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Halifax Regional Municipality · Nova Scotia

Halifax

Halifax is Atlantic Canada's largest city and its main hub for ocean technology, defence, universities and financial services. Its support ecosystem runs through ACOA federally, Invest Nova Scotia provincially, and campus-linked accelerators clustered downtown and in Dartmouth.

23 resources · Checked September 2026

Programs marked Provincial apply anywhere in Nova Scotia. See Canada-wide programs →

Grants & funding 9

Interest-free, unsecured repayable funding for business start-up, expansion and modernization, plus contributions for training and marketing.

For SMEs, co-operatives and nonprofits that support business growth

Mitacs

Federal

National organization co-funding university research internships placed inside companies for R&D projects.

For Companies running R&D projects with a university partner

National ocean cluster that co-funds industry-led projects commercializing made-in-Canada ocean technology.

For Companies with collaborative ocean-technology projects

Invest Nova Scotia rebate that reimburses part of the cost of significant innovation projects undertaken by established firms.

For Established Nova Scotia companies making innovation investments

Invest Nova Scotia funding for startups moving a technology from validation toward first commercial sales.

For Early-stage Nova Scotia technology startups

Invest Nova Scotia program supporting companies to increase sales outside the province and improve competitiveness.

For Nova Scotia companies entering or growing export markets

Provincial salary subsidy covering 25% to 30% of a recent graduate's first-year salary, with a further 10% for under-represented groups.

For Small businesses, startups and nonprofits hiring recent graduates

Accelerators & incubators 5

National ocean-innovation program running the Ocean Idea Challenge, Ocean Startup Challenge and Lab2Market Oceans.

For Early-stage ocean founders and researchers commercializing technology

Volta

Non-profit

Downtown Halifax innovation hub running an AI Residency, an AI Productivity Lab and an open founder community.

For Founders building AI companies and SMEs adopting AI

Objectives-based program at Dalhousie's Faculty of Management running Prime, Defence and Oceans streams with mentor investors.

For Seed-stage science and technology ventures

Emera ideaHUB

Non-profit

Dalhousie incubator for physical-product ventures, running ideaDESIGN, ideaBUILD, ideaBRIDGE and the IDEA MakerSpace.

For Deep-tech founders building hardware and physical products

Dal Innovates

Non-profit

Dalhousie University's innovation hub, home to Lab2Market, Campus2Market, AI2Market and sandboxes such as ShiftKey Labs and Cultiv8.

For Students, researchers, alumni and community founders

Investors 2

Invest Nova Scotia's venture capital arm, investing directly in early-stage high-growth technology companies and as an LP in funds.

For Early-stage, high-growth Nova Scotia technology companies

Halifax-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in technology companies across Atlantic Canada.

For Atlantic Canadian technology startups raising early rounds

Government services 3

Nova Scotia's business development agency, formed from the merger of Nova Scotia Business Inc. and Innovacorp.

For Nova Scotia businesses from startup through export and expansion

One-window provincial service that walks new business owners through permits, licences, regulations and funding contacts.

For Anyone starting or licensing a business in Nova Scotia

Halifax's economic development organization, running SmartBusiness advisory services and the Connector talent program.

For Halifax businesses growing locally and newcomers seeking work

Industry & trade 2

Business advocacy organization hosting over 100 events a year and running the Trade Accelerator Program for exporters.

For Halifax businesses of all sizes

Industry association for the province's tech and digital sector, with more than 300 members, training programs and a job portal.

For Tech companies, startups and digital workers in Nova Scotia

Community 1

Nova Scotia organization providing Black entrepreneurs with financing, business training, consulting and a province-wide directory.

For Black entrepreneurs starting or growing a business in Nova Scotia

Workspace & labs 1

Dartmouth waterfront campus offering ocean-tech companies testing facilities, marine terminal access, incubation and lab space.

For Ocean technology companies needing test and marine infrastructure