Government available programs

 

Governmental grants in Canada have been essential in supporting numerous businesses by providing direct funding for Research and Development projects and facilitating innovation during commercialization stages. Regardless of its size – whether a small enterprise or a large company – your business stands to benefit significantly from these opportunities.

In addition, these grants complement the federal and provincial Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit (SR&ED), offering a powerful synergy. By leveraging both grants and tax credits, your project can receive direct financial support while also qualifying for partial reimbursement – as high as 35% – of the investments made, potentially resulting in a tax refund.

The added benefit is that you may utilize the same documentation for both claims, thereby reducing your workload while simultaneously bolstering the funding for your project.

Whether you’re working on products, technologies, or services in the research and development phase, or looking to market your innovation at the commercialization stage, there are several government programs available in Canada or at an international level to help you. Here is a quick overview of the main ones.

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Administered by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), this program targets R&D projects with a high potential for innovation, offering financial support for technology and for hiring new graduates.

Eligibility

  • Canadian for-profit companies incorporated in Canada, with 500 or fewer full-time employees, with a proven capability to finance the part of the R&D project.
  • Seek innovation or technological growth through a product and/or service in Canada,
  • Open to establish a relationship with NRC-IRAP.

Funded Expenditures

  • R&D salaries costs,
  • R&D sub-contractor’s costs,
  • Travel costs

Funding Mechanism

  • Up to 80% of eligible salaries and 50% of eligible sub-contractors,
  • Non-repayable contributions (grants).

The funding for IRAP goes up to $10 million in funding, $1 million per year, over 10 years. To maximize your entry into IRAP program, FI Group recommends that you aim for an initial project with a budget of around $50,000 to secure a spot on their client list and set the stage for future growth.

The automotive industry is undergoing several major changes, with technological advances and evolving mobility preferences redefining its future. Through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), Ontario is leading this transformation, building a world-leading automotive manufacturing, and accelerating innovation through game-changing research and emerging technologies.

Administered by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), the OVIN R&D Partnership Funds are ideal for small and medium enterprises (SME) that require co-investments and the support of strategic partner to develop, test, validate and demonstrate:

  • Connected and autonomous vehicle & smart mobility technologies (C/AV & smart mobility program, streams 1 &2),
  • Electric vehicles related technologies and battery-focused technologies (EV program, streams 1 & 2),
  • Winter weather–related technologies (WinterTech Development program).

Eligibility

  • Applicant must be an SME with fewer than 500 global full-time employees and have registered operations in Ontario,
  • Project must include one Applicant and at least one Primary Partner who will co-sign the funding agreement,
  • Project activities must be carried out in Ontario.

Qualified expenditures

  • Travel expenses,
  • Salaries and benefits for company employees,
  • Operating expenses.

Overview

Program Budget Application timeline Application process
EV & C/AV and smart mobility

Stream 1

Up to $300,000 over 12 months Open, rolling Intake One-stage application with a single full proposal
EV & C/AV and smart mobility

Stream 2

Up to $3.000.000 over 24 months Different rounds during each year Two-stage application:

– Expression of interest

– Full proposal

WinterTech Development Up to $1,500,000 Different rounds during each year Two-stage application:

– Expression of interest

– Full proposal

Funding mechanism

  • Reimbursement of 1/3 (maximum) of total project eligible budget,
  • Company and private sector partners must support the remaining portion of the cost-share (2/3 minimum of total eligible budget).

AgriScience Program aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector and Canadians.

Eligibility

Any for-profit Canadian company with R&D projects (SRL 4-7) related to Health claims and human clinical trials, variety development, pest and disease surveillance and indigenous knowledge and science priorities.

Funding mechanism

  • Reimbursement of 50% (maximum) of total project eligible budget up to $5,000,000 per project.
  • Company and private sector partners must support the remaining portion of the cost-share (50% minimum of total eligible budget).

Qualified Expenditures

Eligible costs include project expenditures with capital assets, administrative costs, contract services, salaries and benefits, travel costs and other related costs.

Areas of concerns

Projects must address ate least one AgriScience three priorities: climate change and environment, economic growth and development, and sector resilience and societal challenges.

Deadline

Rolling intake until March 31, 2028, or until the AgriScience budget runs out.

How to apply

We can put you in contact with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) staff and assist you during application.