At NorthBridge, we keep up to date on all the most recent government funding updates, intake announcements and upcoming deadlines so you don’t have to. Each month, we provide a summary of the most important news in government funding. Get in touch today to learn more about each program and assess your eligibility.
For: Quebec-based SMEs participating in collaborative health tech projects
The Partenar-IA program is designed to support collaborative projects involving the adoption of AI in health technology. The program will fund 40-50% of eligible expenses on projects that involve a consortium of at least 1 SME and 1 research centre up to a maximum $600K per project. Projects should aim to improve the competitiveness of companies through the integration of AI technologies, thus contributing to the positioning of Quebec as a leader in the development of AI. The submission deadline for this call for projects is April 15, 2021.
For: Saskatchewan-Based companies in Agriculture, Agri-Tech and Agri-Food
Innovation Saskatchewan Agtech Growth Fund (AGF)
The Agtech Growth Fund provides funding to accelerate commercialization of innovations in Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector. Funding is available to R&D projects that solve a specific industry-wide challenge and benefit the sector as a whole, focusing on projects in digital Ag software/hardware, Smart Farm equipment, food processing, indoor agriculture, animal health, supply chain tech and agricultural marketplace/fintech. Projects must be a collaboration between private sector partners, with priority given to proposals that also have an academic partner from a Saskatchewan post-secondary or research institute. The project will fund up to 30% of the proposed budget in the form of a non-repayable grant. The first deadline for intake period 1 in 2021 is April 30 for the EOI submission.
For: Ontario Feature Film Productions
This program supports Dramatic and Documentary productions with industrial and cultural benefits for the overall purpose of increasing the level of domestic feature film production in Ontario. To be eligible, the production company must be a CCPC and Ontario-based, and the Individual Producer(s) must also be Ontario residents and Canadian citizens with previous feature film production experience. Funding is capped on a tiered basis depending on the total budget but ranges from $250-400K for dramatic films, and up to $150K for documentary films. The deadline to apply for Cycle 1 funding is March 1, 2021.
For: Ontario-Based Interactive Digital Media Content Creators
Ontario Creates Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Fund
Ontario Creates provides interactive digital media content creators with funding for high quality, original IDM in two streams: Interactive Content and Video Content. Creators can receive between $10-50K for concept definition and $25-300K for production up to 50% of eligible Ontario expenses. Companies must be Ontario-based and Canadian owned. The deadline for the current intake is April 12, 2021 by 5pm.
For: SMEs in Western Canada impacted by the economic effects of COVID-19 that do not qualify for other support measures
Western Economic Diversification Canada Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (WD RRRF)
The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund offers support to businesses and organizations affected by COVID-19, that are unable to access other federal relief measures, or require additional support. The program offered by WD recently added some key new features for liquidity support. Priority is now given to businesses in sectors that were hardest hit by COVID-19 including the tourism sector. In addition, RRRF funding may now support eligible operating costs up to a maximum of 12 consecutive months (previously this was 6 months). The RFFF funding remains interest-free and covers 100% of eligible costs. The program will close once WD has fully distributed funds.
For: Collaborative Projects in Advanced Manufacturing
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada Supercluster Projects (NGen)
The NGen Supercluster provides funding to projects that involve the development of technological capabilities with potential to confer a significant global competitive advantage to the Canadian manufacturing industry. The program supports late-stage technology projects in Advanced Manufacturing. Projects must be collaborations between multiple industry partners, including at least 1 SME, with project costs ranging from $500k-$20M. Currently, there are three streams for funding:
Project Funding: up to 44.4% of project costs between $500k-$20M.
Feasibility Study Funding: up to 50% of project costs between $50K-$200M
Pilot Project Funding: up to 50% of project costs between $100-$500k
The deadline for submissions to all three streams is March 2021.
For: High-growth Western Canada Businesses undertaking projects for the purpose of scaling up
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) Program
The next intake for the WD BSP program will open on March 15, 2021. BSP supports high-growth business by providing funding in the form of a non-repayable loan for projects that are aimed at achieving productivity improvements, business scale-up including market expansion, or technology commercialization. BSP is currently looking for projects in 7 priority areas: advanced manufacturing, clean resources, clean technology, digital industries, health/bio-sciences, natural resources value-added processing and value-added agriculture. EOI’s for this intake are due by April 14, 2021.