Exhibiting at International Trade Shows: A Powerful Tool to Grow Your Business

Exhibiting at International Trade Shows: A Powerful Tool to Grow Your Business

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…

Program Update: CanExport Innovation Funding for Research Partnerships

Program Update: CanExport Innovation Funding for Research Partnerships

UPDATE: This program was previously called Going Global Innovation (GGI). The content has been updated to reflect the new name, CanExport Innovation (CXI). Canadian companies are internationally recognized as some of the most creative, innovative firms in the world. But despite this reputation, Canada is falling behind in terms of its opportunities to spur innovation….

CanExport Funding Increases to 75%/$75,000 and Supports AgriBusiness

CanExport Funding Increases to 75%/$75,000 and Supports AgriBusiness

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…

Access Small Business Grants: Talk Productivity, Innovation, Exports

Access Small Business Grants: Talk Productivity, Innovation, Exports

There are hundreds of Canadian small business grants and loans that companies can apply to. There are some key strategies to keep in mind to optimize your chances of success though; for one, always consider the program’s eligibility criteria. It’s not worth applying to small business grants and loans that are not a fit for…

Business Grants Alberta: Top Funding Programs for Growth Projects

Business Grants Alberta: Top Funding Programs for Growth Projects

Alberta business grants and loans are an ideal way to support your organization’s upcoming strategic projects. Funded through the provincial and federal governments, there are a wide range of incentives that companies can use to offset costs and improve growth potential. It’s beneficial for businesses to create a plan of what to apply to and…

Export Development Canada Launches $50M Women in Trade Investments Program

Export Development Canada Launches $50M Women in Trade Investments Program

A major component showcased in the 2018 Federal Budget announcement, the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) is devoting nearly $2 billion to helping women grow their businesses through expertise, access to financing, and talent. This strategy is assisting the Canadian government in achieving its goal of doubling the number of majority women-owned businesses by 2025, as…

[WEBINAR] May 16: Diversifying into New Sectors and Markets

[WEBINAR] May 16: Diversifying into New Sectors and Markets

Canadian businesses are fortunate when it comes to exporting and trade diversification, since the federal and provincial governments support a wide range of strategic projects focused on building export capacity and reaching/expanding international markets. Over the next five years, the Government of Canada has committed $1.1 billion to help Canadian companies access new international markets….

Export Market Access and Export Manager Program No Longer Available

Export Market Access and Export Manager Program No Longer Available

As of April 15, 2019, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Global Growth Fund is no longer accepting funding applications. Both programs managed through the program, including Export Market Access (EMA) and the Export Manager Program (EMP), are fully subscribed and unlikely to re-open under these naming conventions. While provincial export-oriented funding programs may be available…

Case Study: How Automotive Grants Help Overcome Growth Challenges

Case Study: How Automotive Grants Help Overcome Growth Challenges

Canadian automotive manufacturers can accelerate growth by integrating their strategic activities with government funding, but how exactly does it work? How do other automotive manufacturers use government grants and loans to enhance investments and drive organizational success? It can be difficult to visualize the impact of developing and executing a multi-program government funding plan, especially…

Market Entry Strategies: A Four-Step Process for New Export Markets

Market Entry Strategies: A Four-Step Process for New Export Markets

In a previous article we explored the risks and rewards of getting into export markets. Now that you’ve decided that the rewards outweigh the risks and that there’s a positive return-on-investment (ROI) in your export market plan, you need to start planning export market entry strategies. In this article we’ll review some of the steps…