Canadian Prevention and Treatment of Cancer R&D Partnering Delegation to Germany

Request for expression of interest

November 6 to 10, 2023

Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through the Embassy of Canada in Berlin and in collaboration with the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), invites you to apply to participate in the upcoming “Canadian Prevention and Treatment of Cancer R&D Partnering Delegation to Germany”.

The Partnership Development Activity (PDA) will take place from November 6 to 10, 2023 anchored around the Bio-Europe partnering event in Munich from November 6-8, 2023. Note that interested companies must apply no later than June 23, 2023.

Delegation objective

The delegation is designed to establish industrial R&D collaborations between Canadian and German companies with a view towards future commercialization. To cite the Canadian Cancer Society, currently nearly half of Canadians will develop cancer during their lifetime and about one in four will die from their disease. However, research has the power to transform the future of cancer. Thanks in large part to research, 63% of people diagnosed with cancer in Canada today are expected to survive five years or more compared to only 25% in the 1940s. Harnessing ideas and technologies from other fields and disciplines has also revolutionized our ability to prevent cancer. Among these technologies are novel ways of integrating AI and engineering expertise in the development of “new-age” biosensors and wearables, interventions that manipulate the action of chemical, metabolic and epigenetic risk factors, interventions aimed at surrogate markers and pre-malignant conditions, and cancer vaccines.

With strong R&D expertise and capacity, Canadian companies are well suited for partnership opportunities with leading German companies and R&D centers. These partnership opportunities will not only increase Canadian and German companies’ global competitiveness but will provide them with potential access to new markets.

Canadian delegation profile

This delegation is targeting Canadian companies in the following fields with a view to applying their solutions to cancer prevention and treatment:

• Advanced therapies (cell and gene therapies; CAR-T and CAR-NK cells, etc);
• LNPs with genetic medicine payloads (mRNA, siRNA, CRISPR, etc.);
• Cancer vaccines;
• Antibody-based therapeutics and other targeted biologics;
• Companion diagnostics;
• Biomanufacturing technologies for the therapy and vaccine types listed above.

Canadian participants should meet the requirements below in order to participate in this initiative:

• Profit-oriented Small to Medium Size Enterprise (SME) incorporated in Canada
• Previous experience in market access in domestic and/or international markets
• Capacity and interest to partner with compatible German SMEs and research institutes
• Committed to expansion to the German and European markets
• Sufficient working capital and human resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration, including costs associated with possible clinical trials and other market access requirements

Delegation description

The Canadian Prevention and Treatment of Cancer R&D Partnering Delegation to Germany will take place over a five-day period in November 2023. In order to provide the delegation with a target rich environment for R&D partnering, the Partnership Development Activity (PDA) will center around BIO-Europe in Munich from November 6-8 2023. BIO-Europe is a well-known event for the pharmaceutical and biotech fields with a focus on partnering rather than sales. In addition to guiding B2Bs for the delegation, Global Affairs Canada will also co-host a Canada reception to maximize networking opportunities. Following BIO-Europe, the delegation will also visit Heidelberg for a B2B session and a visit to the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).

The delegation will focus on establishing industrial R&D collaboration opportunities.It will include:

• Pre-delegation briefing and pitch training;
• Information sessions providing market insights, and joint R&D funding opportunities;
• Networking events featuring German research institutes, companies, industry associations, etc. providing the opportunity to pitch technologies;
• Tailored B2B meetings with German companies and/or research centres to identify similar interests, potential partners and groups.

The partnering events will provide a platform for Canadian and German SMEs and researchers to:

• identify project ideas;
• initiate the development of project proposals;
• develop groups for new cooperative R&D activities with commercial relevance.

These events will increase your knowledge of:

• relevant R&D activities;
• programs;
• funding opportunities with Germany and the EU network.

They will also give companies the opportunity to network; and offer insights in national and international market opportunities.

Why Germany?

Germany is one of the leading actors in the pursuit of researching, treating and fighting cancer. Cancer research in Germany is conducted at universities and also at non-university research institutions. Almost all universities host a cancer research section. The spectrum ranges from small monothematic working groups to large interdisciplinary departments and covers a variety of topics from traditional areas to new explorative research fields.

The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ)is the largest biomedical research institute in Germany and a member of the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers. In over 90 divisions and research groups, more than 3,100 employees, of which more than 1,300 are scientists, are investigating the mechanisms of cancer, are identifying cancer risk factors and are trying to find strategies to prevent people from getting cancer. They are developing novel approaches to make tumor diagnosis more precise and treatment of cancer patients more successful.

Proposed timing:

• Recruitment: May and June 2023
• Kickoff Meeting: September 2023
• Germany program: Nov 5-10, centering on Bio-Europe in Munich from November 6-8 2023

Possible itinerary:

• Sunday Nov 5: Arrival in Munich, pre-BIO Europe reception.
• Monday Nov 6: BIO-Europe in Munich, B2Bs and Canada reception
• Tuesday Nov 7: BIO-Europe in Munich, B2Bs
• Wednesday Nov 8: BIO-Europe in Munich, B2Bs
• Thursday Nov 9: Site visits in Munich such as LMU, TUM and Helmholtz Munich (TBC), followed by travel to Heidelberg
• Friday Nov 10: B2B session in Heidelberg and visit to German Cancer Research Center.
• End of Delegation (departure from Frankfurt is recommended)

Financial support for travel to the delegation

The Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) may provide financial support to eligible Canadian participants for up to 50% of all eligible expenses (see application process below) that include but are not limited to the following:

• Economy airfare
• Local transportation
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Conference registration fees

Consult the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) Applicant Guide for the complete list of eligible expenses. To access the CIIP Applicant Guide contact a CIIP representative at innovation@international.gc.ca.

How to Apply for Participation

1. Interested companies and organisations should request an application from the CIIP team at Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
2. A full application form requesting additional information on your company, your technology and your interest in discussing possible R&D opportunities will be sent to you.
3. Completed application forms are due no later than June 23, 2023 to the CIIP team at Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
4. Global Affairs Canada, the Embassy of Canada in Germany and NRC-IRAP will select companies to participate in the delegation. Selected applicants can expect to be notified no later than June 30^th, 2023.
5. Companies formally selected to participate in the delegation will be invited to apply for travel funding support. Interested participants should request a travel funding form from Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
6. Companies who apply for travel support will be notified of the funding decision no later than July 14, 2023.

Important notes:

The primary purpose of this program is to support SMEs bringing new products and services to markets. Academia, Research Technology Organisations (RTOs), Incubators, Industry Associations, etc. supporting this mandate are welcomed to submit an application for the delegation but will not be eligible for financial support for travel expenses. Participation is limited. Applications submitted will be assessed to determine the applicant’s eligibility to participate in this PDA based on the quality of the information on:

• the company
• the company’s technology
• the appropriateness of the technology for the CIIP target market

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please see the CIIP webpage and/or email CIIP at innovation@international.gc.ca.

Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)

Global Affairs Canada in collaboration with the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) delivers the Canadian International Innovation program (CIIP) in Germany. CIIP supports industrial R&D partnership development activities between Canadian SMEs and companies in key markets, including Germany.