The annual Synergy Awards for Innovation recognize examples of collaboration that stand as models of effective partnership between partner organizations and colleges or universities. The awards honour the most outstanding achievements emerging from these collaborations. By working together, award-winning partner organizations and post-secondary institutions prove that effective partnerships and innovation are the foundation of achievement. Their successes enrich the academic and research programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions while providing concrete benefits to Canadians.

The Synergy Awards for Innovation are intended to showcase innovation and the benefits of uniting strengths to make the most of Canadian ingenuity. Synergy Awards for Innovation are offered in two categories:

• University partnerships
  
  A partnership between one or more eligible Canadian universities and one or more non-academic partner organizations. The highlighted research partnership must focus on the natural sciences or engineering.
• College partnerships
  
  A partnership between one or more eligible Canadian colleges and one or more non-academic partner organizations. The highlighted research partnership can be across the spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering, humanities or health.

Partnerships involving both eligible Canadian colleges and universities and one or more partnering organizations are eligible. The partnership should be presented under the category (University partnerships or College partnership) corresponding to the nominee’s affiliation.

The Synergy Awards for Innovation competition is held annually.

University partnerships: Three awards will be offered to up to three different Canadian partnerships. The winners (principal nominees) will each receive a $200,000 NSERC research grant. Eligible partner organizations will each receive a $50,000 voucher valid for the cash portion of their required contribution to a new research partnerships project (Alliance Advantage grants, College and Community Innovation program, or Idea to Innovation grants; please refer to the relevant funding opportunity description for applicable rules). Applications using the voucher must be received within three years of the Synergy Award for Innovation being awarded. The value of the voucher can be divided and applied across multiple years of the new project. The intent is to offer one voucher to each partner organization that is included in a winning nomination; however, NSERC reserves the right to limit the value of the vouchers for nominations in which multiple partners are involved. Research grant funds paid to winners of this prize are subject to the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, including the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern, where applicable.

College partnerships: One award will be offered. The institution of the winning partnership will receive a $200,000 NSERC research grant. Eligible partner organizations will each receive a $50,000 voucher valid toward the cash portion of their required contribution in a new research partnerships project (Alliance Advantage grants, College and Community Innovation program, or Idea to Innovation grants; please refer to the relevant funding opportunity description for applicable rules). Applications using the voucher must be received within three years of the Synergy Award for Innovation being awarded. The value of the voucher can be divided across multiple years of the project. The intent is to offer one voucher to each partner organization; however, NSERC reserves the right to limit the value of the vouchers when multiple partners are involved. Research grant funds paid to winners of this prize are subject to the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration. The Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern does not apply to College Partnerships’ prize recipients.