Closed
Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP)
Funding for ballast water innovation projects
Record updated
- Funding available
- $ 5,000,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Deadline
- Unspecified
- Location
- Canada
Overview
This program provides up to $5,000,000 per project in contribution funding. It supports projects that address ballast water management system challenges in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region through research, testing, data collection, training, and knowledge-sharing.
At a glance
Funding available
- Maximum funding
- $5,000,000
- Maximum share of project costs
- 75%
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Enhance an existing program
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
- Develop workforce skills
- Strengthen organizational capacity
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible candidates
- Location
- Canada
- Eligible Industries
- All industries
- Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
- Organisation size
- All organization sizes
- Audience
- All groups
- Legal structures
- All legal structures
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
Availability timeline
2024
Periods: 1
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- For-profit private organizations
- Provinces and territories
- Municipalities and local or regional governments
- Canada Port authorities
- Not-for-profit private organizations
- Public sector organizations
- Academia
Eligible expenses
- Staff salaries and benefits
- Contracted services, translation, room rentals, conference fees, travel, and administrative costs
- Purchase or lease of equipment, technologies, software, systems, supplies, and related assets
- Testing, analysis, sampling, monitoring, training, communication, and data services
- Insurance, licenses, permits, storage, and other approved project costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs incurred before approval or after the final claim date
- GST, HST, provincial sales tax, and other refundable taxes or charges
- Land and building purchases, including related real estate fees
- Loan financing charges and interest payments
- Costs already reimbursed by other funding sources
Eligible geographic areas
- Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region
Activities funded
- Studies, research, development, testing, and knowledge-sharing on ballast water management systems
- Data collection and reporting on BWMS performance in varying water conditions
- Development and demonstration of solutions for installation, operation, and maintenance challenges
- Training and best-practice initiatives for vessel crews
- Other activities addressing BWMS challenges in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region
How to apply
- Step 1: Read the Applicant’s Guide and obtain the required templates
- Review the full guide before preparing the application.
- Request the project proposal templates from Transport Canada.
- Step 2: Prepare the application package
- Complete the project proposal using the required templates.
- Include legal documents, budget details, letters of financial support, and supporting declarations.
- Ensure the application is signed, accurate, and complete.
- Step 3: Submit the application electronically
- Send the application by email to the program contact.
- Use MS Word, MS Excel, or PDF format for the package.
- Step 4: Await confirmation and review
- Transport Canada confirms receipt of application packages.
- Applications are then assessed for funding decisions.
Documents Needed
- Completed project proposal using the required templates
- Legal documents confirming the organization’s legal entity status
- Letters of financial support from other contributors
- Budget with project costs by fiscal year
- Conflict of interest questionnaire and authorized declaration
Selection criteria
- Alignment of the project with BWIP objectives
- Relevance and feasibility of the proposed activities and methods
- Applicant experience, capacity, and project team expertise
- Quality of the project plan, including deliverables, timelines, risk management, and knowledge-sharing
- Value for money and project-specific criteria such as participation from multiple Canadian vessel owners/operators
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed after submission and receipt is confirmed
- Project proposals are assessed against program objectives and selection criteria
- Applicants are notified whether their project was selected for funding
- A funding agreement must be signed before reimbursements begin
- Transport Canada may review project risk, reporting needs, and audit requirements before agreement finalization
Additional information
- The program application period is closed.
- Applicants are expected to use the provided project proposal templates.
- Transport Canada reserves the right to accept or reject any project proposal.
- All recipients must respect the Official Languages Act.
Contacts
Official sources
Supporting document
Apply for BWIP funding
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP) Program
What is the Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP)?
This program provides up to $5,000,000 per project in contribution funding. It supports projects that address ballast water management system challenges in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region through research, testing, data collection, training, and knowledge-sharing.
How much funding can be received?
Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP) Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $5,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP) program?
To be eligible for the Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP) program, you must:
Canadian legal entity
Project in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region
Sufficient up-front funding
What expenses are eligible under Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP)?
Staff salaries and benefits
Contracted services, translation, room rentals, conference fees, travel, and administrative costs
Purchase or lease of equipment, technologies, software, systems, supplies, and related assets
Testing, analysis, sampling, monitoring, training, communication, and data services
Insurance, licenses, permits, storage, and other approved project costs
Who can I contact for more information about the Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP)?
You can contact Transport Canada (TC) by email at BallastWaterProgram-ProgrammeEauDeBallast@tc.gc.ca.
Where is the Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP) available?
The Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP) program is available across Canada.
Is the Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Ballast Water Innovation Program (BWIP) is a Grant and Funding