NRC — Cell Culture Pilot Plant ### 📋 Eligible Entities - Biopharmaceutical companies developing biologics and vaccines - Biotech SMEs requiring cell culture manufacturing capabilities - Contract Research Organizations (CROs) supporting biologics development - Academic institutions commercializing cell-based therapies - Domestic and international companies seeking Canadian manufacturing partnerships - Organizations with viable products requiring pilot-scale production validation ### 💰 Funding Details - Service Model: Fee-for-service arrangement (not a traditional grant) - Cost Structure: Clients pay NRC for pilot plant access and production services - No Direct Grant Funding: This is a cost-recovery facility, not a government subsidy program - Subsidized Rates: NRC may offer competitive pricing to Canadian innovators relative to commercial alternatives - Scale: Supports batches from development through commercial pilot quantities - Payment Terms: Negotiated per project basis ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - Cell line development and optimization using CHO, HEK 293, and other approved systems - Process development for biologics and vaccine production - Scale-up activities from lab to pilot plant scale - Bioreactor operations and fermentation management - Quality testing and characterization of produced biologics - GMP-compliant manufacturing support for clinical/commercial batches - Technology transfer and process documentation - Analytical method development and validation ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Project Evaluation: Feasibility assessment required before engagement - Technical Viability: Product must be suitable for the available cell expression systems - Capacity Availability: Access dependent on NRC pilot plant scheduling - Regulatory Compliance: Client responsible for regulatory strategy; NRC supports GMP-quality production - Intellectual Property: Standard NRC service agreements apply; IP typically retained by client - Confidentiality: Formal confidentiality agreements required - Timeline: Project duration varies; typically 6–24 months depending on complexity - Reporting: Regular progress updates and batch documentation provided - **Success