Canadian Government Funding

  • Did you know that 17 percent of Canadian entrepreneurs indicate “obtain financing” as an obstacle to growth? The challenge facing most businesses is how to find and take advantage of what is out there.

    Most business owners receive financing through banking institutions. However, funding resources are available to small businesses from both the provincial and federal levels of government. Government grant and funding vehicles are increasing their penetration in Southern Ontario, since the formation of the Economic Action Plan – all to the advantage of businesses.

    FedDev Ontario has allocated $210 million to a new program called the Prosperity Initiative.

    Government funding programs can help small companies tackle financing barriers so they can achieve growth and prosper. Whether the requirement is working capital, expanding the business, software or hardware investment or purchasing equipment, there are many creative ways to approach financing to solve innovation challenges.

    Available Government Funding Mechanisms for Businesses

    Please browse the available grants below and click on the grant in obtaining more information on the specific funding mechanism.

    Apprenticeship Job Tax Credit Supports the training and certification of new trades apprentices through wage subsidies. Credit covers:
    ●   Training new trades employees    		 X
    Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit Incentive to allow SMEs to hire new apprentices in trades.
    ●   Register new trades apprentices in sectors where there is high demand for skilled workers    		 X
    Canada Summer Jobs Encourages the hiring of young workers (i.e. 15-30 years) to allow for career related experience. Financial hourly wage subsidy program.
    ●   Deadline for submission: ~Q1 of each year.
    ●   Part of the Youth Employment Strategy programs.    		 X
    Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation (CONII) Assists SME’s with applied research and commercialization by tapping into 20 Southern Ontario post-secondary institutions to help with:
    ●   Proof of principle projects and testing,
    ●   Prototype and process development,
    ●   Business planning, marketing strategies, market research,
    ●   Industrial design and other commercialization strategies.    		 X X X
    Connect Canada Internship Allows companies to solve a R&D problem through the hiring of an intern over 4-6 months. Eligible projects include:
    ●   Market Research,
    ●   Applied Scientific Research,
    ●   Technical Problem Solving,
    ●   Software Solutions    		 X X
    CME SMART Prosperity Now Helps fund SMEs capital expenditures and expansion into new domestic and international markets by providing 33.3% in grants, up to $75,000, for eligible projects, such as:
    ●     Operational efficiency improvements,
    ●     Global expansion activities,
    ●     Marketing expenses for new domestic and international markets,
    ●     Energy efficiency and environmental reduction programs.    		 X X X
    Export Market Access Funding available through FedDev Ontario and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to assist SMEs in their international ventures. Grant covers 50% eligible expenses up to max of $30k such as:
    ●      Marketing brochures, sell sheets, pre & post show mailers
    ●      Trade shows and related exhibition costs, display panels, banners,
    ●      Translation and freight,
    ●      Flights and per diem allowance for meals/lodging
    ●      Industry Market or competitive research.
    ●      Also includes foreign bidding projects.    		 X
    FedDev – Prosperity Initiative Repayable loan to supports 50% of project costs and meet the objectives of three different strategic projects that include:
    ●      Regional diversification
    ●      Productivity enhancements
    ●      Competitive advantage    		 X X X
    FedDev – Technology Development FedDev initiative to encourage businesses, not-for-profit, and post-secondary institutions to collaborate on large-scale innovation projects to advance technologies. Grant covers:
    ●      Product and process applied research;
    ●      Engineering design;
    ●      Technology acceleration; product testing; certification;
    ●      Marketing studies; proof of concept; piloting and demonstration;
    ●      Problem solving; and pre-commercialization activities.    		 X X X
    Going Global Innovation Non-repayable grant (i.e. up to $75k) for activities to solve R&D challenges and create partnerships with experts in other countries, including:
    ●      Meeting and travel costs to allow formal discussions to initiate collaborations on future R&D opportunities
    ●      Innovative developments to reach working agreement (i.e. LOI) and leads to new commercialization results in a new global market    		 X X
    Graduate Enterprise Internship Geared towards hiring graduates in the science, technical, engineering, and math fields on a 6-month intern contract.
    ●      Wage subsidy (i.e. up to max of $15k) for hiring 4-year diploma graduates from a Southern Ontario University or College    		 X X X
    Health Technology Exchange Programs Funding support mechanisms to commercialize and/or expand new technology related to the healthcare sector. The innovation must have be valid and have a proof of concept and IP.
    ●      Wages/Salaries with Benefits
    ●      Direct R&D Costs
    ●      Commercialization & Regulatory Costs
    ●      Capital Expenses    		 X X X
    ICTC – Career Focus Will support wage subsidy wage subsidy program equal to 1/3 the eligible participant’s salary up to a max of $10,000 within a 4-11 month work experience. X
    Investing in Business Innovation Additional government funding (i.e. up to $1M) to commercialize new products, practices or processes of start-up businesses after obtaining angel or venture capital investments. Government repayable loan may support:
    ●      Capital expenses
    ●      Employee costs for growth innovation
    ●      Marketing studies,
    ●      Proof of concept, engineering design, technology development,
    ●      Piloting and demonstration and problem-solving    		 X X X
    IRAP – Accelerated Review Process (ARP) Non-repayable grant (i.e. up to $50k) to support innovation or technological improvement projects. Various aspects supported:
    ●      Software implementation
    ●      Productivity improvements
    ●      Production design
    ●      Marketing projects    		 X X X
    IRAP – Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program (DTAPP) Up to $100k in grant funding to assist SME’s with technology adoption, including:
    ●      Software analysis
    ●      Software implementation
    ●      Customization of software code
    ●      Training on software systems    		 X X X
    MaRS – Investment Accelerator Fund Helps entrepreneurs with early stage technological developments. Repayble loan and 5% equity position  (i.e. up to $500k) and support sectors:
    ●      Materials and engineering
    ●      Clean technology
    ●      Information technology and health sciences    		 X X
    MaRS – Regional Innovation Centres
    		 Non-repayable grant to bring innovative ideas to the marketplace. Provides assistance to determine capital requirements, prepare presentations, and provide connections with the right potential investors. X X
    MITACS Accelerate Expansion of SMEs R&D environment for a $7500 investment. Four month internship is matched for $15000 research grant. Aimed at connecting SME’s with University expertise for:
    ●      Innovative research
    ●      Methods and development of tools
    ●      Prototype models
    ●      Technology or solutions to support challenges
    ●      Graduate spends 50% of time onsite with SME    		 X X
    MITACS Enterprise Wage Subsidy for hiring 4-year diploma, masters, or Ph.D graduates in the science, tech, engineering, or math fields:
    ● R&D innovation
    ● Adoption or adaptation of technology
    ● Prototype models
    ● Technology or solutions to support challenges    		 X X
    NextGen Biofuels Fund Repayable loan for support of full scale-up and process integration projects for technical and financial performance of technologies at first-of-kind facility. Assists with:
    ●      Project assessment, definition
    ●      Building construction
    ●      Environmental assessment
    ●      Design/Engineering
    ●      Production equipment, and
    ●      All labor costs related to the above    		 X X X
    NOHFC – Emerging Technology Aids the costs of capital construction for businesses in Northern Ontario, including:
    ●      Equipment
    ●      Leasehold improvements
    ●      Marketing
    ●      Training
    ●      Land servicing    		 X
    NSERC Engage R&D Non-repayable grant designed to connect SME’s with University researchers for research and development partnerships.
    ●      Short-term (i.e. 6 months) research and development project
    ●      Addresses a company specific problem    		 X X
    Ontario Centres of Excellence – First Job & Other Talent Programs Help for early stage SMEs to assist in research & development, commercialization and training, including:
    ●     Small R&D projects support for 4-6 months with up to $25k grant
    ●     Larger R&D projects for up to 9-12 months with 20-25% in kind contribution from SMEs
    ●     Technology validation
    ●     First Jobs (i.e. up to $40k funding) for placement of new Graduates with SMEs    		 X X X
    OMRI – Innovation Demonstration Fund Repayable loans used for technology demonstration projects at the pilot stage of development. Focus on proven viable technology for Bio-products and Clean technology to support:
    ●      Commercialization strategies and supports start-up costs associated with the development and design of pilot-scale prototypes
    ●      May offer portion of funding as forgivable loans    		 X X
    Ontario Exporters Fund Grant towards the hiring of an Export Manager to help aid your international market development:
    ● Covers up to $50K of the Export Manager’s salary
    ● Gain an employee dedicated to increasing international revenue, gathering market intelligence, and generating new streams of revenue    		  X X
    OPA – Technology Development Fund Grant aimed at assisting with the development of clean technologies at pre-commercialization stage. Limit of funding at $250k per project for improvement of electricity supply, conservation or demand management. Covers:
    ●      Costs of pilot and capital equipment
    ●      Planning, field tests, and feasibility studies
    ●      Travel costs
    ●      Costs to educate a community sector, etc.    		 X X
    Small Business Internship Program (SBIP) Government assistance as a non-repayable grant (i.e. up to 75% of salary & benefits) to aid e-business initiatives for hiring a recent marketing intern student. Responsibilities such as:
    ●      Website development and content creation
    ●      Keyword analysis and search engine optimization (SEO)
    ●      Improved conversion traffic    		 X X
    SD Tech Fund Designed to assist with pre-commercialization strategies of clean technologies. Non-repayable grant supports productivity improvements and competitive advantage for activities such as:
    ●      Capital items
    ●      Goods and services
    ●      Personnel labor costs
    ●      Depreciation expenses    		 X X X
    Youth Employment Program Supports recent graduates by providing SMEs with a wage subsidy for full-time hire with grant up to $30k for first year. Responsibilities can include:
    ●      Research & development
    ●      Engineering
    ●      Multi-media
    ●      Market analysis
    ●      Business development
    ●      Improvement in customer service    		 X X X
    Yves Landry Foundation Non-repayable grant aimed at accelerating innovation through training support for technology development related projects. Training that leads to innovation may include:
    ●      Development of new engineering skills
    ●      Training of new IT best practices and other tools for innovation
    ●      Embracing new technologies, new materials or processes and new manufacturing methods    		 X X

    Get Started

    If you are interested in any of these programs, please click on the name of the program and fill out the form on the resulting page. Alternatively, if you are unsure of what funding mechanism(s) are best for your business, please contact us directly and we will work closely with you to determine the most appropriate funding package to achieve your business goals and reach your growth potential.

    Free 60 Minute Government Funding Workshop

    At Mentor Works, we work closely with businesses to determine the best opportunities for growth and innovation through government funding opportunities. Below is a list of available government funding mechanisms for Canadian businesses. If you would like to discuss funding opportunities directly with us, please attend a Free 60 Minute Government Funding Workshop to receive helpful advice and have your questions answered by Bernadeen McLeod, founder and principle of Mentor Works.