Digital Transformation Grants in New Brunswick for 2026

What are digital transformation grants in New Brunswick?

Digital transformation grants in New Brunswick are non-dilutive funding mechanisms that help organizations plan, adopt, and scale technology. These programs support investments in ERP/CRM systems, e‑commerce platforms, cybersecurity controls, data analytics, cloud migration, automation, robotics, and AI. Funding often takes the form of a non-repayable contribution, a matching grant (cost‑share), a forgivable loan, or a wage/training subsidy. In New Brunswick (NB), opportunities combine federal initiatives (e.g., CDAP grant New Brunswick, ACOA funding for digital projects, NRC IRAP digital transformation NB) with provincial and regional programs (Opportunities NB funding, NBIF funding digital, CBDC NB digital funding). The result is a layered landscape that can cover strategy, software, hardware, implementation, and skills development.

Why these grants matter for NB organizations

- They reduce risk and accelerate ROI on modernization initiatives such as Industry 4.0, e‑commerce enablement, and business process automation.

- They increase competitiveness for manufacturers, agri‑food, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, tourism, retail, logistics, healthcare, education, and nonprofits.

- They enable bilingual website development, WCAG accessibility, PIPEDA privacy compliance, and export digitization for US markets.

Core programs and where to start in 2026

The New Brunswick funding mix includes well-known federal programs and Atlantic‑focused streams, complemented by provincial and community resources.

Federal programs relevant in NB

- Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) in New Brunswick

- Boost Your Business Technology NB: Supports digital maturity assessments, digital roadmaps, and technology adoption projects, often paired with the BDC digital adoption loan NB. Applicants typically engage vendor‑neutral advisors and implement ERP/CRM, POS, inventory management, cybersecurity, and cloud solutions.

- Grow Your Business Online NB: Historically offered micro‑grants for e‑commerce setup; local partners and Chambers may provide related digital adoption support or training opportunities.

- ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

- ACOA Business Development Program digital and ACOA REGI productivity digital funding help SMEs adopt technology that improves productivity, export capacity, and innovation. The Atlantic Innovation Fund also supports R&D and commercialization with digital components such as AI, data platforms, and IoT.

- NRC IRAP digital transformation NB

- NRC IRAP supports innovation projects that involve new digital products, AI proof of concepts, data analytics, or advanced process automation. It can co‑fund technical staff and advisory services for SMEs conducting R&D or pilot‑to‑scale deployments.

Provincial and ecosystem resources

- Opportunities NB funding (technology adoption, productivity, export readiness) can assist with software licensing funding NB, hardware upgrades grants NB, and training and upskilling digital NB.

- NBIF funding digital supports innovation, often complementing NRC IRAP or ACOA in technology development or commercialization.

- CBDC NB digital funding and Chambers of Commerce (Moncton digital grant, Fredericton and Saint John programming) sometimes provide small grants or advisory vouchers for e‑commerce, SEO/SEM funding NB, or digital skills.

- TechImpact NB programs and Service New Brunswick digital services offer knowledge resources and connections to advisors.

- Local hubs such as Planet Hatch Fredericton and Ignite Fredericton digital adoption initiatives connect startups to mentors and funding pathways.

Note: Program availability, budgets, and deadlines may change during 2026. Applicants should verify current criteria and dates with the relevant delivery partners.

What expenses are typically eligible?

Digital transformation grants commonly support a wide range of eligible costs when tied to a defined business outcome.

Strategy and discovery

- Digital maturity assessment NB and Industry 4.0 assessment to establish baselines and identify quick wins.

- Digital roadmap grant NB for phased investments, vendor selection, and risk management.

- Digital consultant grant NB for vendor‑neutral advisory, feasibility studies, and business cases.

Software and platforms

- ERP implementation funding NB, including cloud ERP for manufacturers NB and modules for finance, inventory, production, and MRP.

- CRM adoption grant NB, customer data platform grant NB, and marketing automation grant NB (e.g., HubSpot).

- POS system upgrades grant NB and inventory management system grant NB with barcode/RFID.

- e‑invoicing, accounting digitization funding NB, and procurement digital tools NB.

Infrastructure, cloud, and resilience

- Cloud migration funding NB (e.g., Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS), backup/disaster recovery grant NB, and data governance funding NB.

- 5G/edge pilot NB grant, IoT sensor funding NB for condition monitoring, and digital twin/IoT grant NB for operations optimization.

- Hardware upgrades grant NB (servers, networking, laptops/tablets subsidy NB) tied to the digital roadmap.

Cybersecurity and privacy

- Cybersecurity grant New Brunswick for cyber hygiene program, cyber audit grant New Brunswick, penetration testing funding NB, SOC/SIEM funding NB, and cyber insurance readiness grant NB.

- Privacy compliance funding NB for PIPEDA readiness, access controls, encryption, and incident response.

E‑commerce and digital marketing

- E‑commerce grant New Brunswick for website/ecommerce funding NB, Shopify/WooCommerce setup, marketplace integration grant NB, omnichannel retail funding NB, and retail digital signage funding NB.

- Bilingual website grant NB, website translation grants English‑French NB, and digital accessibility WCAG funding NB (e.g., WCAG 2.2).

- Digital marketing grant NB for SEO/SEM, email automation grant NB, ecommerce photography grant NB, and export e‑commerce incentive for US market entry.

Data, AI, automation, and robotics

- Data analytics grant New Brunswick (Power BI training, data pipelines), data strategy funding, and data governance frameworks.

- AI adoption funding NB for AI pilot grant NB, AI proof of concept grants NB 2026, machine vision funding NB, and robotics integration grant NB.

- Manufacturing MES/SCADA funding NB and supply chain digitization funding NB with logistics telematics funding NB.

Who is eligible and how much cost share is typical?

Eligibility varies by program, but common patterns apply across NB:

Typical applicants

- Incorporated SMEs (often 1–499 employees) aiming to modernize with ERP/CRM, cybersecurity, e‑commerce, or automation.

- Startups developing software or digital products (startup digital grant New Brunswick).

- Nonprofits and charities undergoing CRM for nonprofits NB grant projects or digital transformation grants NB.

- Indigenous and francophone businesses seeking Indigenous business digital grants NB or francophone business digital grants NB, including bilingual digital content.

- Tourism, hospitality, and retail organizations pursuing tourism digital grants New Brunswick and hospitality POS/ecommerce funding NB.

Match funding and stacking

- Many programs are matching grants (e.g., 50–75% cost share with caps).

- Stacking may be allowed across federal and provincial sources, but total public funding usually cannot exceed a set percentage of eligible costs.

- Combining CDAP (digital roadmap) with BDC digital adoption loan NB, then using ACOA REGI productivity digital for implementation, is a common pathway.

- Wage subsidy for digital roles and training vouchers digital NB can complement capital and software funding.

Always confirm current percentages, stacking rules, and eligible expense windows before committing to suppliers.

How to apply for digital adoption grants in NB (step‑by‑step)

A disciplined process improves approval odds and execution quality.

Step 1 — Define objectives and scope

- Tie the project to measurable outcomes: productivity, export growth, cybersecurity risk reduction, or customer experience.

- Select a vendor‑neutral advisor for a digital maturity diagnostic and roadmap.

Step 2 — Build a compliant budget

- Separate eligible vs. ineligible costs; align to the program’s categories (advisory, software, hardware, integration, training).

- Gather two or more supplier quotes where required and detail reimbursable expenses.

Step 3 — Prepare documentation

- Corporate registration, financial statements, payroll data (for wage subsidies), and project plan with milestones.

- If relevant, proof of nonprofit status, Indigenous ownership, or bilingual service commitments.

- Accessibility, privacy (PIPEDA), and cybersecurity baselines—especially for cyber audit grant New Brunswick applications.

Step 4 — Submit and track

- Respect deadlines, word counts, and mandatory attachments; maintain version control.

- Expect reviews, clarifications, and negotiation of scope or timelines.

Step 5 — Execute and report

- Use a project tracker to manage deliverables, time sheets, receipts, and change requests.

- Report progress against KPIs and maintain audit‑ready documentation for claims.

Typical decision timelines range from several weeks to a few months; complex files (e.g., robotics or AI) may take longer.

Regional notes across New Brunswick

- Moncton digital grant and Chamber programs may emphasize e‑commerce enablement and digital skills for small business technology grant NB.

- Saint John digital grant opportunities often focus on industrial productivity, port/logistics telematics, and cybersecurity for SMEs.

- Fredericton digital grant activity benefits from the startup ecosystem (Planet Hatch), Ignite Fredericton digital adoption, and proximity to government services.

- Rural communities (Acadian Peninsula, Restigouche, Northumberland, Kent, Kings, Charlotte, Carleton, Madawaska, Westmorland, York, Sunbury) may access rural broadband/digital funding NB, CBDC programming, and training vouchers.

- Sector organizations (ExportNB, industry associations) provide export digitization funding NB for cross‑border e‑commerce.

Sector-focused examples and typical project bundles

- Manufacturing digitalization funding NB: Cloud ERP + MES/SCADA + machine vision + robotics integration grant NB to reduce scrap and increase throughput.

- Fisheries and aquaculture tech funding NB: IoT sensors + data analytics + mobile app development grant NB for traceability and predictive maintenance.

- Forestry tech adoption NB: GIS mapping, digital twin/IoT grant NB, and asset monitoring for harvesting and logistics.

- Tourism digital marketing NB: Bilingual website grant NB + SEO/SEM funding NB + CRM for tourism NB funding + accessibility WCAG 2.2 updates.

- Healthcare and education: Digital records, privacy compliance funding NB, and cybersecurity training subsidy NB for small teams.

Compliance, accessibility, and bilingual delivery

- Accessibility and digital compliance grant NB can support WCAG 2.2 improvements for websites, apps, and documents.

- Privacy and security: PIPEDA compliance grant NB, penetration testing funding NB, SOC/SIEM funding NB, and backup/disaster recovery grant NB.

- Bilingual service delivery: website translation/localization funding NB ensures English‑French parity and inclusive access.

How to choose vendors and advisors

- Prioritize vendor‑neutral advisor support for ERP vendor selection NB and digital roadmap consultant NB.

- Evaluate total cost of ownership: software subscriptions, implementation partners, training, change management, and integration.

- Confirm Canadian data residency options, security certifications, and exit strategies for key systems.

How helloDarwin supports your application

helloDarwin connects organizations with vetted grant experts and digital advisors while providing a SaaS platform that streamlines discovery, eligibility checks, and project tracking. This hybrid approach simplifies complexity, clarifies documentation, and accelerates time to approval—especially for CDAP grant New Brunswick, ACOA REGI productivity digital, and NRC IRAP digital transformation NB files. Clients gain a single, transparent workflow from roadmap to funding claim, with clear milestones, cost‑share tracking, and bilingual deliverables.

Key takeaways for 2026

- Pair federal programs (CDAP, ACOA, NRC IRAP) with provincial tools (Opportunities NB, NBIF) and community resources (CBDC, Chambers, TechImpact).

- Focus on eligible scopes with measurable outcomes: ERP/CRM, cybersecurity, cloud migration, e‑commerce, AI pilots, and training.

- Prepare early for deadlines, match funding, bilingual content, WCAG accessibility, and PIPEDA privacy.

- Use a structured roadmap and vendor‑neutral advisory to de‑risk selection and implementation.