SECOND CALL FOR PROJECT IDEAS FOR 2020 IN PROGRESS – CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ALL THE INFORMATION
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is collaborating with Transport Canada (TC) to develop a five-year R&D plan to support the development of regulations for line-of-sight (LOS)/non-line-of-sight (LOS), remotely piloted (RPAS) aviation systems and to identify technological advances, testing and certification that will ensure the safe operation of the RPAS (also known as a drone, UAS or UAV) in Canada. The objectives are to develop and oversee the Government of Canada’s transportation policies and programs to ensure that Canadians have access to a safe and secure; green and innovative; and efficient transportation system.
The Aerospace Consortium for Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC) and the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Quebec (CRIAQ) will support Transport Canada and NRC in the deployment of a research and development program on PHNs, using their networks with the objective of:
- Stimulate, create and support opportunities for industry, universities and governments to conduct collaborative research activities to support the development of the Canadian regulatory framework
- Support other key initiatives as needed
In this context, a call for project ideas is launched in the following themes:
- BVLOS-1: Qualification of Aircraft Collision Avoidance Systems: Provide risk mitigation data for specific ACD (detection and avoidance) systems to inform the regulator and assist in the issuance of BVLOS Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOCs).
- BVLOS-2: Robust communication links: Specify the regulatory requirements for command and control link (C2) characteristics for BVLOS operations at low altitude (<500 feet), by a small to medium SARS.
- BVLOS-3: Probabilities of injury: Inform the regulatory requirement on the probability of impact of RPASs on people, in the event of an accident for BVLOS low-level operations, by small to medium sized RPASs.
- BVLOS-4: Severity of potential injuries: inform about the injuries that may be caused by an impact on PHNs (not limited to the 50th percentile of men, cuts, concussions, injuries, fractures, etc.) and the effectiveness of mitigation factors.
- BVLOS-5: UAV detection: development of an effective solution for the detection of SARS in critical areas of airspace, near airports or aerodromes
The objectives of this program include the development of technological breakthroughs and new enabling technologies, generating significant economic benefits for Canada (jobs, income, etc.).
Interested industrial partners are invited to submit a project idea in collaboration with research partners for this specific PHN call.
Eligibility criteria:
- projects must address one of the topics listed above
- Industrial partners must have an R&D presence and/or manufacturing facility in Canada, and operations in Canada must be able to commercialize the project’s R&D results.
- The intellectual property resulting from the project will be managed by the project participants, as CARIC-CRIAQ does not claim or manage intellectual property rights.
Funding available*:
| Funding Agency | Location | TRL | Funding recipients | Public financial support |
| CRIAQ | funding recipients must be in Quebec, but partners outside Quebec are eligible | 2-4
4+ |
Research organisations (university, colleges, research centres) Industry + Research organisations (university, colleges, research centres) |
Maximum 40% of eligible project expenditure Maximum 50% of eligible project expenditure |
| PARI | All provinces | 4+ | PME | Maximum 80% of employee salaries Maximum 50% of subcontractor salaries |
| CRSNG | All provinces | 2-4 | Research organisations (university, colleges, research centres) | Maximum 50% if OD + Research Organization Maximum 66% if SME + Research Organization or SME + DO + Research Organization |
* Not exhaustive. Access to funding is subject to the eligibility criteria of the programs – a representative of the program concerned will contact you after your idea has been submitted.
- Average project value: $500,000
- Average duration of a project: 1.5 to 3 years
Submission process:
Deadline for submission of project ideas: 15 August 2019 to the following address: project@caric.aero
For more information, please contact project@caric.aero
Timeline:
CARIC will act as a contact point for receiving project ideas and coordinating the initiative. All project ideas will therefore be evaluated by a joint committee composed of representatives from CARIC, CRIAQ, NRC and TC.
All projects led in Quebec, dealing with the technological readiness level (TRL) from 2 to 6 and meeting CRIAQ criteria will be invited to follow the CRIAQ process.
