Workplace Innovation Fund
The Workplace Innovation Fund supports key sectors to adopt new technology and processes to address labour shortages and increase productivity to help with workforce challenges.
Both private and not-for-profit/non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for up to $5 million in project funding.
Offered by Government of British Columbia
Amount
Up to $5 million in project funding per project, to a maximum of $10 million per Primary Applicant over the Program (non-repayable contributions; applicant must contribute 20% towards project costs)
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
Eligible project must:
- Address one or more sector priorities
- Be new to British Columbia's construction sector
Preference will be given to projects which:
- Have a high level of readiness to implement within six months of approval
- Involve sector-wide and/or cross industry collaboration
- Have the potential to benefit the whole construction sector
Can start-ups apply?
Yes, as long as you meet the Applicant Eligibility Criteria including having been in business for a minimum of one year. We also recommend you be able to demonstrate strong financial, managerial and strategic business capability to implement the innovation.
Eligible Applicants and partners for the first intake include the following types of organizations:
- Businesses and for-profit organizations including Indigenous and First Nation-owned
enterprises;
- Not-for-profit, non-profit including charities and societies, and/or social enterprise
operations;
- Labour organizations;
- Local governments; and
- Consortia or partnerships.
For all submissions, whether a single entity or a consortium/partnership, a Primary Applicant must be identified.
In addition, the Primary Applicant must provide evidence that the following is true in their Initial Concept Proposal. The Ministry will also conduct due diligence to verify that the information provided is accurate including cross referencing with Org Book:
- Attest that they are operational;
- Attest that they have an established base of operations in BC (for example, have
operations in a physical location with employees);
- Provide their date of incorporation to demonstrate that they have been in operation for
at least one year at time of application;
- Have business insurance (General Commercial Liability insurance and if applicable,
Professional Errors and Omissions insurance); and
- Attest that they are in a viable financial position, including in good standing with the
Province (i.e., Net Operating Income > Current Debt Obligations). Financial documents will be requested to verify this information if you are invited to complete a Full Project Application.
7 | BC Workplace Innovation Fund Partnerships and consortia are encouraged, including local municipalities, not-for-profit/non-profit organizations or government reporting entities provided the Primary Applicant and any partners meet the eligibility criteria set out in Appendix B - Applicant Eligibility Criteria.
Projects must begin within six months of receiving funding and be completed within three years of commencement. Completion dates may be negotiated with the Ministry.
- If you think you have an eligible project that does not meet these timelines, please contact
us at WorkplaceInnovationFund@gov.bc.ca to discuss.
The Project must be ready for implementation within six months. For technology, this means that the innovation is at a Technology Readiness Level of 3 to 4 or higher, as per the Federal Technology Readiness Levels. Research or development is not eligible for a Project.
About the funding
Both private and not-for-profit/non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for up to $5 million in project funding. Organizations may apply for multiple projects up to a maximum of $10 million in funding over the course of the Program.
Can my business receive the entirety of the funding contribution up front at the beginning of the Project?
Yes. In some circumstances, funding may have to be paid in two different fiscal years due to annual Workplace Innovation Program allocations from Treasury Board.
Do I have to pay the funding back for any reason?
Show all funding details
The Workplace Innovation Fund provides non-repayable contributions, not loans. Agreement Holders are only required to pay back the funds in certain circumstances such as if they do not complete the deliverables, if any of the information submitted was untrue, or if funds provided are used for purposes that are not eligible under the Workplace Innovation Fund.
- Maximum of $5 million per project.
- $10 million maximum per Primary Applicant.
- A budget must be submitted and approved as
part of the application process.
- Funding will be issued after Financial
Contribution Agreement is signed.
- Primary Applicant must commit to
contributing 20% towards project costs.
- In-kind contributions can count for half of the
20% - must be essential goods, services or personnel time that otherwise would need to be purchased with cash.
Our Initial Concept Proposal and/or Full Concept Application involved a Project that will continue operating after Workplace Innovation Fund Program funding ends - can we include any future operational costs?
Only costs directly related to the Project during the term of the agreement are eligible for funding.
Only those costs that are submitted in the Full Project Application and approved by the Ministry will be eligible and included in the Financial Contribution Agreement. For successful Applicants, the WIF will provide funds to cover eligible costs of up to $5 million per Project.
- Applicants can access up to $10 million in WIF funding over the lifetime of the Program.
- Eligible costs should be specifically related to Project implementation.
- Funding received from other sources must not duplicate any of the Eligible Project Costs
covered by the WIF.
- Applicants are expected to select goods and/or services that are competitively priced.
See Appendix C - Eligible Project Costs for further details.
Innovative projects may require training to upskill or reskill existing employees. There are many existing government training programs available to employers, therefore only the following training as part of a Project will be an eligible cost for WIF funds. See Appendix D – Other Resources for training alternatives.
Training must be directly related • Funding will only be provided for training that solely to the innovation being supports the process or technology innovation implemented through the element.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Quantum Initiative in British Columbia | Loan, Grant | $500,000 to $5 million per recipient | Open |
| B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program Stream 1: Agri-business skills and leadership development | Grant | Up to 70 percent of eligible costs, maximum reimbursement of up to $2,000 per business (minimum reimbursement of $500) | Open |
| B.C. Employer Training Grant (ETG) | Grant | 80 per cent of the cost of training up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000 per fiscal year (April 1 – March 31) | Open |
| Enhanced Replant Program (ERP) | Grant | No fixed amount | Open |
