Lecture on Moonshot for Mining, Minerals, and Manufacturing Program

Jun 28, 2024

Lecture on Moonshot for Mining, Minerals, and Manufacturing Program

Introduction

  • Presenter: John Sana, Project Development Director at NEN Canada
  • Topic: Introduction to the new funding program 'Moonshot for Mining, Minerals, and Manufacturing' (M4M)
  • Language: Presentation in English; questions can be asked in French
  • Duration: 20-25 minutes presentation, followed by a Q&A session
  • Recording: The webinar is being recorded and will be available later

About Engen Canada

  • Type: Non-for-profit, industry-led corporation
  • Founded: 2017
  • Functions:
    • Leading advanced manufacturing Global Innovation cluster
    • Promoting Canadian manufacturing capabilities
    • Funding collaborative innovation
    • Building workforce and capacity management
    • Updating manufacturing footprint to the 21st century

Moonshot for Mining, Minerals, and Manufacturing Program

Collaboration with Canadian Space Agency

  • Focus on Lunar and Earth Science and Technology
  • Financial support from Canadian Space Agency following an announcement of opportunity
  • ISRU: In-Situ Resource Utilization
    • Manufacturing products with local materials
  • Documentation and Resources: Available on the program website
  • Objective:
    • Support development of ISRU solutions for mining, mineral processing, and advanced manufacturing both on Earth and the Moon

Eligibility and Requirements

  • Total Funds: $5 Million
  • Objectives:
    • Promote dual-use innovations (applications on Earth and the Moon)
    • Strengthen Canada's leadership in the space sector and competitiveness in mining, energy, and advanced manufacturing
  • Key Criteria:
    • Process Innovation: Focus on dual-purpose advanced manufacturing processes
    • Transformative Projects: Significant advantage and added value
    • Collaborative Nature: Minimum of 2 Canadian industrial partners
    • Solution-Focused: Commercialization path and economic benefits including job creation
    • Enduring Projects: Broad benefit to Canadian space industry and advanced manufacturing ecosystem
  • Out of Scope:
    • Single firm projects
    • Projects focused solely on Earth or Moon applications without dual-use
    • Projects limited to product development or small incremental changes
    • Experimental, theoretical, or full-scale production projects
    • Routine changes to existing products

Application Process

  • Membership: Must be an Engen member
    • Membership is free and can be completed online
  • Eligibility:
    • Registered business in Canada with an added value presence
    • Non-federal Crown corporations, indigenous organizations, and entities primarily funded by the private sector
  • Consortium Requirements:
    • At least 2 unassociated Canadian industry partners
    • Two streams of project values: $250,000-$500,000 (Stream 1) and $2.2-$2.6 million (Stream 2)
    • Reimbursement: 50% of project costs
      • Eligible Costs: Labor, subcontracting (up to 40%), capital and equipment (up to 30%), materials, supplies, travel, and IP
      • Duration: Projects must be completed by March 31, 2025

Important Dates

  • Launch: November 7
  • Expression of Interest: January 11, 2024
  • Financial Due Diligence Documents: January 16, 2024
  • Final Applications Due: January 18, 2024
  • Second Round (if necessary):
    • Expression of Interest: February 15, 2024
    • Financial Due Diligence: February 16, 2024
    • Final Applications: February 22, 2024

Application Steps

  1. Become an Engen member and log in to the portal
  2. Start application within the Salesforce platform
  3. Submit project screening with project description, financial proposal, and application agreement
  4. Detailed financial review by Engen financial team
  5. Full application submission with project plan, risk register, IP tables, and financial workbook
  6. External expert review and assessment
  7. Contracting and project initiation

Additional Information

  • Current and upcoming funding opportunities
    • Closed: Advanced manufacturing and electric vehicle programs
    • Ongoing: Commercialization of Quantum Technologies; Moonshot for Mining, Minerals, and Manufacturing
    • Future: Renewable Manufacturing in 2024
  • Support: Contact Engen Canada’s project development team for assistance

Q&A Highlights

  • Unassociated Partner Definition: No legal linkage between partners
  • Expert Evaluators: Inclusion of mining experts in project evaluation
  • Foreign Supplies: Materials can be sourced internationally
  • Non-for-Profits: Must have majority private sector funding for eligibility
  • Collaborative Opportunities: Collaboration Corner on website for partnership opportunities
  • University Involvement: Can act as subcontractors
  • IP Ownership: To be decided within the consortium