Commercialization Grants and Funding Available in Nova Scotia for 2026
Turn prototypes into market-ready products with non‑dilutive Canadian funding. Access proof‑of‑concept, pilot, and scale‑up support across Nova Scotia.
In Nova Scotia and across Atlantic Canada, organizations can access a broad mix of commercialization grants, repayable contributions, and vouchers in 2026. Programs support proof‑of‑concept, pilot and demonstration, market entry, export readiness, and scale‑up for SMEs, startups, and research partners. This directory explains key options, eligibility, timelines, and how to prepare competitive applications.
33 opportunities available
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) — Business Scale-up and Productivity — ACOA
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)Financing to accelerate growth in Atlantic Canada
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationHuman ResourcesInnovation
Grant and FundingOpen
Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)Funding for Atlantic businesses integrating into defence supply chains
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- Public administration
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationTechnologyInnovation
Partnering and CollaborationExpert AdviceOpen
Asia Market Development Program
Invest Nova ScotiaAdvice to help you expand into the Asian market
Eligible Funding
- From $5,462 to $24,000
- Up to 20% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Grant and FundingLoans and Capital investmentsArchived
Aboriginal Business Loans — Youth and Womens Loans
UlnoowegLoans for Indigenous youth and women entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationDigital Transformation
Grant and FundingClosed
Invest Nova Scotia — Greenshoots
Government of Nova ScotiaFunding for early-stage businesses in Nova Scotia
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 40 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationTechnologyEnvironment and Climate
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
CBDC Youth Loan
Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC)Business loans for young Atlantic Canadians
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Grant and FundingOpen
CBDC Young Millionaires Program
Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC)Support for Atlantic youth to start a business
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 200 $
Eligible Industries
- Educational services
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationHuman ResourcesInnovation
Grant and FundingClosed
Value-adding Equipment Program
Government of Nova ScotiaFunding for agricultural and agri-food businesses in Nova Scotia
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Tax CreditsOpen
Nova Scotia innovation equity tax credit
Government of Nova ScotiaTax incentive encouraging investment in innovative Nova Scotia businesses
Eligible Funding
- From $1,000 to $5,000,000
- Up to 45% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationTechnologyInnovation
Grant and FundingOpen
Creative Entrepreneurship Program
Cape Breton Centre for Craft and DesignResources for Cape Breton Island and Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, craft entrepreneurs
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationHuman Resources
Expert AdviceOpen
Europe Market Development Program
Government of Nova ScotiaDevelopment support for Atlantic exporting companies
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Grant and FundingClosed
Seafood Expansion and Market Access Program (SeaMArk)
Perennia Food and Agriculture CorporationSupports Nova Scotia seafood businesses in expanding market access
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 99,900 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationTechnologyHuman ResourcesInnovationDigital Transformation
Grant and FundingClosed
Nova Scotia Seafood and Agriculture Strategic Investment Fund
Perennia Food and Agriculture CorporationSupports transformative, innovative projects in Nova Scotia's seafood and agriculture
Eligible Funding
- From $500,000 to $1,125,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationTechnologyInnovation
Grant and FundingClosed
Creative Industries Fund in Nova Scotia
Government of Nova ScotiaCreative industry global growth funding in Nova Scotia
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingExpert AdviceClosed
Atlantic Canada Travel Trade Market Readiness Program
Government of Nova ScotiaAdvice for tourism operators in Atlantic Canada
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationBusiness Buyout
Expert AdviceOpen
Scotians Global Advisors Program
Government of Nova ScotiaAdvice for Nova Scotia exporters
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Expert AdviceOpen
Trade Market Intelligence Service
Government of Nova ScotiaMarket research support in Nova Scotia
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Tax CreditsClosed
New Small Business Tax Deduction
Government of Nova ScotiaTax credit for newly incorporated Nova Scotia businesses
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Other SupportLoans and Capital investmentsOpen
CBDC Community Development Fund
Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC)Financial assistance for Atlantic Canadian non-profit associations
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 225,000 $
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Impact Your Business — Start-Up Loans
Impact AtlanticLoans for entrepreneurs in urban Atlantic Canada
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationHuman Resources
Grant and FundingClosed
The Nova Scotia Beef Initiative
Perennia Food and Agriculture CorporationSupports capacity and improvements for Nova Scotia beef processors
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationEnvironment and ClimateHuman Resources
Grant and FundingExpert AdviceOpen
CBDC Self Employment Benefit Program
Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC)Financial and coaching support for unemployed entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationHuman Resources
Expert AdviceOpen
Business Navigators - NS
Government of Nova ScotiaHelp understanding business regulations in Nova Scotia
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationConstruction and Renovation Human Resources
Grant and FundingExpert AdviceOpen
Self-Employment Program (Nova Scotia)
Government of Nova ScotiaTraining for unemployed workers to start a business in Nova Scotia
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Grant and FundingExpert AdviceClosed
Food Ventures Program
Perennia Food and Agriculture CorporationSupports Nova Scotia food businesses with quality and safety services
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Accommodation and food services
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationInnovation
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
CBDC Social Enterprise Loan
Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC)Loans for social enterprises in Atlantic Canada
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationConstruction and Renovation Business Buyout
Expert AdviceOpen
CBDC Women in Business New Brunswick
Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC)Advice for women entrepreneurs in New Brunswick
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- Retail trade
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationTechnologyHuman ResourcesInnovation
Grant and FundingExpert AdviceOpen
Seafood Accelerator Program – Product Development and Technical Support
Perennia Food and Agriculture CorporationSupports Nova Scotia seafood companies in product development and safety
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationTechnologyInnovation
Grant and FundingClosed
ACOA — Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)Funding to recover Atlantic aerospace sector
Eligible Funding
- Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyEnvironment and ClimateInnovationDigital Transformation
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Aboriginal Business Loans — Micro Loans
UlnoowegSmall loans for Indigenous entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 750,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Eligible Industries
- Construction
- Other services (except public administration)
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationTechnologyBusiness Buyout
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Impact Your Business — Expansion Financing
Impact AtlanticLoans for young entrepreneurs in urban Atlantic Canada
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationHuman Resources
Expert AdviceOpen
ACOA Business Information Services — Nova Scotia
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)Advice and expertise for entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationBusiness Buyout
Grant and FundingOpening Soon
Nova Scotia — Export Development Program
Government of Nova ScotiaSupport for export growth in Nova Scotia
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Types of eligible projects
Commercialization
Frequently asked questions about commercialization grants in Nova Scotia
Below are concise answers to common questions about 2026 Nova Scotia commercialization funding, eligibility, stacking rules, and application steps.
What are the best commercialization grants in Nova Scotia in 2026?
How do I qualify for NRC IRAP in Nova Scotia?
Can I combine ACOA and IRAP funding for the same project?
Which grants support pilot and demonstration projects in Halifax?
Do Nova Scotia grants fund sales, marketing, or export activities?
What match funding is typically required in 2026?
Are there programs for women, Indigenous, newcomer, youth, or rural entrepreneurs?
How can helloDarwin help with Nova Scotia commercialization grants?
What TRL is required to access pilot funding in 2026?
Can nonprofits or universities access commercialization funding?
What else should I know about Commercialization Grants and Funding in Nova Scotia for 2026?
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