BioCreate Program

Q: How much funding can be received?

BioCreate Program Funds up to 150000% of admissible expenses.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2023-11-30T05:00:00Z.

Q: Is the BioCreate Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

BioCreate Program is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the BioCreate Program?

BioCreate Program is funded by Ontario Genomics

Q: Who is eligible for the BioCreate Program program?

To be eligible for the BioCreate Program program, you must: • Applicants must be a Canadian or provincially incorporated business. • Project must be led by a SME located in southern Ontario. • Include use of genomics or engineering biology technology, or be genomics or engineering biology-enabled or enabling.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the BioCreate Program?

You can contact Ontario Genomics by email at biocreate@ontariogenomics.ca.

Q: Where is the BioCreate Program available?

The BioCreate Program program is available the province of ON.

Q: Are startups eligible for the BioCreate Program program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the BioCreate Program program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

ON, Canada

Support for commercialization in genomics and engineering biology in Ontario

At a glance

Eligible Funding

From $100,000 to $150,000

Timeline

Open Date : May 15, 2023
Closing date : November 30, 2023

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing
Professional, scientific and technical services
Health care and social assistance

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

Access funding, mentorship, infrastructure, investor showcase, and business support to enable your SME to commercialize genomics and engineering biology enabled products and/or technologies in the health, food and agriculture, and cleantech sectors.

Financing terms and conditions

The BioCreate Program offers specific financing modalities to support SMEs in commercializing genomics and engineering biology technologies. These modalities ensure the effective utilization of resources throughout the project's lifecycle.

Direct, non-repayable funding of up to $150,000 per project.
Matched funding requirement with a minimum of $100,000 from participating companies.
Total project size must reach at least $250,000.
Funding includes a requirement to allocate at least $5,000 towards intellectual property and regulatory expertise.
Funding is contingent on achieving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) progression from 4+ to 7+.

Activities funded

The BioCreate Program focuses on advancing genomics and engineering biology technologies towards commercialization. Eligible projects aim to demonstrate technologies in real-world environments and include advancements in health, agriculture, food, and cleantech.

Pilot production of food ingredients or materials for testing.
Process development and optimization of biomanufacturing processes.
Manufacturing of a prototype device such as molecular diagnostics instruments.
Non-clinical and pre-clinical work leading towards an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for therapeutics.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 150,000

Developing AI-based diagnostic tools for early cancer detection

$ 150,000

Developing biodegradable packaging using bioengineering techniques

$ 150,000

Developing plant-based proteins for sustainable food production

$ 150,000

Creating a sustainable agriculture framework using genomics

$ 150,000

Enhancing clean energy production using bioengineering approaches

$ 150,000

Using genomics to improve livestock health and productivity

Eligibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's location, project focus, and financial contributions.

Applicants must be a Canadian or provincially incorporated business.
Project must be led by a SME located in southern Ontario.
Include use of genomics or engineering biology technology, or be genomics or engineering biology-enabled or enabling.
Conduct research and development starting after the achievement of TRL 4+ and advancing to TRL 7+ during the project.
Each project must be matched with $100,000 minimum in funding from the company.
The project must be performed in Ontario and awarded funds cannot flow outside of Ontario unless first approved by Ontario Genomics.
Funded projects must clearly articulate their plan to attract investment, create jobs and improve lives in southern Ontario in the near to long-term.
Project should be 18-months in duration.
Applicants must follow the application process outlined.

Who is eligible?

The BioCreate program is specifically designed for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in southern Ontario, working on genomics and/or engineering biology enabled products and/or technologies in the health, food and agriculture, and cleantech sectors.

SMEs must be Canadian or provincially incorporated businesses.
The SME must be located in southern Ontario.
Projects must involve genomics or engineering biology technology.
The project should demonstrate progression from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4+ to TRL 7+.
Applicants should match the funding with a minimum of $100,000 from company resources.
The project activities must be conducted in Ontario and must involve post-TRL 4+ advancements.

Who is not eligible

This grant program does not specify explicit exclusions based on industry or status beyond the general eligibility criteria. Companies not meeting these criteria may not qualify for funding.

Eligible expenses

The BioCreate grant supports projects that advance genomic and engineering biology technologies from a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4+ towards commercialization. The eligible activities involve moving innovations into real-world applications and developing prototypes for the health, food and agriculture, and cleantech sectors.

Pilot production of food ingredients or materials for testing in the industry.
Process development and optimization of biomanufacturing methods.
Manufacturing of prototype devices such as molecular diagnostics or instruments.
Conducting non-clinical and pre-clinical work towards an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for therapeutics.
Protection and commercialization of new technology is also a critical aspect, ensuring intellectual property remains in Canada.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is specifically available to small and medium-sized enterprises located in Southern Ontario. These areas are eligible to ensure that local businesses receive the support needed for commercializing genomics and engineering biology innovations.

Hamilton
Waterloo
Toronto
Peterborough

Selection criteria

The evaluation and selection of projects for the BioCreate grant are based on specific criteria that ensure alignment with the program's objectives.

Understanding of target customers, global market, competition, and competitive advantage.
TRL progression/advancement within the project from TRL 4+ to TRL 7+, creating an inflection in value as defined by customer feedback and market analysis.
Project team's expertise and resources necessary for the proposed project.
Background and rationale for the project, including industry pull and market need.
Innovative aspects of the project, including genomics and/or engineering biology, preliminary data, and any background information necessary to demonstrate feasibility.
Demonstrated benefits to southern Ontario and to the company, such as job creation and investment attraction.
Detailed project work plan, including objectives, activities, milestones, timelines, risk mitigation considerations, and specific roles and responsibilities of the applicants and team.
Clearly articulated next steps and pathway to commercialization.
Reasonableness and alignment of budgeted costs with the proposed project plan and activities.
Principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA): the applicant must describe plans to facilitate the recruitment and full participation of underrepresented groups.

How to apply

Expression of Interest

Complete the BioCreate intake form available on the BioCreate website.
A representative from the BioCreate team will contact you to discuss your project idea.
Eligibility is evaluated by the Ontario Genomics’ BioCreate team.
Eligible applicants will be invited to submit a full application.
Ineligible applicants will receive advice and encouragement to reapply in the future as appropriate.

Submit Full Application

Use the provided BioCreate program application form to detail your project and team.
Refer to the BioCreate webpage for application submission deadlines, occurring twice annually.
Late applications will automatically roll over to the next cohort for consideration.
The BioCreate team reviews submitted applications, and selects the strongest candidates.

Pitch to Expert Panel

Invited applicants present their company and project to the BioCreate expert panel.
The expert panel consists of industry professionals, technology experts, VCs, and end users.
Projects are ranked, and the most competitive are chosen for funding based on the panel's evaluation and predefined criteria.

Notification of Awards

Receive notification if your application has been successful.
Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NOA) and BioCreate Project Agreement with funding conditions.
Ensure timely execution of the Project Agreement within 10 business days of receipt.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

Ontario Genomics expects recipients of funds to develop patents, licenses, and material sharing policies to promote product development and commercialization with an economic impact for Canada.
Projects must implement proper mechanisms for the protection of intellectual property in accordance with provincial and federal legislation.
Funded Companies need to participate in the BioCreate mentorship program and present at the investor showcase.
A Notice of Award (NOA) will be provided to successful applicants, and a Project Agreement must be entered within 10 business days from receipt.

Documents and links

BioCreate Program

Contacts

biocreate@ontariogenomics.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the BioCreate Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the BioCreate Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.