The City of Ottawa is seeking innovative local, national and international start-ups to pilot new technologies, products or services within a City partner or department or program. Managed by the City’s Economic Development department, the Innovation Pilot Program has two objectives:

To introduce City and partner staff to innovative technologies, products or services that can improve either internal business processes or programs/services offered to residents.
To help to foster a supportive environment in Ottawa for innovative companies that are in the late stages of testing their products or the early stages of commercialization.
Applications will be evaluated by the Economic Development department, supported by a review panel that will include partners from City departments and Invest Ottawa (link is external). Final approval of applications will rest with Economic Development, based on the following criteria:

Alignment with the City of Ottawa’s updated Economic Development Strategy, in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and small business development
Level of innovation demonstrated through the application – the product should not be readily commercially available “off the shelf;”
Demonstrated value for internal City business processes and/or services and programs
Feasibility of implementation based on costs, staff time required and departmental need.
While limited funding is available; priority will be provided to applicants that are prepared to scope their pilots so as not to require cash resources from the City. The City will, from time to time, identify key priorities where we are seeking innovative solutions and these will also receive priority consideration.

2017 applications will be considered during two review periods. The deadline to apply for the first review period is March 31, 2017. The second review period to take place in Q3 2017. For additional details, visit: http://ottawa.ca/en/business/business-resources/economic-development-initiatives/innovation-pilot-program