Business Expansion Grants and Contributions

Unlock Grants. Boost Innovation

Canada’s innovation and growth landscape is supported by a comprehensive suite of federal and provincial grants, contributions, and tax incentives, strategically designed to accelerate sustainable business growth, fund R&D breakthroughs, and drive market diversification. Below, we provide a structured overview of high-impact programs, detailing their objectives, eligibility criteria, and strategic applications to empower organizations in aligning funding opportunities with long-term growth priorities.

At IFAS, we specialize in translating complex funding frameworks into actionable roadmaps, enabling clients to:

• Maximize program benefits through eligibility optimization and compliance assurance

• Leverage incentives to de-risk R&D investments and scale operations competitively

• Align funding strategies with ESG goals and stakeholder expectations

Our methodology combines regulatory expertise, financial modeling, and cross-sector insights to deliver tailored solutions that balance innovation ambition with fiscal discipline and risk mitigation.

Core Programs for Business Expansion

1 - Bioenterprise – Sustainable Growth and Adoption Program (SGAP)

(Support agri-food and bioeconomy SMEs in adopting sustainable technologies.)

• Eligible Activities: Commercializing clean tech, reducing waste, or improving supply chain sustainability.
• Funding: Up to 50% of project costs (max $250,000).
• Example: A poultry producer secured $200,000 to implement energy-efficient feed systems, cutting carbon emissions by 30%.

2 - Accessible Technology Program (ATP)

(Develop assistive technologies for people with disabilities.)

• Eligible Activities: R&D, prototyping, and market testing of accessibility tech.
• Funding: Up to 75% of costs (max $500,000).
• Example: A startup created a voice-controlled wheelchair interface with $300,000 ATP funding.

3 - Agri-Tech Innovation Cost-Share Program

(Accelerate agri-tech adoption in Ontario.)

• Eligible Activities: Precision farming tools, automation, or IoT-based crop monitoring.
• Funding: 35–50% cost-share (max $150,000).
• Example: A vineyard used $100,000 to deploy AI-driven irrigation, boosting yields by 25%.

4 - SD Tech Fund – Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)

(Scale clean tech solutions.)

• Eligible Activities: Commercializing carbon capture, hydrogen tech, or circular economy innovations.
• Funding: Up to 40% of project costs (max $10M).
• Example: A cleantech firm received $5M to pilot a plastic-to-fuel conversion system.

5 - Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED)

(Incentivize R&D through tax credits.)

• Eligible Activities: Experimental development, prototyping, or process innovation.
• Funding: 15–35% refundable credits (CCPCs: 35% on first $3M).
• Example: A software company claimed $500,000 in SR&ED credits for AI algorithm development.

6 - Quantum Leap Funding Program

(Advance quantum computing and related technologies.)

• Eligible Activities: Hardware/software R&D, talent development.
• Funding: Up to $1M per project.
• Example: A quantum startup secured $800,000 to build encryption-resistant communication systems.

7 - NRC IRAP Research Grants for Canadian Businesses

(Accelerate tech commercialization.)

• Eligible Activities: Prototyping, market entry, or hiring technical staff.
• Funding: Up to 80% of costs (max $1M+).
• Example: A biotech firm used $600,000 to fast-track FDA approval for a medical device.

8 - Low Carbon Economy Fund (LCEF)

(Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.)

• Eligible Activities: Retrofits, renewable energy adoption, or waste reduction.
• Funding: 25–75% of costs (max $5M).
• Example: A factory cut emissions by 40% with $2M LCEF funding for solar panels.

9 - Life Sciences Innovation Fund

(Drive breakthroughs in healthcare and biotech.)

• Eligible Activities: Drug development, medical devices, or digital health tools.
• Funding: Up to 50% of R&D costs (max $2M).
• Example: A medtech company developed a portable dialysis machine with $1.2M in funding.

10 - Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN)

(Advance greenhouse and controlled-environment agriculture.)

• Eligible Activities: Energy-efficient systems, automation, or vertical farming tech.
• Funding: Up to 50% of costs (max $200,000).
• Example: A lettuce producer automated climate control with $150,000 GTN support, cutting energy use by 35%.

Strategic Benefits

• Risk Reduction: Non-repayable funding lowers financial exposure.
• Speed to Market: Accelerate R&D and commercialization timelines.
• Sustainability Alignment: Meet ESG goals while accessing capital.

Eligibility Checklist

• Canadian incorporation.
• Clear project scope (innovation, sustainability, or market expansion).
• Demonstrated financial capacity to cover non-funded costs.
• Compliance with labor/environmental standards (e.g., prevailing wages).

Program Comparison

• Program	Focus	Max Funding	Best For
  NRC IRAP	SD Tech Fund	Quantum Leap	Life Sciences Fund
  Tech commercialization	Clean tech scale-up	Quantum technologies	Healthcare innovation
  $1M+	$10M	$1M	$2M
  SMEs in tech/biotech	Cleantech innovators	Advanced computing firms	Biotech/medtech companies