CanExport Innovation
Innovators from Canadian organizations may access funding to assist with research and development (R&D) for a single technology. We cover up to 75% of costs to pursue and sign collaborative R&D agreements with international partners.
Offered by Global Affairs Canada (formerly: Trade Commissioner Service)
Amount
Up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum of $37,500 in funding per project (maximum budget of $50,000); an organization may receive a maximum of $100,000 in CanExport Innovation funding within any 12-month period
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Who can apply
The R&D partnerships being pursued must be for the purpose of joint development, adaptation and/or validation of a Canadian technology owned by the applicant organization. The technology must be ready for commercialization within 5 years.
The applicant must focus on only one technology per project application. However, a project can target up to three foreign partners to pursue multiple R&D collaborations for the same technology.
Eligible Canadian organizations are:
- Small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): for-profit companies with fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees. (The organization must be an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP) or cooperative in Canada. Sole proprietorships are ineligible.)
- Academic institutions: recognized Canadian educational institutions dedicated to education and research
- Non-government research centres: research organizations that are not wholly or majority funded by the government
4.1 Eligibility criteria
Eligible organizations must meet basic eligibility by demonstrating that they:
- are registered in Canada
- have an active Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number
- own or co-own intellectual property rights (IP) for the technology featured in the application and/or have appropriate decision-making authority over the IP
- have a prototype for the technology and be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher, as per Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada definitions
- intend to commercially launch the technology within 5 years
Financial capacity
There is no minimum revenue requirement for eligible organizations; CanExport Innovation is open to pre-revenue companies. However, financial capacity is one of 5 project assessment criteria outlined in section 9. As such, applicants must demonstrate they have sufficient private revenues to cover 25% of the costs for proposed activities. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate they have sufficient funds (or a credible plan to secure funds) from private and/or public sources to finance R&D work resulting from a collaborative R&D agreement.
CanExport Innovation supports projects targeting up to three foreign partners. Applicants may pursue agreements with multiple foreign partners as part of the same application.
Proposed activities must contribute to negotiating an agreement that will result in the development, adaptation and/or validation of the applicant's technology.
Eligible foreign partners are the foreign organizations with whom the applicant is seeking to negotiate and establish a collaborative R&D agreement. The foreign partner must have specialized expertise and/or proprietary technology that will directly contribute to R&D on the applicant's technology.
Partners are deemed ineligible where an R&D agreement has already been signed or where R&D work has already commenced. Information provided in the application about the foreign partner must be verifiable.
About the funding
Funding is provided on a cost-sharing basis between the recipient and CanExport Innovation. The applicant may submit a maximum budget of $50,000; there is no set minimum. The program funds up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum of $37,500 in funding per project. The applicant is responsible for the remaining 25% (in-kind contributions are not permitted).
Note:
An organization may receive a maximum of $100,000 in CanExport Innovation funding within any 12-month period.
Financial assistance takes the form of a grant. Grants are paid once the funding agreement is signed and do not require recipients to submit claims.
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We support the following non-travel activities:
- applying for intellectual property protection in international markets
- applying for certification in international markets
- seeking expert legal and business advice
- shipping technology to determine feasibility/compatibility with a partner's technology
- translating, adapting, and creating promotional plans or materials
- attending virtual networking functions, meetings, or conferences
We also support travel-related activities:
- travel abroad or in Canada to meet with pre-identified foreign partners
- attending an event or conference to meet with pre-identified foreign partners
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program | Grant, Loan | AAFC contribution normally not exceeding $1 million per project, generally not more than $5 million over 5 years for each applicant | Open |
| AgriScience Program – Projects | Grant, In-Kind Support | Up to $5 million per project and $10 million per applicant over the program's duration (2023 to 2028) | Open |
| CanExport GAC-Led Delegations | Grant | Cost-shared 50% by the applicant and 50% by the program, on up to $100,000 CAD in total project costs | Open |
| Cooperation with the Community Sector — Development of Official Language Communities Program | Grant | Up to 100% of eligible expenses | Open |
