Ontario Research Fund (ORF) - Commercialization Project Funding (CPF) Initiative
Program Guide and Application Form
NOTE: The round of applications opens May 1, 2026.
Program Overview
The Commercialization Project Funding (CPF) program accelerates industry adoption of metal additive manufacturing (AM) technologies emerging from the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) project “Enabling Sustainable Commercialization of Metal Additive Manufacturing for Serial Production of Multi-Scale Products through Holistic In-Situ Monitoring and Quality Assurance”. CPF supports concise, high-impact projects that strengthen market readiness, and reduce commercialization risk.
Program Objectives
- Advance technologies toward adoption (TRL 6 - 9) by demonstrating performance, reliability, and manufacturability in relevant industrial settings.
- Enable businesses to access novel metal AM capabilities for product/process development and modeling, repair/refurbishment of existing parts, and new part designs.
- Build industry capacity through training and knowledge transfer.
Alignment with ORF Research Themes
- In-Situ Monitoring and Quality Assurance Algorithms for Metal AM
- Accelerated Modeling Procedures for Metal AM
- Optimization Workflow for Metal AM Recipe Development for Advanced Materials and Large-Scale Manufacturing
- Novel Products Developed via Multi-Scale AM Processes
Eligible Activities and Costs
Activities supported by CPF may include, but are not limited to:
- Software development (testing, documentation, GUI/UX).
- Production of demonstrators and prototypes
- Generation of production approval testing data for scale-up adoption
- Hardware demonstration and pilot testing/operation in industrial environments.
- Training industry engineers and staff to capitalize on new innovations.
- Materials, supplies, user fees, testing/validation, and external services required for testing/validation directly required for the project.
Program Highlights
Comprehensive Services
Applicants gain streamlined access to MSAM services related to technology transfer/commercialization including advanced metal AM printing, design optimization, part characterization, software training, and expert consulting.
Award Size & Duration
Up to $25,000 per project (typically $15,000); projects must be completed within 12 months.
Regional Focus
Priority is given to Ontario-based companies (including current ORF/MSAM partners) and projects with strategic benefit to Ontario/Canada.
Diverse Support
Special consideration is given to businesses owned by individuals from Indigenous communities and other underrepresented groups, as well as businesses in rural communities.
Industry Contributions
Cash and/or in‑kind contributions are encouraged and should reflect the needs and scope of the project.
Application Process
Intake
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to funding availability. Applicants should consult with MSAM re. project scope and timeline.
Submission
The academic lead and the industry partner collaborate to complete the CPF Application Form contained in this document. Project spending will be administered within MSAM’s Industry Voucher Services program.
Review
Proposals are evaluated for technical feasibility and market potential. Review considers expected commercial impact, operational value, alignment with ORF themes, and the potential to build industry capability.
Governance
Award recommendations are made by a review committee with representation from the University of Waterloo’s Technology Transfer office (WatCo) and the Engineering Research Office (ERO) with final approval by the ORF project’s PI or Co-PI.
Intellectual Property (IP) and Confidentiality
IP created within CPF projects will be owned by the creator in accordance with University of Waterloo Policy 73. Prior to project commencement, an MSAM Service Agreement will set out the scope of services, confidentiality and treatment of proprietary information, and the rights under which the company may obtain commercial access to project results.
Contact Us
For more information about the ORF Program or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at msam-cpf@uwaterloo.ca. Our team is here to assist you and provide detailed information on how our services can support your business needs.
We look forward to helping your business innovate and grow with advanced AM solutions!