Global Affairs Canada has released Canada’s State of Trade, an evaluation of the country’s economic performance. The report highlights and assesses key developments in Canada’s international trade and examines domestic and foreign economic trends. According to the report, the global economy has seen weaker growth than in previous years; however, Canada’s exports and imports both…
Many businesses that Mentor Works deals with have heard of the two most popular research and development (R&D) funding programs: NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) and the SR&ED tax credit program. Both are valuable programs that support innovation and commercialization efforts. However, most of our clients are unaware of the wider range of programs…
Despite the transition to digital means of marketing and communication, exhibiting at trade shows remains a powerful tool and one of the most rewarding forms of marketing when approached with the right strategy. Today, according to statistics compiled by spingo.com, 99% of exhibitors believe that trade show marketing provides unique value that is not provided…
Does your business plan to exhibit at international trade shows this year? Trade shows provide an opportunity to grow your business in new markets and drive higher global revenues. They diversify your client base and can serve as a launching point for sustained international success. Yet, for many businesses, researching international trade shows can be…
On August 22, 2019, the CanExport funding program undertook two significant updates that impacted how the program operated and the value it provided to Canadian exporters. The first and most notable update was to the program’s contribution amount, while the second focused on company eligibility. Previously, agriculture and agri-food companies were unable to apply; these…
Clearcable Networks, based in Hamilton, Ontario, is a specialized telecommunications technical consulting firm. They focus on the needs of service providers by maintaining existing infrastructure, developing new business revenue streams, and driving new advancements in the global telecommunications sector. Clearcable has already expanded their business into the United States, and has recently received government funding…
NOTICE: As of August 22 2019, the CanExport program now offers up to 75% of project expenses to a maximum of $75,000 per application and is open to agricultural producers and processors. Please refer to the CanExport program page for the most recent updates. It’s been quite an eventful year for the popular CanExport funding program. Earlier in…
Canada’s recently-released Fall Economic Update offers many provisions that directly support business competitiveness and make it easier to invest. Most beneficial to manufacturers is the announcement that the full cost of machinery and equipment can be written off immediately. Businesses outside of the manufacturing industry will also benefit from a similar incentive that supports writing…
For many businesses, entering a new market is a risky, time consuming, costly, and stressful endeavor. While businesses that already export can benefit from previous experience, existing processes, and internal know-how when entering a new market, there are still many risks in export expansion. Risk is amplified for businesses entering their first export market. While…
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) offers many opportunities as well as some challenges for Canadian businesses. If ratified, the new agreement-in-principle will take effect on January 1, 2020 and significantly impact supply chain management, predominantly in the dairy, poultry, and automotive sectors. While there are many businesses across Canada that are concerned about these changes,…