How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 60% of admissible expenses, capped at $20000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2024-06-28T00:00:00Z.

Who are the financial supporters of the BioTalent — Career Starter Program?

BioTalent — Career Starter Program is funded by BioTalent Canada

What are BioTalent — Career Starter Program's eligibility criterias?

Operate within the bio-economy sector Provide a full-time position (minimum 30 hours per week for at least 3 months) Contribute at least 40-50% of participant's salary

BioTalent — Career Starter Program

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Subsidy to hire barriered youth into the labour market

BioTalent — Career Starter Program at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $20,000
Up to 60% of project cost

Timeline

Closing date : June 28, 2024

Financing Type

Wage Subsidies And Interns

Eligible Industries

Manufacturing
Professional, scientific and technical services
Health care and social assistance

Grant Providers

BioTalent Canada

Program status

Open

Overview of the BioTalent — Career Starter Program program

The BioTalent Career Starter Program provides bio-economy employers with wage subsidies of up to $20,000 to support the hiring of barriered youth. The program aims to facilitate the integration of underrepresented young talent into the workforce through paid internships and wrap-around services, including training and employment supports.

Financing terms and conditions

Funding covers up to 60% of a youth’s salary, to a maximum of $20,000, including wrap-around services.
Wrap-around services funding is available, averaging $2,500 per participant.
Alternatively, in some instances, the program may provide 50% of a youth’s salary up to a maximum of $15,000 in wage subsidies.
Employers are required to contribute at least 40% or 50% of the total salary, depending on the funding stream.
The financial support does not cover vacation pay, employment insurance premiums, or Canada Pension Plan contributions.

Eligible projects & activities

Hiring and integrating barriered youth as new employees in bio-economy organizations.
Developing and strengthening a diverse and inclusive workforce within the bio-economy sector.
Facilitating full-time, skills-based work placements for young talent in bio-economy companies.
Providing supervised internships or entry-level employment opportunities to help youth transition into the bio-economy labour market.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 15,000

Launching a mentoring initiative for barriered youth in the biotech sector

$ 15,000

Mentoring youth in sustainable urban agriculture through a job placement program

$ 15,000

Offering mentoring to disabled youth in the medical biotech field

$ 15,000

Integrating indigenous youth into natural resource management roles

$ 15,000

Providing tech sector job opportunities to women facing barriers

Eligibility criteria of the BioTalent — Career Starter Program program

The employer must operate within the bio-economy sector.
The company must provide a full-time position of at least 30 hours per week for a minimum of 3 months.
The employer must maintain an internal process for supervising and mentoring the participant, including assigning a mentor or job coach.
The employer must contribute at least 40-50% of the participant’s total salary (the exact percentage may vary by intake).
The position cannot be funded by another federally funded program (such as IRAP or Mitacs).

Who is eligible?

Employers operating within the bio-economy sector

Who is not eligible

Companies that do not operate within the bio-economy sector.
Organizations seeking to fund a position already supported by another Federally funded program such as IRAP, Mitacs, etc.

Eligible expenses

Wages for eligible youth participants, covering up to a specified percentage of the salary (excluding vacation pay, employment insurance premiums, and Canada Pension Plan contributions).
Wrap-around services for participants, which may include training, disability accommodations, relocation costs, transportation supports, housing assistance, additional job success training, counselling and mental health supports, personal protective equipment, childcare, legal supports, cultural competency training, networking events, and mentoring.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies located in Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the BioTalent — Career Starter Program program

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant:

Participants must meet eligibility requirements as barriered youth.
Employers must fulfill specific obligations outlined in the program guidelines.

How to apply to the BioTalent — Career Starter Program program

Confirm employer eligibility

Determine if your organization operates in the bio-economy sector
Verify the position is full-time and meets salary contribution requirements
Ensure the position is not funded by another federal program

Verify candidate eligibility

Check that the candidate is a new hire and has not started employment
Verify that the candidate is between 15 and 30 years old
Confirm the candidate meets citizenship, residency, and work eligibility requirements
Ensure the candidate is not enrolled in full-time studies
Assess whether the candidate qualifies as barriered youth or youth furthest from employment

Prepare application documents

Collect necessary information about the position and participant
Prepare required supporting documents for the application
Contact BioTalent Canada project manager for wrap-around services pre-approval if applicable

Complete the application form

Complete the Career Starter Program application form
Attach all required supporting documents
Ensure that all information provided is accurate and complete

Submit your application

Submit the completed application and documents to BioTalent Canada
Retain confirmation of submission for your records
Note that the review process may take up to 40 business days

Await application results

Wait for notification from BioTalent Canada regarding application status
Respond to any follow-up requests for additional information

Additional information

The application review process can take up to 40 business days.
The program is reaching capacity; new applications may be placed on a waitlist.
Funding for Career Starter placements ends on June 28th, 2024.
Pre-approval must be obtained for wrap-around services before submitting for reimbursement.