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 will be providing 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: Canadian agri-food SMEs looking to test and validate new smart farm technologies

The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network, a non-profit launched in July 2019 through Stream 4 of the Strategic Innovation Fund, aims to support new technological solutions for challenges facing Canada’s agri-food sector. Through CAAIN’s latest Smart Farm Network Competition announced on December 8, funding will be dedicated to projects that assess agtech innovations, adopt new agricultural technologies, foster collaboration, contribute to building a skilled workforce, and share research data. Successful project teams can receive up to $1 million in funding to address Canadian agricultural challenges.

EOIs to the Smart Farm Network Competition are due by January 12, 2024.

For: Small companies looking to provide skills development and work opportunities for youth

Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy that provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities which allow Canadian youth between the ages of 15-30 to transition into the labour market. Private, public, and not-for-profit companies with fewer than 50 FTE employees can receive between 50-100% of eligible wages covered by the program, for placements with a duration between 6-16 weeks. Placements may start between April 22, 2024, to July 22, 2024, and go no later than August 31, 2024.

The deadline to apply for Canada Summer Jobs for summer 2024 is January 10, 2024.

For: Canadian SMEs and public research institutions looking to advance drug discovery research

CQDM’s Quantum Leap program provides support for drug discovery research to assist Canadian SMEs and universities in innovative biopharmaceutical research projects which have the potential to improve the drug discovery process. Successful applicants can receive up to $1.2 million in non-repayable funding to cover costs related to the development of technologies for use by CQDM pharmaceutical members.

The deadline for the next selection round of Quantum Leap is February 15, 2024.

For: Canadian companies looking to develop technologies detect micro and mini UAS

Through the Department of National Defence’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS), Canadians have the opportunity to respond to specific challenges faced by the Canadian Armed Forces. Intake to a new challenge, Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) Concept Development has opened intake, which seeks CUAS solutions that can detect Micro and Mini UAS, with the potential for integration into military command and control systems. Initial grants of up to $500,000 are available to successful applicants.

The next window for this IDEaS challenge will open soon and close on April 15, 2024.

For: Nova Scotia-based companies looking to hire co-op students

Delivered through the Government of Nova Scotia, the Co-operative Education Incentive offers support to companies seeking to hire Nova Scotia-based co-op students for work placements. For eligible 12- to 16-week placements, companies may receive subsidies of $8-$9.50 per hour, for wages of at least $18 per hour.

Applications to the Summer 2024 term of the Co-operative Education Incentive are due by January 15, 2024.