Regional Quantum Initiative (RQI) in the Prairie Provinces
As part of the Government of Canada’s efforts to develop a National Quantum Strategy (NQS), Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is delivering the Regional Quantum Initiative (RQI) in Alberta. This fund will help companies and not-for-profit organizations advance and commercialize quantum products and solutions for domestic and global markets.
Offered by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
Amount
Businesses: interest-free repayable funding for up to 50% of eligible costs; eligible not-for-profit organizations: non-repayable funding for up to 90% of eligible costs
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Who can apply
This is a competitive program with priority given to eligible applicants in Alberta’s quantum hub that are:
Incorporated businesses, including start-ups/early revenue firms that are commercializing or adopting quantum technologies or quantum-based solutions. Preference may be given to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 500 full-time employees (FTEs).
Applicants must:
- be a for-profit company incorporated to conduct business in Canada;
- have staffed operating facilities in Alberta;
- have confirmed funding from all other sources, including government and non-government (non-government funds must represent at least 50% of the proposed project costs).
Not-for-profit organizations, including those that support quantum businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs for start-up, growth, productivity, technology commercialization, technology adoption, export and investment attraction, including:
- post-secondary educational institutions;
- business accelerators and incubators;
- angel networks;
- Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, MĂ©tis) organizations, including Indigenous-led not-for profit organizations and Indigenous-owned businesses;
- groups of eligible recipients such as industry associations or consortiums.
All eligible applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
About the funding
- Businesses can receive interest-free repayable funding for up to 50% of eligible costs.
- Eligible not-for-profit organizations can receive non-repayable funding for up to 90% of eligible costs. Eligible not-for-profit organizations proposing to undertake commercial projects will normally receive repayable funding.
- Stacking of government funding (from all three levels of governments) is limited to up to 50% eligible capital costs and 75% of other eligible costs for businesses or commercial projects.
- After project completion, there is a 1 year grace period, followed by equal monthly repayments over 5 years.
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- Interest-free.
- No security/collateral will be taken.
- There is no penalty for early repayment.
Not-for-profit organizations may receive non-repayable contributions for non-commercial projects.
Productivity improvement, which includes:
- acquiring, adapting and adopting new technologies and processes;
- process re-engineering;
- improving manufacturing capacity.
Business scale-up, which includes:
- developing or expanding markets;
- adopting best management practices, processes and systems;
- developing business opportunities.
Technology commercialization, which includes:
- growing and diversifying markets through late stage product development;
- technology showcasing and demonstration (Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7-9 as defined by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada).
Ecosystem capacity building, which includes:
- developing strategic business alliances within a specific sector or cluster;
- identifying barriers to scale-up and productivity enhancement within the sector or cluster through research and analysis;
- developing a strategy to address these barriers.
Business acceleration and incubation, which includes:
- helping entrepreneurs create and grow their start-up companies by providing advice on how to:
- create a business plan;
- determine a marketing strategy;
- hire employees, experts and/or mentors;
- advance technology to TRL 7-9;
- deploy specialized equipment.
Incremental costs essential to the project. Costs that may be eligible for reimbursement include:
- cost of labour (e.g. wages and benefits);
- capital costs (e.g. purchase of machinery or equipment);
- operating costs that are directly related to the project, such as management fees or working capital;
- consultancy fees (e.g. professional, advisory and technical services);
- costs related to intellectual property protection;
- preproduction (e.g. technological development and commercial demonstrations);
- subcontracting costs;
- production and distribution of promotional material and management tools;
- anticipated cost of maintaining the useful life of an asset for a reasonable period;
- costs related to specialized services, such as testing services, research and development services, technical or innovation services, sector development strategies in all markets and business networking.
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