Archive for the ‘business financing’ Category

The Industrial Research Assistance Program that the National Research Council of Canada has (NRC-IRAP) has long been of assistance to companies in Canada who need funding for research purposes. About a month ago, NRC-IRAP announced a new review process: the Small Project Accelerated Review Process.

This process was designed to help grow the business of SMEs in Canada – help small and medium sized businesses not just with R&D efforts, but with market research or process changes that will help benefit and grow your company.

What does this mean for you?

Quite simply, if you are a small or medium sized business, and are only doing a project that requires a maximum contribution of $50,000 from NRC-IRAP then the NRC-IRAP has created a streamlined process to get you your funding FAST.

So what kind of projects are acceptable for the accelerated review process?

• R&D projects that are limited in scope and nature
• Lean manufacturing/productivity studies
• Prototype engineering
• Development of business plans
• Branding creation and enhancements
• Market research studies

There are of course a lot of other types of projects acceptable for the review process, but this is just a small selection to give you an idea of the great variety there is that is applicable. You can get more information about this new funding process here.

Lines of credit have almost completely dried up in this recession, and it’s harder than ever for businesses to fund their new development projects.  Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy (AMIS) is a great venue for Ontario manufacturers to pursue. What’s more, AMIS is available to companies from all manufacturing sectors in Ontario. The $500 million dollar provincial program focuses on:

• industrial R&D
• design/prototyping/engineering
• new/ advanced products/materials
• advanced manufacturing processes
• robotics/software development
• waste reduction
• energy conservation

AMIS, when granting a loan, can provide up to 30% of the total eligible costs of a project (up to a limit of $10M). This funding is given in the form of a repayable loan. The loan is interest free and principal free for up to five years, providing the company receiving it meets job and investment targets mutually agreed upon between the company and the province. After that period, the repayment rate is the province’s cost of borrowing, plus an additional 1%.

To be eligible, projects must create and/or retain at least 50 jobs. Alternatively, the projects must invest $10 million over the 5 year period. The costs eligible for the loan (excluding ongoing costs of production or operations) include:

• research and development
• equipment and machinery
• materials
• construction/facility improvements
• training
• overhead
• labour (one time only)

The terms for the loan are negotiated individually. After completing the application process, most companies receive word of the province’s decision within a relatively speedy 45 calendar days. This sometimes may take longer for the more complicated applications. The Minister of Finance, along with the Minister of Economic Development, approve or deny applications based on the guidelines of the AMIS Assessment Committee.

What’s more, for those manufacturers who regularly claim for SR&ED, receiving an AMIS loan has no impact on SR&ED eligibility. The AMIS loan is not affected if a business has already received an SR&ED return or income tax credits.  Companies that have received AMIS funding often include extra cash procured by SR&ED towards their projects. In fact, any business that has received SR&ED credits is more likely to be meeting the AMIS eligibility requirements.

For more information about AMIS, visit http://www.ontariocanada.com/ontcan/en/progserv_amis_en.jsp

The proposed 2009 Ontario provincial budget, released March 26th, 2009, puts forward new tax measures intended to build on the government’s “5 point” economic plan. Understandably there is much controversy about the spending plans, and many Ontarians are expressing concern over the Sales Tax Harmonization, and how it will affect the individual.

On a positive note, there are a few bright spots for Ontario’s diverse technology sector. Most importantly, to our readers, are the changes to the Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC), a tax relief measure for businesses to encourage technological development and new innovations.

Dalton McGuinty and Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan (right), in Toronto on Thursday.

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit

The OITC is a 10% return for small to medium sized enterprises who perform qualifying SR&ED activities (Scientific Research & Experimental Development) in Ontario. The new budget proposes to extend the taxable income phase-out range from the current $400,000 – $700,000 to $500,000 – $800,000.  This measure will parallel the changes and enhancements to the Federal Investment Tax Credit for SR&ED claims, proposed in the 2009 Federal budget.

Sustaining and Promoting Research and New Technology

Ontario’s technological advancements require continuous support.  The new provincial budget is proposing more than $110 million in additional tax relief for 2009 and 2010, and $715 million in investments supporting partnerships in innovation, encouraging businesses to develop their new products, services, and processes.

These new investments are in addition to the $3 billion already to be provided by the Ministry of Research and Innovation.  They will include:

• $300 million in capital funds over six years for research infrastructure, to leverage funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation

• $100 million in extra operating funds over four years for research in the biomedical field. This funding, as well as aforementioned funds for the research infrastructure, will be delivered via the Ontario Research Fund.

• $250 million over five years for a new Emerging Technologies Fund that will put focus on clean technologies and clean energy, health and life sciences, and information and communication technologies (including digital media).

• $10 million over three years to the Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation, to assist small to medium sized enterprises with applied research, technology and commercialization.

Quote for March 27th, 2009:

“The most terrifying words in the English langauge are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
- Ronald Reagan