Biomed Propulsion Program

Q: How much funding can be received?

Biomed Propulsion Program Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $10 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

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

Biomed Propulsion Program is a Loans and Capital investments

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Biomed Propulsion Program?

Biomed Propulsion Program is funded by Investissement Québec (IQ)

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

You can contact Investissement Québec (IQ).

Q: Where is the Biomed Propulsion Program available?

The Biomed Propulsion Program program is available the province of QC.

Q: Are startups eligible for the Biomed Propulsion Program program?

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

Last Update: July 22, 2025

QC, Canada

Supports life sciences companies for commercialization and job creation

At a glance

Eligible Funding

From $2,500,000 to $10
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Receipt of requests is now closed

Financing Type

Loans and Capital investments

Eligible Industries

Health care and social assistance

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

The Biomed Propulsion Program aims to financially support high-growth potential life sciences companies in Quebec to commercialize research outputs with a focus on attracting private investors, offering maximum funding of up to $10 million. Eligible activities include the development, manufacture, and commercialization of biotechnology and medical technology products, with specific conditions applied.

Financing terms and conditions

Financial aid is provided in the form of a participatory loan.
For biotechnology companies, the loan amount ranges between $2.5 million and $10 million.
For medical technology companies, the loan amount ranges between $500,000 and $10 million.
The maximum duration for the financing is ten years.
A repayment grace period for the principal may be available.
Loans are not disbursed quicker than the private investors' contributions.
Annual capital repayment is required, with a minimum of 25% of funds generated from commercial activities, or through fixed or variable payments if no commercial activity funds are generated.
The interest rate on the loan is linked to the project's risk assessment.
An option to purchase shares or equity, calculated at a minimum of 15% of the loan amount, may be required to compensate for risk.
An additional performance premium ranging between 3% and 6% might be required if the potential exercise amount of share options is below the preferred threshold of $1 million.
Security on the company's assets is mandatory.
Management fees will be charged to companies receiving funding.
Non-combinability with other programs by the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy.

Activities funded

Enhancement of access to funding for life sciences companies.
Support for the maintenance and development of high-growth potential companies.
Encouragement of product development in life sciences.
Contribution to the maintenance and creation of sustainable, quality jobs.
Promotion of research and development investments for biotechnology companies and medical technology companies.
Encouragement of commercialization investments for medical technology companies.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 3,000,000

Developing a new gene therapy for rare diseases

Eligibility

The applicant must be a for-profit company in the life sciences sector with its headquarters and the majority of its jobs located in Quebec.
Eligible companies include those in human or animal health biotechnology with a majority of activities and expenses dedicated to R&D, and for human health, a product financed at the in vivo preclinical stage.
Medical technology companies primarily engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of medical equipment or software as medical instruments are eligible, provided they have at least regulatory approval or a product in clinical trials for approval.
Excluded entities include those offering local market products or substitutable specialized products, distribution companies, companies solely engaged in marketing medical equipment, information and communication technology companies targeting consumers, and cannabis-related businesses not focused on pharmaceutical-grade products approved by Health Canada.

Who is eligible?

For-profit companies in the life sciences sector with a headquarters in Quebec and the majority of their employees located there.
Companies in human or animal health biotechnology with significant R&D activities and expenditures, focusing on intellectual property related to health products, platforms, or processes.
Medical technology companies primarily involved in designing, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing medical devices or software defined as medical instruments, serving purposes such as diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or health function restoration.

Who is not eligible

Companies offering products intended for local markets or specialized but substitutable products such as medical and dental laboratories, optical lens laboratories, orthotics or prosthetics laboratories, and clinical laboratories.
Distribution companies or those solely engaged in the commercialization of medical equipment.
Information and communication technology companies in health addressing exclusively consumers.
Companies with cannabis-related activities targeting markets other than pharmaceutical-grade products approved by Health Canada or their ingredients.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies with decision-making headquarters and the majority of their workforce based in Quebec.

How to apply

Check the eligibility criteria

Ensure that your business is in the eligible sectors: biotechnology in human or animal health, or medical technology.
Confirm that your business is located in Quebec and meets the specific operational criteria.

Prepare the funding round

Obtain the necessary private investment to meet the funding conditions of the program.
Prepare a shareholders' agreement or a subscription agreement for the investment round.

Complete the application documents

Gather all required documentation, including detailed project proposals, financial statements, and investment agreements.
Ensure that the application does not include funding from other MEIE programs.

Submit the application to Investissement Québec

Wait for further instructions from Investissement Québec, as new applications are currently suspended.
Watch for communications from Investissement Québec for updates on the application process.

Additional information

The Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, and Investissement Québec can suspend the submission and analysis of applications without prior notice to ensure the availability of funds within the budget envelope.
The program will be interrupted as of November 12, 2024, and no new applications will be accepted until further notice.
Financial assistance is provided in the form of a participatory loan, with a duration not exceeding ten years.
There is a requirement for investors' disbursement to precede any loan disbursement.
Companies may be required to pay a management fee for the financed project.
A risk-related interest rate on the loan is expected, along with the possibility of a premium in the form of stock options to offset risks.
An additional risk-related performance premium may be levied if the exercise value of stock options is under a preferential threshold of $1 million, with a percentage between 3% and 6% added during liquidity events.
The financing must include no other source from other programs of the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE).
Collateral security over the company's assets may be required for the loan.

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Biomed Propulsion Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Biomed Propulsion 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.

What is the Biomed Propulsion Program?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the Biomed Propulsion Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the Biomed Propulsion Program?

Who is eligible for the Biomed Propulsion Program program?

To be eligible for the Biomed Propulsion Program program, you must: The company must be a for-profit enterprise within the life sciences sector with its decision-making headquarters and the majority of its workforce located in Quebec. The company must belong to sectors such as human or animal health biotechnology, with most activities and expenditures in R&D, or be in the medical technology field focusing on the design, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of medical devices or software. Excluded are entities offering specialized but substitutable products for local markets, distributors, IT and communication technologies in health targeting consumers, and those related to cannabis unless targeting pharmaceuticals approved by Health Canada.