archived
Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP)
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Ontario, Canada
Supports incubators and accelerators to foster high-growth businesses
Grant and Funding
Overview
The Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) provided up to $5 million per year in non-repayable funding to top-tier accelerators and incubators, supporting their capacity to help innovative, high-growth start-ups and SMEs become investment-ready. The program aimed to expand services such as mentorship, business support, and networking opportunities for early-stage firms.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
Timeline
- Archived
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
- Startups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Higher Education
- Research
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
Target groups
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Academia / students
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Regional
- National
Activities funded
- Expansion of services offered by business incubators and accelerators to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Development and implementation of incubation and acceleration programs targeting high-potential startups.
- Provision of mentorship and networking support to early-stage firms to enhance their investment readiness.
- Collaboration among incubators, accelerators, universities, and industry partners to create integrated support ecosystems for entrepreneurs.
- Facilitation of follow-on financing opportunities for early-stage companies through investor engagement initiatives.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 2,200,000
Development of a cleantech investor readiness bootcamp series
$ 945,000
Implementation of startup leadership diversity mentorship initiative
$ 1,730,000
Creation of sustainable food systems pre-acceleration program
$ 4,950,000
Launch of a specialized AI entrepreneurship accelerator program
$ 3,750,000
Expansion of health tech incubation services for hardware startups
$ 4,700,000
Creation of a smart manufacturing accelerator for SMEs
Eligibility
- The applicant must be an accelerator or incubator organization.
- The applicant must demonstrate the ability to provide incremental services and support to early-stage, high-growth firms.
- The organization must demonstrate matching resources, either financial or in-kind, for the proposed activities.
- The project must be incremental to existing operations and not a duplication of current services.
Who is eligible?
- Business accelerators
- Business incubators
- Entrepreneurs or start-ups engaging with accelerators and incubators
- Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in early-stage development
Eligible geographic areas
- Businesses located in Eastern Ontario, specifically in Ottawa (at Invest Ottawa's facilities) and Kingston (at Queen's University's Innovation Park).
Selection criteria
- The extent to which the project will encourage the growth of early-stage firms that represent superior investment opportunities.
- The potential of the project to develop entrepreneur networks with other important firms and organizations, providing entrepreneurs with a broader range of specialized services.
- The ability of the organization to demonstrate matching resources, either financial or in-kind (such as mentoring resources or administrative support), for the proposed activities.
- A credible demonstration that the proposed activities will be incremental to existing operations.
How to apply
1
Review eligibility requirements
- Review the eligibility and selection criteria established by NRC-IRAP
- Ensure your organization is an accelerator or incubator serving high-potential SMEs
- Prepare evidence of ability to match resources (financial or in-kind)
- Confirm proposed activities are incremental to existing operations
2
Prepare application package
- Gather all supporting documentation demonstrating eligibility and matching contributions
- Complete a comprehensive proposal according to NRC-IRAP instructions
- Address all project alignment and impact criteria
- Include detailed plans for implementation and measurement
3
Submit application to NRC-IRAP
- Submit the completed application and required documents to NRC-IRAP by the specified deadline
- Ensure all sections are complete and comply with submission guidelines
4
Wait for evaluation results
- Await assessment by NRC-IRAP and the Canadian Venture Capital Expert Panel
- Respond promptly to any requests for additional information or clarification
Additional information
- Recipients are required to provide matching contributions, either financial or in-kind, on at least a 1:1 basis.
- Funding is delivered as non-repayable contributions over a five-year period.
- Recipients must adhere to annual performance reporting obligations as stipulated by NRC-IRAP.
- An independent Canadian Venture Capital Expert Panel was involved in the evaluation and recommendation process for proposals.
Contacts
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
613-991-1431
