Demonstrating innovative products and technologies in an education setting.
The AdvancingEducation Program helps connect Ontario’s public education system with companies to test early-market interest and demonstrate innovative products and technologies in an education setting. This includes English and French K-12 schools as well as post-secondary institutions.
Select a category for detailed program information.
Program Name
AdvancingEducation
Program Status and Submission Deadline
Closed for Applications✓ Open for Applications (accepted at any time)
What it Supports
Project Sector
Education Technology
Basic Eligibility Criteria
(A full list of eligibility requirements is available.)
Applicant:
Industry Partner:
Project:
AdvancingEducation Funding
Up to $250,000 per demonstration project to the public education organization(s)
Project Duration
Up to 24 months
Matching Requirement
1:1 matching required on direct project costs (combination of cash and in-kind; minimum 25 per cent cash; preference given to projects with strong cash contributions)
How to Apply
See details on the How to Apply tab.
Contact
Search OCE’s Knowledge Base of Frequently Asked Questions. For further assistance, see details on the Contacts tab.
Designed to bolster innovation in Ontario’s public education system through partnerships between schools and companies, the program invests in collaborative innovation procurement projects to demonstrate new technologies in a public sector setting as a means of building a strong case for adoption and system-wide scaling.
The themes for the individual funding rounds are identified by OCE.
Round 1 Theme: Student engagement technologies that improve learning outcomes and/or accessibility.
Round 2: Theme: Future-Proof Learning – seeking demonstration of innovative technologies that engage all students in the development of global competencies, including:
Technologies may target one or more of the following users: students, teachers, administrators and parents/caregivers.
Projects of a considerable scale, with multiple education and/or industry partners, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Program Objectives
AdvancingEducation Contribution
50 per cent (maximum) of total eligible project costs per demonstration project, up to $250,000
Industry Partner Contribution
50 per cent (minimum) of total eligible project costs (i.e. minimum 1:1 match to OCE contribution)
Example
Total eligible project costs: $100,000
Funding Recipient
Ontario public education organization
Institutional Overhead
Not eligible
Activities that are outside the scope of this program include pre-market evidence development and evaluation of new technologies.
Refer to the Eligible Expenses document for full details.
Program Status: Closed for applicationsVIP I applications are accepted at any time.
The application is a two-step process:
Please complete all the information in the EOI template to ensure:
Download the EOI template. Upon review of your EOI, OCE may request additional information or clarification to determine project eligibility. You will be notified via email and asked to follow up accordingly. This documentation will be appended to the submission.
A limited number of EOIs will be invited to submit a full proposal.
The full proposal MUST include a comprehensive Milestones Table, budget and follow-up to any of the EOI questions.
Full applications must be submitted in OCE’s online application system, AccessOCE. Prior to submission, applicants MUST first request their OCE Business Development Manager (BDM) to provide an endorsement of the application for eligibility and suitability. Once the endorsement is provided, the applicant or BDM will then be able to submit the application.
Please allow at least one week prior to the application submission deadline for the BDM endorsement step to be completed. Applications initiated less than one week prior to the deadline MAY NOT have sufficient time for a BDM to support the application and provide an endorsement.
Successful applicants and their partners MUST execute OCE’s standard funding agreement, including a completed Schedule D, Intellectual Property Term Sheet, within 30 days of notification of award. A copy of the Funding Agreement can be downloaded for your reference. Please do not fill out this form; a copy of the agreement will be generated through our online management system and sent to you upon approval of your project.
Activity
Date
Call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs)
September 28, 2016
AdvancingEducation Partnering Forum
November 23, 2016
EOI Submission Deadline
January 23, 2017
Invitations for Full Proposal
March 16, 2017
Full Proposal Submission Deadline
April 18, 2017 by 2 p.m.
Award Notifications to Applicants
June 20, 2017
Public Announcement of Results
August 2017
AdvancingEducation is a discretionary, non-entitlement program with limited funding. All eligible applications undergo a review process where the applications are assessed against program objectives and assessment criteria. Not all eligible applications will be approved for funding.
The application review process will comprise of:
Funding for the demonstration project will be released to the public education organization that will be responsible for reimbursing their project partner(s). Upon project activation, an initial advance may be released. Further payments will be reimbursed upon receipt and approval of quarterly expenditure reports.
The following project reports will be required.
Please note that to receive funding from OCE, the applicant MUST complete all required reports as a contractual obligation.
Successful applicants will be invited to work with OCE and our academic case study partner (the World Health Innovation Network (WIN)) to share their experiences and perceptions of the demonstration project they have been funded to implement. The objective of this case study research includes the following:
Successful applicants will be introduced to the WIN research team (Chair of WIN, Dr. Anne Snowdon), who will then contact project leaders to describe the study protocol and obtain consent to participate. The study protocols will involve interviews, document analysis, and observations of project events.
For inquiries specifically related to eligibility, contracting and funding disbursements, please contact: Jennifer Moles, Innovation Procurement Manager, at gro.oiratno-eco@selom.refinnej
Program Status: Closed for Applications