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Do you need to access talented post-graduates to boost innovation and grow your business

or

Are you a post-graduate looking or an opportunity to contribute to business innovation through doing applied R&D?

About the Industry Academic Linkages Pilot

Building Industry and Academic Linkages is a pilot intervention aimed at supporting business-led innovation by fostering and strengthening links between companies in Trinidad and Tobago and universities through applied research and knowledge development.

It is part of a more extensive programme, Shaping the Future of Innovation (STFOI). It aims to contribute to a diversified economic base in Trinidad and Tobago by developing new markets, products, services, and business models. STFOI is an initiative of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the European Union (EU) and IDB LAB, the innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, in collaboration with the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) as the executing agency. The programme is financed by the European Union and the IDB LAB.

The Building Industry and Academic Linkages Pilot are open to eligible companies seeking to embark upon or actively pursue applied R&D or innovation projects. Under the pilot, they will be allowed to engage a post-graduate research associate for up to six months to bring in new knowledge and expertise.

*SMEs can receive up to 75%, large companies up to 50%.

Some companies may be eligible for R&D tax concessions.

Download Flyer
Apply Today Download our Expression of Interest Form
Download Project Guidelines
Read an Overview of this project

    How to apply

Firms and Post-graduate Research Associates interested in Industry and Academic Linkages can access support from Shaping the Future of Innovation to define and develop project ideas. A matching service will also be available to connect suitable firms with Post-graduate Research Associates with the skills and knowledge needed to undertake R&D/ innovative projects.

    To register your interest in the pilot programme, contact:

   stfoi@betatechnology.co.uk

See Our Application Process
Apply Today Download our Expression of Interest Form
Read an Overview of this project

    Important Points to Note

The research associate must work on an R&D project or process that meets
our criteria and serves a real business need/market demand.

  • STFOI will fund at least 50% of the cost of engaging the research associate. Successful companies will cover the other 50% and any additional costs throughout the R&D process (e.g., consumables, equipment, access to university facilities).
  • CARIRI and the participating company will have a contract that outlines the research associate’s obligations.
  • The research associate will be supervised by the company and an academic mentor.
    Under company taxation provisions, expenditure incurred by companies from engagement in research and development is deductible and an allowance equal to 40% of the actual expenditure incurred, up to a maximum of TT$3,000,000, is available.

Our Application Process

  • Interested companies must submit an expression of interest. At this stage, CARIRI will check for the company’s eligibility. Successful applicants will be
    referred to CARIRI’s iGap.
  • The iGap process defines the scope of your innovation project. Between your company and CARIRI, you’ll agree upon the scope and duration of this intervention. Companies will be asked to pay a nominal fee of USD75 (TT$500) per hour for the iGap intervention, typically involving between 3 and 6 hours of work. Following iGap, you’ll fill out Part 2 of the application process for review and assessment by an independent advisory panel.
  • Once approved, you’ll be matched with a research associate. To do so, your company will submit a profile of the expertise desired. That way, a suitably qualified research associate can be matched to your needs. Additionally,
    member(s) of your company will be invited to matching events hosted by CARIRI and UTT.
  •  Once a suitable research associate has been found, then the project is ratified by the advisory panel, which enables the contract to be initiated with CARIRI

Part 1 of the application is an Expression of Interest which is completed by the company and reviewed by CARIRI. At this stage, an administrative eligibility check will also be done (criteria are detailed on page 7). CARIRI then invites eligible companies to undertake an iGap intervention, where the need and scope of the potential innovative project is defined. Companies must pay a financial contribution towards the cost of the iGap intervention. The indicative cost of
iGap is USD75 (TTD500) per hour with a typical intervention lasting between 1-6 hours depending on:

• Size of the company.
• Number of representatives to speak with.
• If a site visit/tour is included.
• Follow-up actions e.g. meetings/review of documents.

However, companies that have already applied to the Innovation Challenge Facility and have a pre-defined project may be fast-tracked through the process (i.e. they do not undertake an iGap intervention and are invited to complete Part 2 of the application). The output of iGap is a fully defined project with a clear scope, defined activities and requirements, including the profile of the research associate needed for the project. This output forms Part 2 of the application, the Project Definition Form. The full application (Parts 1 and 2) is submitted by the company and then reviewed and scored by an Advisory Panel, who submit recommendations to CARIRI. On approval by CARIRI, successful applicant companies will then enter the matching phase to identify research associates with the skills and knowledge they require, as provided in Part 2 of the application.

Once a suitable research associate has been identified, companies are then invited to submit a detailed cost proposal, the CV of the research associate and the implementation plan for the research project for final ratification. The company will enter into a consultancy agreement with the research associate for a period of up to six months. All information provided by applicants is treated in the strictest of confidence. Please refer to the Shaping the Future of Innovation Privacy Notice for further information

Apply Today Download Expression of Interest Form
View our Industry Academic Linkages Guidelines for more information on the Application process and how projects are evaluated

Requirements/Eligibility Criteria for Companies and Graduates/Research Associates

For Companies

Requirements for Companies to Join STOFI’s Building Industry and Academic Linkages Pilot Intervention Programme

Legal Entity

Applicants must be a registered legal entity (versus a natural person) including:

  •  Companies.
  •  Associations / NGOs representing a group of businesses.
  • Universities, enterprises, ventures and spin-outs.
  • Partnerships and sole traders who have registered their business name and who have
    been able to open business bank accounts.
  •  A cluster of businesses with a joint project may agree to one member of the cluster
    representing the group. The representing entity must meet the eligibility criteria and the
    companies must have an agreement among them for implementing the project and
    making the contributions.

Supporting evidence required for assessment and audit: Certificate of Incorporation, Act of Parliament, registration as NGO, registered business name (for sole traders and partnerships), and other legal instruments.

Location

The grant funding is only for businesses registered and with a physical presence and substantial part of their operations located in Trinidad and Tobago, generating employment in Trinidad and Tobago. Such firms are subject to tax payments unless exempt in Trinidad and Tobago.

Additionally, job creation is an important element of the evaluation.

Supporting evidence required for assessment and audit:

The Registered Notice of Address (Form 4).

Tax Compliance Status

Applicants must be able to show compliance with the regulations of the tax authorities.

Supporting evidence required for assessment and audit:

Valid Tax Clearance up to the date of submission or tax receipt from the previous year of submission of the application to Building Industry and Academic Linkages (from BIR and
proof of payment/tax receipts (including Corporation Tax, Business Levy, Green Fund Levy, VAT, PAYE, Income Tax). If exempt from paying tax, then provide Proof of Exemption.

Compliance with Companies’ Registrar

Applicants must be able to show compliance with the regulations of the Companies Registrar, including up-to-date filing.

Supporting evidence required for assessment and audit:

Annual Return (Form 28 or Form 29) for the year of submission to the Building Industry and
Academic Linkages or proof that the process has been initiated.

Financial identity

Applicants should have a bank account in the name of the legal entity versus a natural person.

Supporting evidence required for assessment and audit:

Recent bank statement header only showing business name and address registered with bank as well as bank account number. For Sole traders, header should show name of entrepreneur, ‘’trading as business name’’

Financial status

Applicants must be able to demonstrate they have a viable business.

Supporting evidence required for assessment and audit:

Audited or unaudited financial reports must be presented for the last 3 years.

For Research Associates

How Can You Join as a Research Associate?

Individuals interested in being considered as a research associate must meet the following criteria:

  • Currently studying for, or recently graduated (within the last two years) with, a Masters degree or PhD.
  • Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. However, research associates can be nationals of Trinidad and Tobago residents or studying overseas. They would be considered subject to
    prior agreement of the host company, depending on the type of project and if adequate supervision can be demonstrated.

The nationality and qualifications of research associates will be verified prior to entering the matching process.

The research associates will not be employed by the host company, they are engaged as self- employed consultants.

Research associates are also expected to produce a final output from the project in the form of a paper or report. The exact format and level of disclosure (ranging from fully open access to confidential-commercial) will be agreed with the host firm at the start of the project.

Apply Today Download our Expression of Interest Form

Scope of Building Industry and Academic Linkages

In addition to the administrative eligibility criteria listed in the table above, applications must also meet the following technical requirements, which will be considered during both parts of the assessment process.

Download our Industry Academic Linkage Guidelines For More Detail on the Types of Projects Supported
Apply Today Download our Expression of Interest Form

Overview

Component 2 Pilot - Overview 20_04_23
Apply Today Download our Expression of Interest Form

CARIRI’s main website

http://www.cariri.com

 

Our Privacy Notice

Privacy Notice

Our Offices are located at

University of the West Indies Campus
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

(868) 299 0210

stfoi@cariri.com

Our Office Hours are

Monday to Friday: 8:00-4:30
Closed on Weekends and Public Holidays.

© Copyright - CARIRI 2021
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