How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $5000000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2023-09-22T20:00:00Z.

Who are the financial supporters of the Business Scale-up and Productivity in British Columbia?

Business Scale-up and Productivity in British Columbia is funded by Government of Canada, Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)

What are Business Scale-up and Productivity in British Columbia's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be an incorporated, for-profit company that has been operating in Canada for at least 2 years. The applicant must have staffed operating facilities in British Columbia. Must demonstrate confirmed funding from all sources, with non-government contributions covering at least 50% of the proposed project costs at the time of Expression of Interest submission.

Business Scale-up and Productivity in British Columbia

grant_single|update April 5, 2025

BC, Canada

PacifiCan's BSP supports high-growth business innovation and scale-up

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grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

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grant_single_labels|admissibility

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grant_single|eligibleFinancing

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grant_single|deadlines

grant_single|openingDate July 14, 2023
grant_single|closingDate September 22, 2023

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Grant and Funding

grant_single|eligibleIndustries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Manufacturing
Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Health care and social assistance

grant_single|grantors

Government of Canada
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)

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grant_card_status|open

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The Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program in British Columbia offers interest-free, repayable funding up to a maximum of $5,000,000 to high-growth businesses aiming to expand and improve productivity. Eligible activities include market expansion, productivity enhancements through technology adoption, and technology commercialization projects.

grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

Interest-free, repayable funding for high-growth businesses in British Columbia under the Business Scale-up and Productivity program.
Minimum funding request of $200,000 and a maximum of $5,000,000 per project.
Funding coverage of up to 50% of total eligible project costs.
The remaining 50% of eligible costs must be supported by non-government sources and confirmed at the time of Expression of Interest submission.
PacifiCan will provide funding reimbursement based on claims submitted by the recipient, covering the approved portion (e.g., 50%) of eligible project costs incurred and paid.
Funding disbursements can be requested quarterly and are processed within 15 business days of receiving a complete claim package.
Repayment of the full principal is required within 6 years of project completion, with a 1-year grace period and 60 equal monthly payments thereafter.
Late principal payments will incur interest at a rate of the average bank rate plus 3%.
No penalties are applied for early repayment of funds.
Total financial support from the program cannot exceed $10 million over its lifetime for any single recipient.

grant_single_labels|projects

Business Scale-up: market development/expansion, adopting best management practices, processes, and systems, business opportunity development.
Productivity Improvement: acquiring, adapting, adopting new technologies processes, process re-engineering, improving manufacturing capacity.
Technology Commercialization: late-stage product development geared toward market diversification and growth, and technology demonstration (Technology Readiness Levels 7-9).

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$ 450,000

Implement IoT solutions to optimize agricultural processes

$ 375,000

Expand market presence with a comprehensive marketing campaign

$ 400,000

Enhance cybersecurity measures for online payment systems

$ 500,000

Commercialize a new biodegradable packaging technology

$ 550,000

Implement an advanced manufacturing system for increased output

$ 750,000

Develop new AI-powered analytics platform for healthcare

grant_single_labels|admissibility

The applicant must be a high-growth for-profit company incorporated to conduct business in Canada.
The business must have been operating in British Columbia for a minimum of two years.
Preference is given to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 500 full-time employees (FTEs).
The company must be scaling up and producing innovative goods, services, or technologies.
Applicants must have staffed operating facilities in British Columbia.
At the time of EOI submission, funding from all other sources, including government and non-government, must be confirmed; non-government funding must represent at least 50% of the proposed project costs.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

High-growth companies producing innovative technologies, goods, or services.
Small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees.
Export-oriented companies.
High-tech manufacturing sector.
Clean technology industries.
Digital industries including information technology and digital media.
Biological and health sciences.
Value-added processing sector of natural resources.
Ocean technologies.
Value-added agro-technologies.

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This grant is specifically designed for high-growth businesses in British Columbia and comes with certain restrictions regarding the status and activity of the company. These restrictions ensure alignment with the program's objectives of supporting scalable, innovative enterprises.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

Cost of labour (e.g., wages and benefits)
Capital costs (e.g., purchase of machinery, equipment)
Marketing costs
Operating costs that are directly related to the project
Professional, advisory, and technical services
Costs related to intellectual property
Technological development and commercial demonstrations
Subcontracting costs
Production and distribution of promotional material and management tools
Maintenance costs

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

British Columbia

grant_single_labels|criteria

The evaluation and selection of projects for the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program are based on specific areas to ensure alignment with PacifiCan’s objectives and strategic priorities.

Alignment with BSP objectives and agency priority areas.
Market potential of the proposed project.
Capability of the management team to execute the project.
Applicant’s financial capacity and ability to repay the funds.
Economic benefits and outcomes, including job creation and revenue growth.
Technology readiness, applicable specifically to technology commercialization projects.

grant_single_labels|apply

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Funding is interest-free but must be repaid within six years after project completion.
A one-year grace period for repayments is provided after project completion, followed by a requirement to make 60 equal monthly payments.
Interest charges of the average bank rate plus 3% will apply to any late principal payments.
Applications are handled through a competitive process, requiring demonstration of strong alignment with the program objectives and expected substantial economic benefits.
Applicants will need to include a business plan and may be subject to a credit check.
Diverse groups and inclusivity factors such as gender, Indigenous Peoples, and youth participation are considered during the assessment process.
The program supports the Government of Canada's commitment to inclusive innovation by encouraging applicants to track inclusiveness indicators throughout the project duration.
Environmental impact compliance may be necessary if projects involve physical works.
Applicants must be aware of the impact of BSP funding on their eligibility for tax credits like SR&ED, as this can alter total government assistance levels.
Proposals focusing on clean technology, clean resources, or digital industries have higher prioritization.