Closed
Source verified August 3, 2026
Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces
Repayable support for scaling innovative prairie businesses
Latest source updateLast Update: June 23, 2026Latest change: The BSP program page now shows a new high-growth business focus, ongoing expression-of-interest intake, and updated contact guidance, while earlier funding, repayment, and two-stage application details are no longer shown.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: June 23, 2026
Latest change: The BSP program page now shows a new high-growth business focus, ongoing expression-of-interest intake, and updated contact guidance, while earlier funding, repayment, and two-stage application details are no longer shown.
BSP program page updated
The BSP program page now emphasizes high-growth incorporated businesses on the Prairies, with a new definition noting priority is normally given to companies with 20% year-over-year revenue growth. It also now says PrairiesCan is accepting expressions of interest on an ongoing basis and directs applicants to local offices at 1-888-338-9378 for application information. Earlier visible funding details are no longer shown on the page, including up to 50% of eligible project costs, minimum $200,000 and maximum $5 million per project, and the previous note that total support could reach $10 million to any 1 organization. The former 1 year grace period plus 5-year repayment schedule, the 2-stage EOI/full application process, and several document and funding-source instructions are also no longer visible in the main page content.
Funding available
$ 200,000 - $ 5,000,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada
Overview
Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces offers interest-free, repayable funding of up to 50% of eligible project costs for incorporated high-growth businesses operating in the Prairie Provinces to improve productivity, scale up, and commercialize technology. Supported activities include adopting new technologies, market expansion, and late-stage product development or demonstration.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop a new product or service
- Increase operational productivity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Productivity improvement, including acquiring, adapting and adopting new technologies and processes, process re-engineering, and improving manufacturing capacity
- Business scale-up, including developing or expanding markets, adopting best management practices, processes and systems, and developing business opportunities
- Technology commercialization, including late stage product development geared toward market diversification and growth, and technology showcasing or demonstration (Technology Readiness Levels 7-9)
Documents Needed
- Incorporation documents for the organization and proof of signing authority, such as bylaws, articles of incorporation, board minutes or record of decision
- A business plan or pitch deck detailing the organization, including the management team and board of directors, how it meets the high-growth definition, and the proposed project
- Financial statements for the past 2 years
- Interim financial statements for at least the last 6 months
- Confirmation of non-PrairiesCan project funding, such as bank statements, unused portion of lines of credit, official letters of intent, funding agreements, or signed term sheets
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated high-growth businesses
- For-profit companies incorporated to conduct business in Canada
- Businesses that have been in business for at least 2 years in Canada
- Businesses with staffed operating facilities in the Prairie Provinces
- Legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements
Who is not eligible
- Unincorporated businesses
- Businesses without staffed operating facilities in the Prairie provinces
- Businesses focused on basic or applied R&D only (TRL 1–6)
Eligible expenses
- Capital costs such as equipment and machinery
- Labour costs such as wages and benefits
- Professional, advisory and technical services, including subcontracting costs
- Costs related to intellectual property, technological development, and commercial demonstrations
- Direct project operating costs, including marketing, management fees, maintenance, and production or distribution of promotional material and management tools
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Basic and applied research and development (Technology Readiness Level 1-6)
- Land acquisition and goodwill
- Salary bonuses, dividend payments, entertainment expenses, and lobbying activities
- Refinancing of existing debts, amortization or depreciation of assets, and allowances for interest on invested capital, bonds, debentures, and other debts
- Donations, dues and membership fees, and other costs deemed unreasonable, non-incremental, or not directly related to project activities
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- Prairie Provinces
Selection criteria
- Expressions of Interest are screened competitively based on highest merit and strongest alignment with program objectives, priority areas, and significant economic benefits.
- Applications are evaluated on their ability to achieve BSP objectives, as well as project viability and economic impact.
- Relative strengths in market potential, management capability, financial capacity, and economic benefits are assessed.
- Technology readiness is assessed for technology commercialization projects only.
- Degree of alignment with departmental, regional, and governmental priorities, and compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory or permit requirements, are considered.
How to apply
- Prepare to complete your expression of interest by following the steps listed in Before you apply.
- Login to the PrairiesCan portal.
- Complete the EOI form using the BSP EOI help guide.
- Attach the required documents.
- Submit the EOI form through the PrairiesCan portal, ensuring your organization can enter into legally binding agreements and the individual submitting is authorized to bind the organization.
Processing and Agreement
- Within 30 days of submission, EOIs with the strongest merit and alignment with program objectives, priority areas, and significant economic benefits may be invited to submit a full application and undergo detailed assessment.
- PrairiesCan may contact applicants for additional details or documents, conduct a credit check, and request a technical assessment by National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program for projects using novel technology.
- Funding decisions are usually made within 90 business days of receiving a complete application, including satisfactory supporting documentation.
- If approved, applicants are invited to enter into a contribution agreement that must be signed within 30 days of notification and cannot be signed until all funding sources are confirmed.
- Successful recipients must submit periodic progress reports at least twice per year with reimbursement claims, annual financial statements from project start date to the end of the repayment period, and final reporting on key project activities and deliverables.
Additional information
- The Business Scale-up and Productivity program is part of the national Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program.
- Proprietary data, commercially sensitive information, and potentially valuable results or ideas are protected from unauthorized, inadvertent, or untimely disclosure under the Western Economic Diversification Act, the Access to Information Act, and the Privacy Act.
- Unless otherwise directed by the program, gender and diversity data is collected for statistical purposes and will not be used to assess the application.
- Projects involving physical works may be subject to the Impact Assessment Act (2019), and recipients are responsible for obtaining all required certificates, consents, permits, and approvals.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces Program
What is the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces?
Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces offers interest-free, repayable funding of up to 50% of eligible project costs for incorporated high-growth businesses operating in the Prairie Provinces to improve productivity, scale up, and commercialize technology. Supported activities include adopting new technologies, market expansion, and late-stage product development or demonstration.
How much funding can be received?
Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $5,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces program?
To be eligible for the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces program, you must:
The applicant must be a high-growth business scaling up and producing innovative goods, services or technologies.
The business must be a for-profit company incorporated in Canada and operating in Canada for at least 2 years, with staffed operating facilities in the Prairie Provinces.
At expression of interest submission, all other funding must be confirmed, and non-government funding must represent at least 50% of the proposed project costs.
What expenses are eligible under Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces?
Productivity improvement, including acquiring, adapting and adopting new technologies and processes, process re-engineering, and improving manufacturing capacity
Business scale-up, including developing or expanding markets, adopting best management practices, processes and systems, and developing business opportunities
Technology commercialization, including late stage product development geared toward market diversification and growth, and technology showcasing or demonstration (Technology Readiness Levels 7-9)
Who can I contact for more information about the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces?
You can contact Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) or by phone at 1-888-338-9378.
Where is the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces available?
The Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces program is available the province of Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan.
Is the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces is a Loans and Capital investments