Proposals submitted to Automotive Partnership Canada (APC) must clearly and demonstrably fall within one of APC’s ten research priority areas. All proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Scientific Merit and Feasibility
Quality of Researchers
Industrial Relevance
Contribution to the Training of Highly Qualified Personnel
Project Management
Institutional Priority and Commitment
Budget
Benefits to Canada

A standard is provided for each criterion. Peer reviewers, through anonymous written reviews or via a site visit, will determine the extent to which the requirements for each standard have been fulfilled. Specifically, reviewers will be asked to establish whether the standard is “not satisfied,” “partially satisfied,” “fully satisfied,” or “fully satisfied and significantly exceeded in one or more key aspects.” Reviewers will be further requested to justify their choice by commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of a proposal with regards to each standard.

Scientific Merit and Feasibility

The proposed research is timely, innovative, at the leading edge internationally and has the potential to lead to breakthroughs in research and/or technology development. The proposed research is feasible and has a clear and coherent work plan that demonstrates a high probability of achieving its objectives within the proposed time frame.

In the case of proposed research activities involving multiple institutions (typically proposals involving three or more institutions and requesting more than $500,000 per year on average):

From a scientific and technical perspective, the proposal clearly demonstrates the need for a networked or integrated approach to conduct the research and achieve the objectives, which results in greater value than individual efforts.

When support for infrastructure is sought:

The infrastructure requested is appropriate and essential to support the proposed activities. It will establish or enhance a unique and important institutional capability in an area of leading edge research and/or technology development.

Quality of Researchers

The principal applicant and other members of the research team, including collaborators from industry and other partners, constitute experts in the relevant research or technology development domain, and have all the expertise and experience required to address the defined objectives competently, and to complete the project successfully.

Industrial Relevance

The proposed research is explicitly driven by the needs of the industrial partner(s). Industrial participation and collaboration have been fundamental to proposal development, and will be essential throughout the project to ensure successful outcomes.

The proposal clearly identifies how the industrial partner or partners are in a position to exploit successful research results, and how this will benefit the Canadian automotive sector within a reasonable and appropriate time frame.

Each industrial partner is allocating an appropriate level of its own resources to the project. The in-kind and cash contributions from an industrial partner is significant and well justified.

The proposed interactions between the researchers (academic and/or NRC researchers) and the industrial partners are “transformational.” This denotes that at least one of the following three conditions has been explicitly met (preference will be given to proposals that meet more than one):

Researchers and highly qualified personnel collaborating directly with the industrial partners’ advanced engineering, product, or service development staff (in addition to industrial R&D staff); or
Industrial partners on the project include more than one member within the automotive supply chain (with at least one Canadian-based partner being a technology receptor); or
The proposed research, if successful, as judged by the industrial partner(s), would have a profound and disruptive impact on their businesses, and the automotive sector in Canada.

Contribution to the Training of Highly Qualified Personnel

Training Potential - The proposed research will provide opportunities to create or enrich a stimulating and innovative training environment that will attract high-quality trainees, and impart, to students and other highly qualified personnel (postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, technicians, or others, including industrial personnel), new high-level knowledge and/or skills relevant to the future success of the Canadian automotive sector, and/or to research within or on the sector.

Partners - The proposed research requires the active participation of industrial partners in training highly qualified personnel through, for example, opportunities for research-based work terms, co-supervision of students, reciprocal laboratory visits and joint workshops.

Project Management

The proposal has an appropriate management structure to direct, manage and integrate the proposed research activities and infrastructure (where appropriate). The principal applicant, co-applicants, and personnel from the industrial partners, together, have the leadership and other skills necessary to manage the proposed project.

In the case of proposed research activities involving multiple institutions (typically proposals involving three or more institutions and requesting more than $500,000 per year on average):

The proposal clearly demonstrates the need for a networked or integrated approach to conduct the research and achieve the objectives, which results in greater value than individual efforts.
The proposal contains a clear plan to ensure effective interaction and information exchange among all participants.
The proposal has an appropriate management structure in place to direct, manage and integrate the research activities (e.g., Board of Directors, Scientific Advisory Committee, Network Manager).

When support for infrastructure is sought:

The plans for the optimal operation and maintenance of the proposed infrastructure for the first five years of operation are appropriate and realistic. They will allow for its sustainable usage, as well as provide for future upgrade requirements.

Institutional Priority and Commitment

In the case of proposed research activities involving multiple institutions (typically proposals involving three or more institutions and requesting more than $500,000 per year on average) and/or when support for infrastructure is sought:

The proposal demonstrates that the host institution (university or NRC institute) will continue to make tangible and significant commitments in support of the project, including, but not limited to, the attraction and retention of the best researchers, and the provision of financial support, equipment, and/or facilities.

Budget

The allocation of financial resources to the project for students and other personnel, infrastructure, materials, travel and all other items is necessary, efficient and fully justified in view of the research activities planned. The in-kind and cash contributions from the industrial and other partners are appropriate and well justified.

Benefits to Canada

As well as having a clear benefit to the Canadian automotive sector (as described under the Industrial Relevance criterion above), the proposal clearly outlines any additional economic, social and environmental benefits that will be realized in Canada as a result of the research.