Natural Products Canada Innovation Cluster: Proof of Concept Program
Receive up to $250,000 in Grant Funding.
The Proof of Concept Program is a Canadian government funding program that is made possible through Natural Products Canada (NPC) Innovation Cluster. The NPC’s Proof of Concept Program helps Canadian small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) and academic research institutions achieve commercial feasibility of innovative natural products or technologies at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) ranging from four-nine. The end goal is to advance development, accelerate products to market, or de-risk any related investments.
Proof of Concept Program
Amount of Funding
The allotted funding contributions from NPC will be non-dilutive, non-repayable funds. Successful applicants may receive:
- Up to 40% of project costs to a maximum of $250,000 for an 18 month project period with a required contribution of 60% from the applicant; and
- Canadian government stacking policies apply which limit total combined support from all government sources to a maximum of 75% of eligible costs for SMEs and 100% for academic research bodies.
![Amount of Funding from the Canadian Government](https://www.mentorworks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Amount-of-Funding.png)
Proof of Concept Program
Eligible Applicants
Successful applicants for the CNP’s Proof of Concept Program must be a Canadian start-up company, SME, or academic research institute. Other eligibility criteria include:
- The applicant has an innovative natural product or technology;
- Start-ups and SMEs must have the potential to achieve $10M- $15M in annual revenue within a reasonable period for the market or sector;
- Products or technologies being developed within academic research institutes must address an industry/sector challenge that has significant market potential; and
- Member of Canada’s Natural Product Innovation Cluster.
![Eligible Applicants for Canadian Government Funding](https://www.mentorworks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Eligible-Applicants.png)
Proof of Concept Program
Eligible Projects
To have an eligible project for the Proof of Concept Program, projects must meet the following requirements:
- Applicant has a novel pre-commercial (TRL 4-9) natural product or technology;
- Projects must be related to the development of innovative natural products and technologies as biologically-based innovations that benefit people, animals and the planet, and can be applied to a range of industries, including:
- Food production and value-added agriculture;
- Bioproducts and sustainability;
- Human nutrition, health and wellness;
- Animal health and nutrition; and
- Water and waste management.
- The program does not support basic research or preliminary product/technology development. It is intended to demonstrate commercial potential via preliminary animal, field, demonstration or human trials.
![Eligible Expenses for Canadian Government Funding](https://www.mentorworks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Eligible-Expenses.png)
Proof of Concept Program
Program Deadline
The Proof of Concept Program currently has an open intake with no mention of a formal deadline. However, the maximum project length for eligible applications is 18 months.
![Program Deadline for Canadian Government Funding](https://www.mentorworks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Program-Deadline.png)