MAPAQ — Biofood Innovation Program – Component 2

• Completed and signed application form and annexes.
• Project budget forecasts for the funding period.
• Partner commitment form, when required.
• Curriculum vitae of the project researchers and professionals.
• Knowledge transfer plan for applied research, experimental development, or technological adaptation projects.

Who is eligible?

• Research establishments
• Technology transfer establishments
• Associations and groups of enterprises or producers

Who is not eligible

• Government ministries, budgetary organizations, Crown corporations, and entities controlled by governments or Crown corporations.
• Municipal entities.
• Financial cooperatives and banking institutions.
• Applicants under bankruptcy or insolvency protection.
• Applicants under an animal welfare or safety order.

Eligible expenses

• Project-related salaries, student wages, and related social charges.
• Consulting fees, equipment purchases, materials, supplies, and rental or usage costs.
• Laboratory analysis, travel and accommodation, registration, communication, and dissemination costs.
• Specialized training costs and non-refundable GST/QST.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs not directly related to the project.
• Expenses incurred before funding approval.
• Public-sector staff remuneration and related expenses, except for students.
• Building purchase, expansion or construction, land acquisition, and self-propelled equipment.
• Debt service, operating costs, gifts, prizes, and the refundable portion of GST/QST.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Relevance to sector and Ministry priorities and the call objectives.
• Expected short- and long-term impact for the Quebec biofood sector.
• Quality of deliverables and knowledge transfer activities.
• Industry contribution and participation.
• Scientific quality, feasibility, and realism of the project plan.

• Step 1:
  • Review the call for projects and the program documents.
  • Confirm that the organization and project fit the program requirements.
• Step 2:
  • Prepare the application form and annexes in French.
  • Complete the budget forecasts and partner commitment documents, when required.
  • Attach the knowledge transfer plan for applicable projects.
• Step 3:
  • Send the complete application by email to the Ministry during the call for projects.
  • Submit all required documents in a single email.
• Step 4:
  • Wait for the acknowledgment of receipt.
  • Provide any additional information or documents requested by the Ministry.
• Step 5:
  • Receive the funding decision by mail or email.
  • Sign the financial assistance agreement if the project is approved.

• Applications are reviewed by an evaluation committee, with external expert input when needed.
• Eligible applications are assessed against program and call-for-project priorities, expected results, deliverables, industry contribution, scientific quality, and feasibility.
• The Ministry sends a written decision by mail or email.
• If approved, the applicant must sign the financial assistance agreement.
• Supporting documents and deliverables are required before each payment, as set out in the agreement.

• A minimum of four calls for projects will be launched during the program's duration on the Ministry's website.
• The maximum cumulative public financial support (from Quebec and Canadian government sources) for a single project cannot exceed 90% of eligible expenses.
• Applicants must declare all received public funding upon each payment claim, and any surplus over the public funding cap must be reimbursed.
• Supporting documentation and deliverables must be provided before each disbursement, as detailed in the financial assistance agreement.