Financing for innovation 

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Are you looking to finance your innovation activities? If you are involved in taking products and services from the research and development stage right through the commercialization process, there are a number of government programs available to help you. Find out if you qualify.

  • AVAC Ltd.
    Applies only to: Alberta

    If you operate a new Alberta agricultural business, you can apply for money for R&D and to help you market your product or service.

  • Aboriginal Business Canada

    Apply for financing to start or grow your Aboriginal business.

  • AgriInnovation Program

    If your business is agricultural, you can apply for an R&D grant or a loan to get your new agricultural product or technology ready for the market.

  • AgriProcessing Initiative

    If you are a Canadian processor of agricultural products, you could receive money for new machinery to help you update your manufacturing processes.

  • Agriculture Financial Services Corporation Lending
    Applies only to: Alberta

    Access loans and services to start or grow farm, agribusiness or other small business.

  • Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grants
    Applies only to: Alberta

    Learn about grants and resources for artists in Alberta.

  • Alberta Indian Investment Corporation
    Applies only to: Alberta

    If you are an Aboriginal entrepreneur seeking financing and business support, learn about loans, equity investments and services available to you.

  • Alberta Innovates
    Applies only to: Alberta

    You could get support for the research and innovation-based activities of your business from the Alberta Government.

  • Alberta Innovates r&D Associates
    Applies only to: Alberta

    You could get financial help with hiring a Master's or PhD graduate to conduct research and related activities for your business.

  • Alberta Multimedia Development Fund
    Applies only to: Alberta

    If you publish books or magazines, or produce films or sound recordings, you could get a grant to fund new projects and cover eligible expenses.

  • Alberta Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit Program
    Applies only to: Alberta

    Your corporation may be able to receive a tax credit for scientific research and experimental development expenditures incurred in Alberta.

  • Apeetogosan Métis Development Inc.
    Applies only to: Alberta

    Are you an established or budding Métis entrepreneur seeking financing and business support services? If so, learn about direct business loans, equity investments and business services.

  • Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program

    By collaborating with government researchers, you could increase your business' scientific capacity for projects relating to fish health and environmental performance.

  • Automotive Innovation Fund

    If you have an incorporated automotive business, you could get funding to build greener, more fuel-efficient vehicles through innovation and R&D.

  • Automotive Partnerships Canada

    If you are working on next-generation automotive technologies, you could receive financial assistance to support collaborative R&D activities.

  • BDC Venture Capital

    An alternate source of funding for your technology-based business.

  • BDC financing

    You could get money to help you start or grow your business.

  • BDC growth capital for aboriginal business

    Find out how you could get money to help start or grow your Aboriginal business.

  • BDC subordinate financing

    Do you own a successful business, but lack the collateral to get a conventional loan? Discover an alternative way to finance your business growth.

  • Business Opportunity Grant
    Applies only to: Alberta

    If you are an agriculture producer, producer group or a new entrant to the industry you may be eligible for funding for your projects.

  • Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence

    If you create a network of skilled partners in industry and academia to address real-world challenges, you could receive funding for research costs.

  • Canada Feature Film Fund

    If you are an incorporated Canadian film producer, you could receive money to develop, produce and market your movies in English or French.

  • Canada Media Fund

    If you are involved in the Canadian television or digital media industries, you may be eligible for funding.

  • Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program

    As a Canadian farmer or processor, you could receive funding for projects that solve problems other farmers face or that help them grow or market their products.

  • Collaborative Health Research Projects

    If you are in natural sciences or engineering and have a partner from the health science community, you could get funding for your collaborative research project.

  • Collaborative Research and Development Grants

    You could get a university to help you with your research project in natural sciences or engineering if you contribute half the costs of the project.

  • Community Futures Alberta — Small Business Loans
    Applies only to: Alberta

    You could get a loan to start or grow a business if you live in rural Alberta.

  • Community Futures Treaty Seven – Business development
    Applies only to: Alberta

    Are you an Aboriginal entrepreneur wishing to start or grow your business? You may be eligible for a business loan.

  • Connect Canada internships

    You could receive funding of $5,000 to help pay the salary of a graduate student or a post-doctoral fellow for 4 to 6 months to help with your advanced R&D project.

  • Defence Industrial Research Program

    You could be eligible for up to 50% of the costs of an R&D project that introduces new and innovative technologies into the Canadian Forces.

  • Development Innovation Fund

    Learn how your health business could get funding to partner with innovators in low- and middle-income countries to help solve global health issues.

  • Engage Grants

    You could access a grant for your science and engineering business to help solve a company-specific problem by collaborating with researchers from a Canadian university.

  • Farm Credit Canada Products and Services

    You could access capital for your farming or agri-business operation.

  • ForeFront Internship Program
    Applies only to: Alberta

    If your business is working on commercializing medical or health-related technologies you could get funding for interns.

  • Going Global Innovation

    Apply for funding to help you solidify an international R&D partnership.

  • Industrial R&D Fellowships Program

    You could get help to hire a PhD graduate to work on a research project in natural sciences or engineering for your business for 2 years.

  • Industrial R&D Internship Program (IRDI)

    Your not-for-profit corporation could receive funding to create private sector research internships for science and technology graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

  • Industrial Research Assistance Program

    Your small or medium-sized business may qualify for financial assistance to develop, adopt, adapt and/or commercialize new or improved technologies.

  • Industry Partnership Programs

    You could get help with your Canadian research and development projects in natural sciences or engineering from colleges and universities in Canada.

  • Industry-Partnered Collaborative Research Program

    If you are an academic researcher, you can apply for a grant for a collaborative research project you undertake with a Canadian industry partner who shares an interest in health R&D.

  • Innovation Vouchers Program
    Applies only to: Alberta

    Apply for financial assistance to bring new technologies or knowledge-based products and services to market.

  • Interaction Grants

    Your R&D company could access grants of up to $5,000 to meet with established academic researchers to identify potential research projects.

  • International Science and Technology Partnerships Program

    If you own a small or medium-sized business with R&D projects in science and technology, you could get money to partner with foreign researchers.

  • MUSICACTION

    If you are a French-language recording business, songwriter, composer or artist, you may be eligible for financing.

  • Matching Investment Fund

    If you produce milk products or manufacture processed goods made with milk, you could get funding to create new or improved products.

  • Mitacs Accelerate

    Learn how you can expand your R&D potential by recruiting a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow to research your technology project.

  • Mitacs Elevate

    You could receive funding toward a fellowship program with a recent PhD graduate to work on a research project for two years.

  • NextGen Biofuels Fund

    Find out if you are eligible for funding to develop a biofuel production facility in Canada.

  • Partnership Workshops Program

    If you are an academic wanting to work on collaborative research activities with end-users from the business community, you can apply for a grant to develop a workshop.

  • Proof of Principle Program

    If you are an academic researcher whose research, collaborations and training relate to commercialization, you may be eligible for financial assistance.

  • Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program

    You can get a tax credit, if you spend money on industrial R&D in Canada.

  • Space Technology Development Program

    Your organization (Industry or Academia) could receive financial and technical support to perform R&D on space technologies.

  • Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative

    If you are an aerospace and defence company that is incorporated in Canada, you could receive money for R&D projects in Canada.

  • Strategic Network Grants

    If you are a researcher, you could get funding from one of two grants for large-scale, multi-disciplinary science and engineering projects.

  • Strategic Project Grants

    If you are an academic researcher, you can apply for a grant for a collaborative research project you undertake with a Canadian industry partner.

  • Sustainable Development Technology Fund

    Do you need money to develop and test a new energy technology? You could qualify for funding to create clean technology products that fight climate change.

  • Technology Demonstration Program

    If you have a defence-related R&D project that shows the military utility of emerging concepts and technologies, you may be able to receive financial assistance.

  • Western Diversification Program
    Applies only to: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta

    If your not-for-profit organization is looking to strengthen the economy of Western Canada, you can apply for funding for various initiatives.

  • Women's Enterprise Initiative Loan Program
    Applies only to: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia

    If you are a woman living in Western Canada, you could get a loan to start, grow or buy a business.

  • Youth Employment Program

    You could obtain financial assistance to hire a skilled post-secondary graduate to work on your innovative project.