Proud to Work

Canada-wide programs

Canada-wide

Ottawa runs the largest layer of business support in the country: R&D tax credits, Crown lender financing, export help and six regional development agencies. Most of it is open to any incorporated Canadian business, wherever it operates.

36 resources · Checked September 2026

Grants & funding 22

Canada's largest R&D program: a 35% refundable credit on qualifying expenditures, with the enhanced limit raised to $4.5 million and taxable-capital phase-out moved to $15–75 million for tax years beginning after December 15, 2024, and a further increase to $6 million announced in the November 2025 budget.

For Canadian corporations doing experimental development or applied research; enhanced rate now also open to eligible Canadian public corporations

Cost-shared, non-repayable contributions plus advice from an industrial technology advisor for firms developing technology-driven products and services.

For Incorporated, for-profit Canadian SMEs with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees

The federal cleantech funding stream now delivered through NRC IRAP after Sustainable Development Technology Canada was wound down and its programs transferred to the National Research Council.

For Canadian SMEs developing clean technologies from proof of concept to commercialization

ISED's large-project fund, successor to the Strategic Innovation Fund, covering tariff response, priority sectors such as critical minerals and aerospace, and AI compute.

For Firms and consortia proposing large-scale, transformative industrial projects

Mitacs

Non-profit

Co-funded research internships that place undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers inside companies to work on a defined R&D problem.

For Canadian companies willing to co-fund a placement with an academic partner

Collaborative research grants of $20,000 to $1 million a year, with NSERC contributing two dollars for every partner dollar under the 2:1 option.

For Companies partnering with a university researcher; the researcher submits the application, with no deadline

Federal departments post technology challenges; small businesses compete for funding to prove feasibility, build a prototype, then test it in real settings.

For Canadian small businesses with an early-stage innovation matching an open challenge

Natural Resources Canada's clean energy research, development and demonstration fund, run through periodic calls such as CCUS front-end engineering and design.

For Canadian businesses, utilities, Indigenous communities and research organizations in clean energy

A $3.45 billion national initiative delivered by the regional development agencies, offering liquidity support and pivot-project funding to tariff-exposed firms.

For Businesses of any sector facing tariff pressure, with at least $1 million in annual revenue

The federal Crown lender for small and medium businesses: working capital, equipment, commercial real estate, technology and business-purchase loans plus paid advisory services.

For Canadian small and medium-sized businesses at any stage

Canada's export credit agency: accounts receivable insurance, export guarantees that free up bank financing, direct and buyer lending, and equity investments.

For Canadian exporters and companies expanding internationally, from first sale to large project finance

Crown lender dedicated to agriculture and food, with financing for primary producers, agribusiness and food and beverage processors, plus input financing.

For Farms, agribusinesses and food and beverage processors anywhere in Canada

Ottawa shares the risk with banks and credit unions so small firms can borrow for equipment, leasehold improvements, intellectual property and working capital lines.

For Small businesses applying through a participating financial institution, not to government

Cost-shares up to $50,000 of expenses for entering a new export market, such as travel, trade shows, market research and certification; it runs in announced intake windows rather than continuously.

For Canadian SMEs with an export plan and meaningful economic ties to Canada

Up to $5,000 per student placement, delivered year-round through 18 sector organizations such as TECHNATION, BioTalent Canada and ECO Canada.

For Employers hiring post-secondary students into paid work-integrated learning placements

Startup loans of up to $75,000 combined with up to two years of matched mentorship, delivered nationally with BDC and RBC as financing partners.

For Entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 whose business has been operating 24 months or less

A cluster of federal supports including a Loan Fund offering up to $50,000, an Ecosystem Fund for delivery organizations, and a Knowledge Hub.

For Women-owned and women-led businesses across Canada

Three parts: a Loan Fund of up to $250,000 administered by FACE with BDC, an Ecosystem Fund for Black-led business organizations, and a Knowledge Hub.

For Black business owners and entrepreneurs, and Black-led not-for-profit business organizations

Coordinates a network of more than 50 Indigenous Financial Institutions that deliver business loans, the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program and women's and youth streams.

For First Nations, Métis and Inuit entrepreneurs and Indigenous-owned businesses

Indigenous Services Canada contributions of up to $500,000 per recipient a year for regional or national projects that build Indigenous entrepreneurship capacity.

For First Nation and Inuit communities, Indigenous-owned organizations and associations, not individual startups

ElevateIP

Federal

Renewed in Budget 2025, it funds IP education, IP strategy development and the cost of protecting IP, delivered by five regional partners including Communitech and MAIN.

For Canadian startups and SMEs, accessed through the regional delivery partner for your province

Staged support that pairs firms with IP experts to build awareness, then an IP strategy, then implementation of that strategy.

For Canadian SMEs working with NRC IRAP

Investors 2

A $15 billion arm's-length investment fund managed by CGF Investment Management, using tools such as carbon contracts for difference to crowd in private capital.

For Large clean growth, low-carbon supply chain and infrastructure projects and companies

BDC's investment arm, covering venture capital funds, Growth & Transition Capital and Growth Equity Partners for later-stage companies.

For Canadian technology and high-growth companies raising venture, mezzanine or growth equity

Government services 10

One-window federal service that helps cleantech firms find the right programs, funding and procurement routes across departments.

For Clean technology developers and adopters at any stage

The Global Skills Strategy fast lane: two-week service standards for both the labour market impact assessment and the work permit for specialized hires.

For Innovative firms referred by a designated partner, or hiring from the global talent occupations list

Registers patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs, and offers small entity fee reductions, e-learning and IP strategy guidance.

For Any Canadian business or inventor protecting intellectual property

The regional development agency for British Columbia, funding business scale-up, regional innovation ecosystems, AI adoption and tariff response.

For Businesses and not-for-profits in British Columbia

The regional development agency for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, running Business Scale-up and Productivity, community diversification and AI programs.

For Businesses, Indigenous-led organizations and communities in the three Prairie provinces

The regional development agency for southern Ontario, providing repayable and non-repayable contributions for growth, defence, Indigenous business and tariff response.

For Businesses and organizations in southern Ontario; northern Ontario is served by FedNor

The regional development agency for Quebec, running the Quebec Economic Development Program, Regional Economic Growth through Innovation, and AI and quantum streams.

For SMEs and economic not-for-profits based in Quebec

The regional development agency for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, funding competitiveness, innovation and clean transition projects.

For Businesses and communities in the four Atlantic provinces

The regional development agency for Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, running IDEANorth and the Northern Projects Management Office.

For Northern and Indigenous businesses, communities and organizations in the three territories

CanadaBuys

Federal

The federal government's procurement platform for tender notices, supplier registration and guidance on selling to the broader Canadian public sector.

For Any Canadian supplier wanting to bid on federal and public sector contracts

Industry & trade 2

Government of Canada trade advisors in more than 160 cities worldwide who provide market intelligence, qualified contacts and on-the-ground problem solving.

For Canadian companies exporting or investing abroad; registration is free

Canada's patent collective for cleantech: pooled patent access, IP insurance, market intelligence, IP credits and grant funding for member companies.

For Canadian data-driven cleantech companies that join as members