Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program: Research and Innovation Stream
The Research and Innovation Stream will support pre-market innovation, including research, development, demonstration and commercialization activities, to develop transformative clean technologies and enable the expansion of current technologies, in 3 priority areas:
1. Green energy and energy efficiency
2. Precision agriculture
3. Bioeconomy
Support is available in the form of repayable and non-repayable contributions from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Offered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Amount
A maximum contribution of 50% of eligible project costs from the program (60:40 where the business is majority owned or led by under-represented groups), generally not exceeding $2 million per project and $5 million per recipient with multiple projects; non-repayable for research, development and demonstration, repayable over up to 10 years for commercialization and scale-up
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
Eligible applicants under the program are:
- for-profit organizations, including agri-food processors
- not-for-profit organizations, including co-operatives
- Indigenous groups
Eligible applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements. Project work and activities must be carried out in Canada.
About the funding
Contributions will be:
- non-repayable for research, development and demonstration activities
- repayableFootnote * where activities involve commercialization and scale-up
Footnote *
Show all funding details
- Contributions will be repaid over a period of up to 10 years following project completion. The amount to be repaid and the schedule of payments will be set out in the negotiated Contribution Agreement. Repayments will normally begin 1 year following the completion of the project. Interest is not charged on the contribution funding, with the exception of late payments and debts owed to the Crown, should such situations arise.
Funding by project
The maximum amount payable to a recipient will generally not exceed $2 million per project.
Funding by recipient
The maximum amount payable to a recipient with multiple projects will generally not exceed $5 million.
Cost-sharing
Eligible project costs will normally be shared as follows:
- A maximum contribution of 50% from the program
- A minimum contribution of 50% from the applicant
The program may provide a more favourable cost-share ratio (60:40) where the majority of the business (more than 50%) is owned or led by one or more under-represented groups. Under-represented groups include:
- Women
- Youth, aged 35 or under
- Indigenous groups
- Visible minorities
- Persons with disabilities
Stacking provisions
The maximum level of total government funding (federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal funding) will generally not exceed 75% of eligible costs per project.
Eligible activities under the R&I Stream are of the following nature and type:
- applied research and development of clean technologies
- piloting and evaluating clean technologies
- demonstration and knowledge and technology transfer activities
- commercializing and scaling up clean technologies
- other activities that support the R&I Stream as determined by the program
Payments for eligible project costs will only be made once a Contribution Agreement is signed.
The program may allow for eligible costs to be incurred from the date of the submission of a completed application. Costs incurred after the project completion date established by the program will not be eligible for funding.
Any costs incurred prior to the signing of a Contribution Agreement will be incurred solely at the applicant's risk without any obligation of payment by the program.
Eligible costs under the program are the incremental, relevant, reasonable and essential expenses required to carry out the eligible activities to which they relate as specifically set out in the Contribution Agreement.
See Annex A for a list of eligible costs under the Research and Innovation Stream.
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