Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), the Growing Forward 2 (GF2) Ontario government funding program was created to support food processors, producers, and organizations/collaborations across the province. These Ontario government grants seek to encourage innovation, tackle key industry issues, increase market access, and grow the profits of Ontario food…
Small businesses often face technological hurdles which impede their ability to grow. Two of the most common growth challenges include developing and maintaining a profitable e-commerce presence and developing and testing innovative products or technologies. Small businesses often lack the technical expertise or access to facilities which make projects like these possible. As a result,…
The “Internet of Things”, or “IOT”, is a phrase that’s being used a lot these days. Many bloggers, commentators, and analysts are trying to pin-point what the Internet of Things will mean for specific industries, business in general, and even how it will change our personal lives. The goal of this post is to explain…
Administered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Investing in Business Innovation (IBI) offers small business loans to assist high growth, innovative startups and early-stage businesses in commercializing new products, processes, and technologies. Southern Ontario businesses with private funding that require additional cash flow can use IBI to help accelerate late-stage…
FedDev Ontario’s 2014 launch of the Southern Ontario Prosperity Initiatives (SOPI) provided $530 million for small businesses to finance a variety of innovative and productivity-building projects. Investing in Business Innovation (IBI) is one of the four business-oriented programs created through the SOPI’s and aims to assist early-stage businesses to commercialize new, innovative products and processes….
Canadian manufacturers have a variety of financing methods to help them grow their business and increase productivity. Canadian government grants, loans, and tax incentives all provide benefits to Canadian manufacturers which helps them to strengthen operations and become more competitive globally. However, just 16% of manufacturers will be using government funding programs this year, according…
According to a 2014 release of Statistics Canada data, Canada continues to decline in its commitment to innovation. The portion of Canadian businesses investing in process innovation fell from 33.5% in 2007-2009 to 29.0% in 2010-2012. Similarly, innovative businesses in Canada fell from 76.3% to 60.1% in the same time period. This decline is alarming….
The Investing in Business Innovation (IBI) small business loans program was created as part of the $530 million Southern Ontario Prosperity Initiatives (SOPIs). Provided through the Federal Agency of Economic Development for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), IBI provides funding for early stage businesses to commercialize new, innovative products and processes. For many businesses overcoming technology…
An article recently published in The Hamilton Spectator identified the Ontario automotive sector as lacking leadership and on the verge of a decline. Although the Ontario industry was a top global contender, manufacturers of vehicles and automotive components in Ontario are facing downward pricing pressures from developing nations with low labour rates, and consumer preferences…
The National Research Council (NRC) is an organization which is funded and administered by the Government of Canada. As the country’s premier research and development institution, the National Research Council enhances Canadian industry by conducting research and enabling new technologies to come to market. Their staff of scientists, engineers, and business experts seek to improve…