Canadian critical minerals research and development partnering delegation to France
Request for expression of interest
Delegation dates: November 25 to 29, 2024
Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through the Embassy of Canada to France and in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), invites you to apply to participate in the Canadian Critical Minerals Research and Development (R&D) Partnering Delegation to France under the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP).
The Partnership Development Activity (PDA) will take place in person from November 25 to 29, 2024, in France.
Please note that interested companies must apply no later than September 30, 2024.
Note: This delegation is being planned as an in-person event which will require travel to France. Travel, however, must be consistent with both France and Canada's international travel advice and advisories. If these advisories recommend against travel to France at the time of the delegation, it may take place virtually. This means that all business-to-business (B2B) meetings and speaking opportunities would be held virtually and some elements of the program may be cancelled. In addition, any funding approved for participant travel to the delegation would be withdrawn.
Delegation objective
The delegation objective is to foster partnerships between Canadian small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and potential French SMEs, research institutions, and large corporations for purpose of R&D collaboration in the critical minerals field.
The delegation will focus on the following areas:
- Joint development of new products and services by combining Canadian and French technologies
- Validation of the suitability of Canadian technologies to the French, European, and other markets
- Adaptation of Canadian technologies to meet French, European, and other market characteristics
Canadian delegation profile
Canadian participants must meet the requirements below join this delegation:
- Be a profit-oriented SME incorporated in Canada
- Have experience in commercializing a technology in domestic or international markets
- Have the capacity and interest to co-develop technology with French partners
- Be committed to expanding activities into the French and European markets
- Have sufficient working capital and human resources to carry out a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results.
Technologies and products of particular interest to this delegation include:
- Innovative extraction and treatment processes (comminution, classification, concentration, drying) of minerals for further processing
- Transformation, recycling, and substitution processes for critical minerals and rare earths
- Technologies for mitigating the negative externalities of critical mineral extraction and processing (carbon footprint, environmental, and social impact), as well as those that could valorize solid and liquid mine tailings
Delegation itinerary
The program of this partnership delegation will include several meetings and inter-company activities with leading organizations in the critical minerals sector in France. The focus will be on creating opportunities for co-innovation and collaboration.
Specifically, the program will include:
- Pre-departure information meetings and mentoring on presentation techniques in France
- Information sessions providing an overview of the market and funding opportunities for co-innovation
- Presentations by Canadian participants to French players, including French companies (multinationals and SMEs), research laboratories, Pôles d'excellence et d'innovation, technology clusters, and other incubators or accelerators
- Targeted business-to-business meetings with French companies (multinationals and SMEs) and research centers to discuss co-innovation opportunities (between 3 and 5 meetings will be organized for each participant)
- Networking with key players in the French critical minerals ecosystem including, technology SMEs, industrial and service groups, and systems and services integrators
- Visits to major research facilities in the mining and metallurgy ecosystem in Paris, Metz, Nancy, and Orléans
Why France
A strong commitment to critical minerals: France recognizes the growing importance of critical minerals for its economy and for meeting its climate change targets. In January 2022, the French government put in place an ambitious national strategy (In French only) to secure its supply of critical minerals and strengthen the country's position in this field, by supporting research, innovation, and industrial development. In May 2023, the French government announced that a 2 billion Euro investment fund (In French only) would accompany this strategy.
In March 2024, the European Union (EU) introduced a European critical raw materials act which aims to:
- increase and diversify the EU's supply of critical raw materials
- strengthen circularity, including recycling
- support research and innovation in resource efficiency and the development of substitutes
A dynamic innovation ecosystem: France has a long tradition of mining, particularly in the Haut-de-France and Grand-Est regions. The cities of Metz and Nancy form the heart of France's dynamic critical minerals ecosystem. It is home to the University of Lorraine, ranked as Europe's leading university in the field of mining and mineral engineering, and the MATERALIA (In French only) competitiveness cluster, specializing in innovative processes and materials. The region is also part of the European Materials Valley. In Metz, for example, the EIT Raw Materials CLC Central innovation hub brings together major groups (Orano, Arcelor Mittal, Eramet, Imerys) and public research institutes such as the CEA and university laboratories. This collaborative network fosters the sharing of expertise, the development of partnerships and the implementation of innovative projects.
In addition, the Bureau des recherches géologiques et minières (BGRM), based in Orléans, has developed expertise in mining 4.0 and the circular economy of mineral resources.
Strategic geographic positioning: France is in the heart of Europe, a major market for critical minerals. This strategic geographic location facilitates collaboration with European partners and access to European Horizon Europe funds.
It should also be noted that, in September 2023, Canada and France formally agreed on a Dialogue on critical minerals to deepen their cooperation in this field.
Financial support to participate in the delegation
The Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP), will provide financial support to eligible Canadian SMEs participants for up to 50% of all eligible expenses (see application process below) that include but are not limited to the following:
- Economy class airfare
- Local transportation
- Accommodation
- Meals (per diems)
- Conference registration fees
Consult the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) Applicant's Guide for a complete list of eligible expenses. To access the CIIP Applicant Guide, contact the CIIP team at innovation@international.gc.ca.
How to apply for participation
- Interested companies and organizations should request an application form from the CIIP team at Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
- Completed forms are to be submitted by September 30, 2024, to the CIIP team at Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
- Global Affairs Canada through the Canadian embassy in France and NRC-IRAP will select Canadian companies to participate in the delegation and provide selected applicants with a notification by October 4, 2024.
- Companies formally selected to participate in the delegation will be invited to apply for travel funding support.
- Companies who apply for travel support will be notified of the funding decision by October25, 2024
Important notes
Participation is limited. Applications submitted will be assessed and vetted to determine eligibility based on the quality of the information provided. In addition to the technical merits of the proposed technology, the company's internal capacity to adequately support and manage an international R&D project with French partners will also be assessed.
Academia, Research Technology Organisations (RTOs), Incubators, Industry Associations are welcome to apply for the delegation but will not be eligible for financial support for travel nor participation expenses.
If you have any questions concerning the application process, please see the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) webpage or email the CIIP team at innovation@international.gc.ca.
