’s online application tool, to apply for
funding. An online application can be saved, allowing you to complete it in more than one session. All applications must be
submitted before 2 p.m. (MST) on April 13, 2016.
Saving your application form
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Save your application as soon as you can - To do so, the following nine fields on the application form must be
completed so that Western Economic Diversification can find the saved application should you require technical support:
 Question 1. Full legal name of your organization
 Question 23. Project Title
 Question 28. Province
 Question 33. Salutation
 Question 34. First name
 Question 35. Last name
 Question 36. Title
 Question 37. Email address
 Question 38. Telephone
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Save frequently – This will help prevent you from losing data that you have inputted in the event there is an Internet
interruption or your session is timed out.
Accessing your saved application form
Once you have successfully saved your application, an email will be sent to the email address of the Primary Contact
(Question 37 in the Application Form). If the Primary Contact is not the person completing the application, he/she must
forward this email to the individual who is. You can only access your saved application with the information (weblink)
included in this email, therefore it is critical that you save this email.
Upon receiving your ‘saved’ project application email from WD please do the following:
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Click on the Application Retrieval Link included in the ‘saved’ email.
You will require a GCKey to open your saved application.
 A GCKey is a unique username and password that allows access to, and protects your communication with,
online Government of Canada programs and services.
 More information on GCKey is available here.
If you do not already have a GCKey, you can register for one when opening your saved application for the first time.
 Step 1. Select the “Continue to GCKey” button (this will be the second option on your screen).
 Step 2. Select the “Sign Up” button on the right-hand side of the GCKey login page.
 Step 3. Follow the instructions on your screens to create a username and password.
Once you have registered for a GCKey, select the “Continue to GCKey” button and input your username/password.
 WD recommends that you create a new (separate) GCKey for each individual application you submit to
Western Economic Diversification. Creating a unique GCKey for each application allows you to share the
GCKey with others in your organization who may need to view the application. In the event another
individual must gain access to the saved application, sharing the GCKey is at your organization’s risk and
discretion. As such, we do not recommend using the Sign-in Partner method using financial institutional
partners; however, this option is available for those who prefer it.
It is important to note the following:
• You must save the link contained in the email you receive from WD after saving your application for the first time
to retrieve a saved draft of your application. You will not receive another email when saving your work in the future.
• Once you have accessed the saved application form with your GCKey, only that GCKey will be able to access the
form. Therefore it is important that you do not lose your GCKey username and password.
• In the event another individual must gain access to the saved application, sharing the GCKey is at your organization’s
risk and discretion.
• It is important to remember your GC Key username as it cannot be retrieved if lost. In the event your GCKey
username is lost, a new application will have to be started.
• If you experience technical difficulties related to accessing your saved application form, please contact Western
Economic Diversification (http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/10318.asp).
• You must click the “Validate/Submit” button at the top of the application form to formally submit your application
to WD. A "saved" application that is not formally submitted will be considered incomplete and will not be
considered for funding.
• Once you submit your application, you can no longer re-open the form. Be sure to either print a copy or convert it to
PDF and save before you submit.
Additional Tips:
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Always save your application form once the minimum number of fields for saving is complete.
Always save regularly as the online form does not automatically save.
Logout when you are finished with the form for the day.
If you are using two separate GCKeys for any reason, you may need to clear your computer browsing history when
logging out from one saved form and logging into another.
If you are unable to submit your application using the online application tool, contact a Western Economic Diversification
Regional Office for assistance. Contact information for Western Economic Diversification Regional Offices can be found at:
http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/10318.asp. It is recommended that applicants retain their GCKey information as it may be used for
reporting purposes if an application is approved.
Submitting your application form
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Save a final version of your application using the ‘Save’ button at the top of the application form. Please ensure you have
attached all required additional documentation (see Section 17 for a complete list).
Print a copy for your records.
Select the ‘Validate/Submit’ button at the top of the application form to formally submit your online application to
WD. Once the validation of your application is complete you will have to select a second ‘Submit’ button.
The Primary Contact will receive a confirmation email upon successful submission. If you do not receive this
confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting please contact a WD Regional Office. A “saved” application that is not
formally submitted will be considered incomplete and will not be considered for funding.
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16. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the online application form where possible. HTML and PDF versions of
the application form are available, but will require applicants to print and sign the documents. In addition, the PDF
form cannot be completed electronically.
Questions highlighted in RED on the application form are used to assess mandatory eligibility criteria. If you cannot
submit, and receive the message your application does not meet the mandatory eligibility criteria, please refer to
these questions and Section 4 of the Applicant Guide.
You can complete this form in more than one session using your GCKey. Instructions for saving and retrieving your
application are available in the Applicant Guide here. (might need to fix the link)
Note: The application process for WINN is a two-stage process. At this time (Stage One) you are required to complete
Part One of the application form. Only the strongest applications demonstrating the highest merit and fit with WINN
objectives will receive an invitation to Stage Two and be required to complete Part Two of the application. The
invitation will be sent to the e-mail address provided in Field 37. You will have five business days to complete Part Two
of this application once you receive the invitation. A best practice would be to have all information required to complete
Stage 2 on hand should you be invited to Stage 2 in order to meet the short deadline.
Stage One applications received after the close of the intake will not be accepted. Stage Two applications received after
the 5 business day deadline will also not be accepted.
Enter the required information in the space provided. An asterisk (*) indicates a required field.
Before submitting this application, print a copy for your records
PART ONE
A
ORGANIZATION
INFORMATION
1. Full legal name of your organization: The legal name as shown on the certificate of incorporation / registration.
2. If operating under a different name, identify the name: Provide the name you are operating under if
different from the above
3. Mailing address (Including suite, unit, apt #):
4. Mailing address line 2:
5. City:
6. Province / State:
7. Country:
8. Postal / ZIP Code:
9. Telephone: The telephone number at which you can be contacted. Use the following format xxx-xxx-xxxx.
10. Fax: The number at which you will receive faxes. Use the following format xxx-xxx-xxxx.
11. Email address: The primary email at which you can be contacted. Note that when the form is saved for the first
time, an email will be sent to the e-mail address provided in field “37. Email address:”.
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This email is only sent the first time the form is saved, and contains instructions to retrieve the saved form.
12. Website: Your website address (if available).
13. Canada Revenue Agency business registration number (BN): The unique Business Number assigned to you by
the Canada Revenue Agency. A business number must be obtained through the Canada Revenue Agency.
Information on obtaining a business number: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/bn- ne/rgstr/menueng.html.
14. Date your organization commenced business operations: Provide the date you started business operations.
15. Number of employees working for your organization: Indicate the number of Full-Time Equivalent employees
(FTEs) working for you (and if applicable any affiliated companies). Part-time employees should be calculated based
on their equivalent to a FTE i.e. one part time employee working approx. 20hrs/week should be represented as 0.5
FTE.
16. Operating facilities existing in (check all that apply): Indicate all areas the you have operating facilities
17. Is the applicant organization a for-profit company registered in Canada? If you answer NO, you are
ineligible for the WINN Initiative.
18. Indicate all that apply: If applicable, indicate whether you are:

18a - Incorporated federally

18b – Incorporated provincially and if incorporated provincially, indicate the province or territory.

18c - Date of Incorporation (attach a copy of your Incorporation documents).
19. Your organization is headquartered in: select the description that represents the location that you are
headquartered in.
20. Is your organization a subsidiary of another company? Respond yes or no.
21. If yes, provide company name and location: Provide the full legal name of the parent company (21a) and select
the corresponding location of the headquarters (21b).
22. What sector do you currently operate in? Identify the name of the industrial sector in which your business
operates. (E.g. Information Communications Technology; Clean Technology; Clean Energy; Health and Life
Sciences; Natural Resources; Aerospace, Defense, and Marine; etc.)
PROJECT INFORMATION
23. Project Title (Maximum 90 characters including spaces): Provide a project title that accurately reflects the
activities and outcomes of the project. Should your project be approved this description will be disclosed on WD’s
public website as part of its proactive disclosure guidelines. The description should:


Start with a verb (produce, create, develop, expand, increase, support), and
Concisely capture the essence of the project and, clearly identify the purpose/result expected. The
project description must be understandable by anyone.
Examples:


“Develop infrastructure and expertise for micro and nanotechnology commercialization”
“Support the implementation of a wireless technology demonstration “
24. Project Address is the same as Mailing Address (If checked, the Mailing Address will be automatically
entered.): Indicate if the address at which the project will take place is the same as the mailing address.
25. Project address (Including suite, unit, apt #): If the Project address is different from the mailing address, then
enter the location at which the project will take place.
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26. Project address line 2:
27. City:
28. Province:
29. Postal Code:
30. WD Project Start Date: This is the date that an agreement between a recipient and the department comes into
effect. The earliest allowable date will be August 1, 2016. Any costs incurred prior to this date will not be
eligible for reimbursement under the terms of the agreement. It can be thought of as the start date for the
project.
31. Proposed project end date: The date anticipated that project activity will cease. This does not include the
repayment period.
32. Plan to commercialize: Please select the appropriate category that best reflects what exactly is being
commercialized: a product, service, or process.
PROJECT CONTACT PERSON – the authorized contact person for the project
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
Salutation:
First Name:
Last Name:
Title:
Email Address:
Telephone:
Cell:
This is the contact information that will be used by WD for any follow-up to this application. Please ensure that the
email address and phone numbers are updated as required, to ensure you will be able to comply with WD’s timelines
outlined in the guide.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
PROJECT CONTACT PERSON – the authorized contact person for the project
40. Briefly describe your project in layman’s terms. This is important as this section will be used in summary
documents to describe your project at various review stages. (Maximum 500 characters including spaces)
This should provide an understanding of why you are seeking financial assistance, how you will use the funds, and
how the funds will support the commercial objectives of your organization. A suggested opening sentence could be:
ABC Company will develop a new XYZ technology by constructing a prototype, testing the prototype, etc.
41a. Provide a general overview of your product/service/process. This should be a non-technical overview that
clearly identifies your unique value proposition. (Maximum 1000 characters including spaces)
Provide an overview of your technology (product/service/process) that describes what it does and why you believe
your technology is innovative. Innovation is defined as “an advance on state of the art as compared to similar
commercially available solutions”. Describe your value proposition, or why a potential customer would be interested
in adopting your solution. A value proposition is a compelling set of reasons that make your innovation the obvious
choice to solve the customer’s problem. Stronger projects would be able to provide independent (third party)
confirmation of the value proposition.
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41b. Describe why your product/service/process is innovative and why it advances the state of the art in your
field. (Maximum 1000 characters including spaces)
Highlight the unique advantages of your technology, including where appropriate references to advantages such
as total cost, speed to implement, ease of use and adoption, maintenance and support, and stability of
technology and company.
FINANCIAL
The funding summary will provide all sources of funding of the project. The applicant organization and WD are
identified on the form. Please enter all other sources of funding in the spaces provided. If you are using the
online application form and more space is required, click on “Add new source of funding” and an additional row
will be provided. Please note it is mandatory that all other sources of funding have been identified and
confirmed.
42. Project funder: Identify all potential funders of the project.
Source: Where applicable, select the description that best reflects the funding source: Federal, Provincial or
Municipal government body, or non-government.
Confirmed? For each funding source, indicate if the funding has been confirmed through a written funding
commitment. In the case where your business (Applicant Firm) is a source of funding, indicate yes if you have cash
on hand.
Under each fiscal year column, provide the project funding cash flow for each year please use a commencement
st
st
date of April 1 and an end date of March 31 to match WD’s fiscal year.
Total project funding required: If you are using the online application form, this total is calculated automatically.
43. Percentage of confirmed non-government funding (calculated from the data provided above): If you are
using the online application form, this percentage is automatically calculated based on the information provided in
the table above. If you are using a pdf version of the form, this calculation can be made by taking the sum of all
funding identified as “Non-Gov’t” divided by the “Total project funding required.”
44. It is mandatory that you attach proof of all confirmed funding: Attach proof of all sources of non-WD
funding that have been confirmed for your project. Acceptable forms of confirmation include: copies of letters of
confirmation, signed agreements and bank statements if any other source please attach and provide rationale as
to why it should be considered confirmed.
WD does not consider the following as proof of confirmed funding:
 Forecasted revenues from future activities;
 Accounts receivable;
 Commitments to raise equity;
 Commitments to obtain future bank financing; and
 Scientific Research & Experimental Design (SR&ED) credit receivables
A minimum of 50 percent project funding is required from non-government sources.
Documents attached to this section not specifically related to confirmation of funding will not be
reviewed.
45. Comments on project funding. Specifically comment on the origin and composition of your organization’s
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confirmed funding. (Maximum of 500 characters including spaces):
Provide further explanation of the sources of confirmed funding as required. Example: Applicant firm has $XXX in a
term deposit which has been allocated for this project.
46. Project Costs (All costs will be validated):
Please list the various costs you will incur in the implementation of the project. See section 5.5 of the Applicant
Guide for eligible expenses. It would be helpful to group specific costs into broader categories (e.g. marketing,
building, equipment, supplies, salaries, etc.). Further cost details will be sought should you be invited to participate
in Stage 2 of the assessment process. Note: if funding is approved, all costs will be validated and confirmed through
the assessment and claim submission process.
Additionally you may be required to provide evidence that the costs are reasonable for the product/service procured.
This may include evidence of multiple quotations or proof of a competitive process. In the assessment process,
applicants may be asked to provide this evidence on short notice and within a short deadline and as such it is
recommended you have this information readily accessible.
While not a requirement of WINN, partnerships can support a corporation’s goals. Outline why you organization has
entered into the partnerships it has, the strategic value that they offer, and how critical they are to your achieving
your goals.
47. Current financial statements: Select the type of Financial Statements prepared by / for you. “None available”
will indicate that you do not have financial statements available making the project ineligible.
48. Does your organization have existing revenue from other products / services? Indicate yes or no.
49. Has your organization previously received funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada? Indicate
yes or no.
MANAGEMENT
50. Has your organization had previous experience with the commercialization of a product, service, or
process?
Respond with Yes or No based on the company’s commercialization experience, NOT the commercialization
experience of staff or management employed by the company
51. Complete the table to indicate the qualification and experience of your key management team members:
Include a name for each management responsibility area even if the same person holds multiple responsibilities.
Briefly highlight each member’s academic qualifications and/or professional designations.
The years of experience must be provided in a numeric format (e.g. 5, not five) and be relevant to their current
management responsibility.
52. Comments on management capacity and commercialization experience. (Maximum 500 characters including
spaces)
If not already included in your attached business plan, this section is an opportunity to elaborate on the previous
two questions. Provide further information on the management team and its capacity to undertake the project
Include prior commercialization experience including outcome. For example:
(a)
Mr. Smith, President, was part of a team that successfully commercialized a product while at XYZ Company.
(b) Mr. Smith, President, was the primary individual who developed a product while at XYZ Company which was
unsuccessful at commercialization stage due to …….
53. Is your organization led by a Board of Directors? Indicate yes or no.
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53a. If yes, what is their experience and expertise, relationship with management, and responsibilities?
(Maximum 1000 Characters including spaces) Provide details regarding the Board of Directors. Outline the
membership, their experience, background, role in decision making vis-à-vis the management team. How specifically
does the Board provide support to the company? Identify if the directors are also investors in the company and
identify if any members are major investors,
54.
Identify any strategic or business partnerships with which you are involved that will assist in supporting your
project: Note that multiple partnerships can be selected.
55.
If other than “None,” explain how the strategic or business partnerships selected above will assist in
supporting your project. (Maximum 1000 characters including spaces) While not a requirement of WINN, partnerships
can support a corporation’s goals. Outline why your organization has entered into the partnerships it has, the strategic
value that they offer, and how critical they are to your achieving your goals.
TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL
56. What statement best represents the current readiness level of the technology (Select best fit): Select the
response that best represents the technology development stage of your product, process, or service. Technology
Readiness Level (TRL) is a measure used to assess the maturity of technologies during development through to
early operations. In the application form, 9 levels of technology readiness are indicated, from level 1 ( basic
principles observed) to level 9 (actual technology proven through successful deployment in an operational setting).
A more detailed description of these Technology Readiness Levels can be found here:
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/sites/buyandsell.gc.ca/files/trl_diagram.pdf.
57. Describe why you believe your technology is at the stated readiness level. Include information on all
certifications, licenses and approvals that have been obtained and those that are outstanding.
In order to assess the viability of your project plan, it is important that we understand the TRL of your innovation. Please
describe in evidence based terms why you believe you are at the stated TRL. Ensure that all relevant information is
presented, including state of development (proof-of-concept, early prototype, late stage prototype, final system), status
of certifications/licenses/approvals (citing third party validation), and validation status (in-house testing, completed
customer trials).
58. Has your organization received financial assistance under the National Research Council/Industrial Research
Assistance Program or any other technology program for the technology being brought to market with this project?
Indicate “yes” or “no” if your organization has received financial assistance within the last five years from any
federal government program in the development of the technology you hope to commercialize through this
project.
59. Does your organization have a written endorsement or review of the technology that can be made available on
request? If yes, attach to your application.
Indicate “yes” or “no”. Attach any written third party endorsement to your application.
PROJECT TIMELINES
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60. Indicate project milestones that occur between the WD Project Start Date and the project end date.
Provide a list of significant project milestones that can be measured and tracked to ensure the project is proceeding as
planned. These should be significant milestones that will be used to measure your project’s performance over the
course of the project. This should not include the milestones that will occur during the period over which you will be
repaying the contribution.
If additional milestones are required to adequately describe your project, the list can be expanded.
Project Funding Start date is defined in section 30
Project end date is defined in section 31.
61. Comments on project milestones (Maximum 500 Characters including spaces)
Provide further detail on the activities of the project. This should elaborate on the project description that you
provided in section 40 of Part One.
MARKET
62. To meet the mandatory eligibility criteria, you must demonstrate commercialization within three years of the
proposed Project Funding Start Date. Enter the anticipated date to realize sales revenues from this
product/service. Please indicate the date sales revenue will be generated from the product resulting from the
project. The dates should correspond with information provided in the cash flow forecasts.
63. Do you have an independent market assessment that can be made immediately available?
Indicate “yes” or “no”. If yes, please attach this independent market assessment.
64. Does your organization currently do business in the indicated target market/sector?
Respond yes if you currently sell existing products/services to the target market segment that will be the focus of your
marketing efforts for the product/service that will be commercialized through this project.
64a. If yes, for how many years? Indicate the number of years you have been selling in this target market
segment.
65. What evidence can you provide that best validates your customers’ willingness to purchase your
product/service?
Select all that apply. If you possess any of the items listed, please attach them along with your application
.
66. Competitors are operating within:
Select the applicable geographic locations.
67. Describe your competition. (Maximum 1000 characters)
Provide a description of your primary competitors and how you differentiate yourself. Please make specific note of
any western Canadian or Canadian competition.
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68. Which market/sector(s) will benefit from commercialization of this product/service/process? (Select best fit)
The list provided is based on the Government of Canada’s Science and Technology Review. While no sector is
targeted under WINN, WD wishes to identify the sectors impacted by WINN.
Note: this is not the sector that you currently operate in but rather the sector that will be impacted by the
product/service/process that you are commercializing. Select all that apply
68a. If other, specify
Indicate the sector that is not identified in the list above.
69. Please describe the following direct economic benefits to your company resulting from this project. Note: these
should be measured from the WD Project Start Date to one year following the project completion date.
69a. Total new jobs created in Canada:
Please estimate the number of new jobs, as measured by FTE (full time equivalent jobs), that will be created
throughout the project and for a year past the project end date. This is a cumulative measurement.
69b. New HQP jobs created in Canada (Of total new jobs, how many require highly qualified personnel?)
Of the jobs created in your answer to item 69a, how many of these will be HQP? HQP is defined in the Glossary on
Section 14.
69c. Total new sales:
This is total corporate sales, domestic and international.
69d. New foreign investment in Canadian operations
This is total investment into your company coming from outside of the country, as a result of this project.
70. Provide an estimation of any additional economic benefits that may accrue in Canada. (Maximum 1000
characters including spaces):
Please estimate the additional economic benefits the project offers outside of the direct economic benefits specified
above.
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BUSINESS PLAN AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ATTACHMENTS
71. It is mandatory that you attach your business/project plan along with your most recent financial statements.
BUSINESS PLAN
Please refer to Section 6 of the Applicant Guide for further details on what a business plan should include.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Please attach your most recent set of annual financial statements.
As part of your financial statement information, it will be important for WD to be able to easily identify wage and
salary costs associated with your business. This will be used to track project and program information related to SME
sales growth and SME employment growth. If wage and/or salary costs are not already explicitly identified in your
financial statements, please include a separate document providing this information.
FORECASTED INCOME STATEMENTS AND CASHFLOW: If not already included as part of the Business Plan, please
attach your most recent set of forecasted income statements and cash flow forecasts as outlined in the Applicant
Guide.
If you are using the online application form, attachments can be inserted and uploaded by clicking on “insert item” and
then on “click here to attach a file.”
It is preferred that you provide your business plan in a WORD or PDF format. If using a PDF format, the security
settings should allow for selection of text.
AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL OF THE APPLICANT ORGANIZATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In reference to Part One of this application (etc.)
72. I have read and agree with the above applicant acknowledgements and certify that all statements and
information furnished in this application are true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge. The
individual authorized to sign the application on your behalf has reviewed the application and agrees that the
information provide is accurate.
73. Name - Fill in the name of the individual within your company who has signing power / the authority to enter into
an agreement. This person may be different from the contact person.
74. Title - Fill in the title of this individual
Date: If you are using the online application, indicate the date the application was submitted. You cannot change this
date.
Signature: Please sign the document. If you are using the Online application form, you do not need to provide a
signature on the document.
PART TWO
You will require a GCKey to access your Part Two application. Instructions for obtaining a GCKey if you do not
already have one are included in the invitation email. More information on GCKey is available at https://clegcgckey.gc.ca/j/eng/FQ-03#link1.
PART ONE CONFIRMATION
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75. Has any of the information you submitted in Part One of the form changed?
Indicate “yes” or “no”.
75. If yes, provide the question number(s) and details on the information that has changed. (Maximum 1000
characters including spaces)
In this section, outline any significant changes that have occurred to your organization, commercialization, plan,
funding or any other element that may impact the project.
TECHNOLOGY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
77a, b, c, d. From the list below please select the choices that best reflect the patent status and patent
ownership status of your technology, including other IP protection that applies:
Select the best fit from the list provided.
78. Provide a brief description of your organization’s IP strategy indicating why this strategy is appropriate for
your technology. (Maximum 1000 characters including spaces):
Intellectual property is defined as an “intangible creation of the mind that can be legally protected”. Legal protection
includes several core categories: patents (protects your invention from outright thievery), trademarks (adopting a
trademark as a brand name keeps it, and its reputation, all yours), copyrights (holding copyright shields your artistic
expression from copying) and industrial rights (registering an industrial design protects the non- functional design
features of a product). Two other categories of rights are relevant to an IP strategy: trade secrets (keeping a formula or
manufacturing process confidential, safeguards it against imitators) and contractual rights (licensing the right to use
someone else’s invention). Unlike the rights described above, these can only be enforced against people with whom
you have a contractual relationship. Please provide us with your IP strategy, considering the above key elements and
describing
why your strategy is appropriate for your technology.
TECHNOLOGY
79. What further development or technical activities are required to bring the technology to market?
(Maximum 2000 characters including spaces):
From a technical perspective, describe the remaining challenges and/or R&D activities to be completed prior to being
market ready. Describe your plan for addressing these outstanding items including technical resources (in- house or
to be hired), partnerships/licensing strategies (private sector, universities, research centres, etc.), facilities
(equipment, laboratory, etc.), estimated level of effort and timeline. You can describe these elements in relation to
your product roadmap.
80. Describe the technical expertise in your project team including education, qualifications and experience of your
technical staff and the organizational structure of the team. Include the track record of key team members in
similar projects. (Maximum 4000 characters including spaces):
Please provide us with a brief overview of relevant information on the key members of your project team in order for
us to assess their capacity to complete the project. Responses should include a description of the key member(s) role
and area of expertise, their education/experience related to proposed project, and past accomplishments (track
record on similar projects, awards, publications, positions held in other organizations).
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81. Describe the additional technology resources (e.g. equipment, external contractors, partnerships, etc.) that are
in place to complete the project and, if applicable, what additional resources/partnerships are required to
successful carry out the project? (Maximum 2000 characters including spaces):
With reference to your project plan, please provide information on the technology resources that are currently in
place in order to successfully complete the project. If additional resources are required, describe them and your plan
for securing these resources (acquisition, partnerships, external contractors, etc.).
82. Provide a technical description of your technology. This description should clearly describe the functions, key
specifications, and outputs that best represent your technology. (Maximum 1000 characters including spaces):
Please provide another level of detail over and above what you have provided in question 41. Responses should
address the technical specifications of your proposed product/service/process highlighting, if appropriate, key
specifications that distinguish your technology from existing ones.
82a. You may attach a 1 page document to assist in this description (schematic, process diagram, design
document etc.)
83. Provide evidence, including measured, quantified or observed data that prove that the specifications
described above were achieved. If the evidence was verified by a third party, please provide references.
(Maximum 1000 characters including spaces):
The capabilities and your technology should be supported by internal and/or external testing and evaluation.
Results should be presented that explicitly support the claimed specifications, as well as describing the
methodology used to verify the evidence and a description of the setting used for the testing (i.e. laboratory,
simulated, operational). In cases where third parties were used to evaluate the technology (e.g. testing
facility, beta client, etc.) a description of the individual, group or organization should be provided to support
the credibility of the results, as well as the specifics of the testing and evaluation process.
81.
82. 84. Describe how your technology will function in a planned operational setting. (Maximum 1000 characters
including spaces):
The specific practical application of the technology should be described in terms of its actual deployment
and use in the intended environment. The description should relate to the technology in its final form and
under real-life conditions, and should reference whether these are the conditions that were used in
operational test and evaluations, if they have already occurred. The use of the technology and expected
operational results should be clearly stated, as well as details as applicable relating to installation, ease of
use, and other relevant factors.
84. 85. Describe the feature and benefits of your technology. Provide a high level comparison between these and
those offered by your competition: (Maximum 1000 characters including spaces):
The description of features and benefits should highlight performance metrics that have potential to be
sought- after by the target customer and should demonstrate the potential for market acceptance and enduser adoption. Comparisons with your competition can be both direct and indirect, and specific advantages
of your technology should be clearly indicated with measurable comparisons between your technology and
the competition. These advantages should be quantified, where possible (e.g. if your product uses less
energy, provide the number of kW less per week).
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86. Does your project involve development and/or technology demonstration
If there are technical activities required as part of the proposed project to complete development of the
technology or increase its Technology Readiness Level, and/or the proposed project involves the operational
demonstration of the technology – whether as a completed product or as a prototype, rough example or an
otherwise incomplete version – the following questions should be answered.
If yes, answer the following three (3) questions.
86a. Technology development roadmap indicating current position. (Maximum 1500 characters including
spaces):
It should be clearly indicated at what TRL the technology is currently at and to what TRL the proposed development
will raise the technology to. At a high level, a development path should be described that matches appropriate
goals (i.e. short-term and long-term) with specific technology milestones to help meet those goals. The end of the
proposed project and its expected results should be indicated with respect to the development roadmap and its
timelines.
86b. Project plan including key activities, duration, and resources in your technical work plan. (Maximum
2500 characters including spaces):
The project plan should support an understanding of the methodology required to achieve the planned results and
address expected challenges. The structure and schedule of the project should be clearly presented, and both the
project roles and estimated levels of effort of the project resources must be included with a level of detail
appropriate to the size, scope and complexity of the planned activities.
86c. You may attach a 1 page document (e.g. Gantt chart) to help describe the plan.
86d. For technology that requires commercial production, has a limited scale pre-product run been carried out?
Describe all quality control procedures and production standards that are in place. Describe how you will
manage parts and inventory. (Maximum 4000 characters including spaces): A description of activities and
planning that have been carried in anticipation of full-scale commercial production should be detailed. Provide
details on additional activities and planning that would be required before commercial production could begin. If
production partnerships are in place or will be required or if outsourced production will be used, this should be
described, as appropriate.
87. What are the risks associated with bringing the technology to market, including any technical barriers to
implementation, and other issues (e.g. environmental, safety of application etc.). What is your plan to mitigate
the risks? (Maximum 2000 characters including spaces):
As appropriate, the described risks may be short or long term and in addition to their applicability to market entry,
can also include in-market risks related to maintaining market position and market share. As directly related to
technology issues for development and/or implementation, risk associated with commercialization activities,
market risks, financial risks and competition risks can be referenced. If there are outstanding certifications,
licenses, and approvals that could present a barrier to market entry, these should be detailed, along with the
nature and degree of any related technical issues that need to be addressed. The mitigation strategy for each of
the described risks and any residual risk should be described.
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AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL OF THE APPLICANT ORGANIZATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In reference to Part Two of this application (etc.)
88. I have read and agree with the above applicant acknowledgements and certify that all statements and
information furnished in this application are true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge. The
individual authorized to sign the application on your behalf has reviewed the application and agrees that the
information provide is accurate.
89. Name - Fill in the name of the individual with signing power/ the authority to enter into an agreement. This
person may be different from the contact person.
90. Title - Fill in the title of the Individual.
Date: If you are using the online application, indicate the date the application was submitted. You cannot change this
date.
Signature: Please sign the document. If you are using the Online application form, you do not need to provide a
signature on the document.
17. ATTACHMENTS
You will have noticed throughout this Applicant Guide that in certain cases it is required that attachments be
provided with your application. Please review the list below of possible attachments to ensure you have
submitted them all. They are as follows:
Stage 1 (in conjunction with information outlined in 2. Stage 1 & 2 Applications requirements):
 Business Plan
 Current Financial Statements
 Forecasted income statements and cash flow complete with rationale and assumptions
 Evidence of confirmation of all other (non-WD) sources of funding
 Written endorsement or review of the technology (if available)
 Independent Market Assessment (if available)
 Evidence of market demand (if available)
Stage 2:
 1 page schematic, process diagram, design document, etc. (if available)
 1 page Gantt chart (or other document) describing the project plan. (if available)
 Any other information requested by WD
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