Innovation Grants Available in the Canadian Prairies for 2026
Accelerate R&D, commercialization, and scale‑up with targeted public funding. Navigate federal, provincial, and local programs efficiently.
Across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, innovation grants help organizations fund research, pilot projects, product validation, and scale‑up. Programs span federal agencies like NRC IRAP and PrairiesCan, provincial bodies such as Alberta Innovates, Innovation Saskatchewan, and Research Manitoba, and sector initiatives across agri‑food, cleantech, digital, and manufacturing. This directory explains key funding types, eligibility, and how to apply so applicants can secure non‑dilutive financing.

Innovation continuum
Axelys- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement in tourism
Quebec Ministry of Tourism (MTO)- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Northern Canada
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)- Up to 25% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Prairie Provinces
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)- Up to 25% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Northern Ontario
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor)- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Southern Ontario
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)- From $125,000 to $1,000,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing

PME MTL — Innovation, productivity, and sustainable development fund
PME MTL- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

AI Compute Access Fund
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)- From $67,000 to $3,350,000
- Up to 67% of project cost
- All industries

Idea to Innovation Grants
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

CALQ — Exploration and Research
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

METHANE REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF)- Maximum amount : 750,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities

CRIAQ International
Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec (CRIAQ)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — British Columbia
Government of Canada- From $200,000 to $10,000,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Justice Partnership and Innovation Program
Department of Justice Canada- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Innovation Scouting Fund
Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN)- From $12,000 to $75,000
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

International Technology Pilot and Demonstration Program — Cleantech (Global Markets)
National Research Council Canada (NRC)- From $75,000 to $700,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Net Zero Accelerator Initiative
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)- No Condition
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

PRIMA — Call for Projects
Advanced Materials Research and Innovation Hub (PRIMA)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Health care and social assistance

Community Action Support Program for Families – Component 4 – One-time Support for Innovative Projects
Gouvernement du Québec- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

RNA Entrepreneurship initiative
Axelys- Maximum amount : 80,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Scientific and Innovative Venture Program (SIVP)
Québec Research Fund- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Regions and Rurality Fund (RRF) - Component 3 - MRC ‘Signature innovation’ projects
Gouvernement du Québec- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

The Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT)
Strix- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Digital Health Innovation Fund
Digital Health & Discovery Platform (dhdp)- Minimum amount : 1 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Social and Community Initiatives Support Program (SCISP) – Participation and Inclusion Component
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
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Future Fuels Challenge
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- No Condition
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Call for projects SOVAR
Axelys- From $15,000 to $20,000
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Valorization in RNA
Axelys- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Epic MegaGrants
Epic Games- From $5,000 to $150,000
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Productivity-Skills
Gouvernement du Québec- Up to 85% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Educational services

Genomics Data Connect: Accelerating Agriculture Innovation
Genome Alberta- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Tourism Sprint Program
Destination Canada- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Public administration

Strategic sectors
PROMPT- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Water reduction program for paper mills
Gouvernement du Québec- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

CQRDA — PSIAL
Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Manufacturing

PROMPT — Artificial intelligence
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Business Scale-up and Productivity in British Columbia
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)- From $200,000 to $5,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

innovÉÉ — FiabilitÉÉ
innovÉÉ- Up to 40% of project cost
- Utilities

College and Community social innovation Fund
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)- Maximum amount : 120,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Quebec Strategic Electric Supply Platform (PASQÉ)
Quebec Electrical Industry Association (AIEQ)- No Condition
- Utilities
- Manufacturing

innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME
innovÉÉ- Maximum amount : 450,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Guidance grants
Quebec City- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

Food Safety and Growth Initiative
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing

BDC Financing — Tech Companies
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MTRIC — PSO SME
Metal Transformation Research and Innovation Consortium (MTRIC)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing

Wood Construction Innovation Program
Gouvernement du Québec- From $400,000 to $2,500,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Public administration

DIANA — Challenge Call
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)- From $100,000 to $400,000
- All industries

Creating, Knowing and Sharing — Long-Term Projects
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Support Fund for Businesses in La Mitis (FAEM)
La Mitis RCM (MRC)- From $1,000 to $10,000
- All industries

INVEST North Program — Innovation Stream
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
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PROMPT — Quantum Technologies
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Productivity and Sustainable Innovation Fund – Component 3: Project Implementation, It's time to take action!
NexDev | Haut-Richelieu Economic Development- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing

The Foodpreneur Scale-Up Program
Foodpreneur Advantage- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade

Productivity and Sustainable Innovation Fund – Stream 1: Company consultations/micro-diagnosis and selection assistance
NexDev | Haut-Richelieu Economic Development- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Other services (except public administration)

Productivity and Sustainable Innovation Fund – Component 2: Feasibility study - audit towards a 4.0 transition
NexDev | Haut-Richelieu Economic Development- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing

OVIN — Electric Vehicle (EV) — Stream 1
Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

PROMPT — Collaborative Innovation
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Grand Challenges Canada
Grand Challenges Canada- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Grid Innovation Fund
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)- From $1,000,000 to $4,750,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

PRIMA — PARTENAR-IA — Industry
Advanced Materials Research and Innovation Hub (PRIMA)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

PROMPT — GHG Reduction – SME Component
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 450,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

iRAPID
Innovation Initiatives Ontario North- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu — Creavenir
RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Triple-P
Innovation Initiatives Ontario North- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Powering the future: Solid-state hydrogen storage for military platforms
Government of Canada- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration

- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Canada–Germany 2026 Quantum collaborative industrial research and development call for proposals
National Research Council Canada (NRC)- Maximum amount : 700,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

SMART Cluster's 9th call for proposals – advanced manufacturing
National Research Council Canada (NRC)- No Condition
- Manufacturing

Alizés Awards
Farm Credit Canada (FCC)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Program to support research and development of products made from reused and recycled end-of-life tires
Recyc-Québec- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

CFIN Food Innovation Challenge
Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN)- From $20,000 to $2,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Studies and consulting services
Laurentides Tourism- From $10,000 to $25,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

PADAAR — Measure 4075 – On-farm or indoor demonstrations
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- Maximum amount : 2,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Rail Transportation Infrastructure and Modal Integration Support Program — Part 3 — Studies
Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of Quebec- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 66.67% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

MRC des Chenaux — Chenaux Local Social Economy Fund (FLÉS)
MRC des Chenaux- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
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MRC Domaine-du-Roy — Local Innovation and Growth Fund
MRC Domaine-du-Roy- From $500,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Tourism Innovation Program — Stream 2 - Support for projects and the development of innovative businesses
MT Lab- Maximum amount : 90,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

MRC Les Appalaches — FRR Part 3
MRC des Appalaches- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Public administration

The Quantum Technologies innovation funding program
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Innovation in Quantum Technologies — Stream 2
Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- All industries

MRC Domaine-du-Roy — Economic Development Fund
MRC Domaine-du-Roy- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Tax credit for shipbuilding
Revenu Québec- Up to 38% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Festivals and events
Laurentides Tourism- From $15,000 to $25,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

MRC de Mékinac — FRR Stream 2
MRC de Mékinac- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 67% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Retail trade
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Lac-Saint-Jean-Est — Rural Region Fund - Signature Innovation
MRC Lac-Saint-Jean-Est- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

PSO-Biofood II – 144th call for projects
Consortium de recherche et d'innovations en bioprocédés industriels au Québec (CRIBIQ)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 27% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MRC Charlevoix — Support Fund for the Emergence of Business Projects
MRC Charlevoix- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Accommodation
Laurentides Tourism- From $30,000 to $95,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Business Growth — Growth support vouchers
Quebec City- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Finance and insurance
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Structuring the regional tourism offering
Laurentides Tourism- From $20,000 to $95,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

OPZI – Innovation in optics and photonics
Optech- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MRC Coaticook — Vitality Entrepreneurship Fund
MRC de Coaticook- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Financial assistance for large-scale northern projects
Gouvernement du Québec- Minimum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

Podium Manufacturier
Sous-traitance industrielle Québec (STIQ)- From $40,000 to $70,000
- Manufacturing

CACHE Challenges
Conscience- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance

PME MTL – PME MTL investment funds
PME MTL- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- All industries

MRC Caniapiscau — Signature innovation
MRC de Caniapiscau- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

IP financing - Associate members of CAI
Innovation asset collective (IAC)- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Prix innovation en alimentation
Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec (CTAQ)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

FedDev Ontario — Funding for organizations that help businesses grow
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)- From $125,000 to $10,000,000
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services