Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP)

Q: How much funding can be received?

Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) Funds up to 5000000% of admissible expenses.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP)?

Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) is funded by National Research Council Canada (NRC)

Q: Who is eligible for the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) program?

To be eligible for the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) program, you must: • Must be a best-in-class accelerator or incubator organization. • Must demonstrate matching financial or in-kind contributions (minimum 1:1 ratio). • Proposed activities must be incremental to existing operations.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP)?

You can contact National Research Council Canada (NRC) by email at media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or by phone at 613-991-1431.

Q: Where is the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) available?

The Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) program is available the province of Ontario.

Q: Are startups eligible for the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) program.

Last Update: September 26, 2025

ON, Canada

Supports incubators and accelerators to foster high-growth businesses

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $5,000,000

Timeline

Archived

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services

Funds Providers

National Research Council Canada

Program status

archived

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.

Financing terms and conditions

Non-repayable contributions provided over a five-year period.
Recipients are required to demonstrate matching contributions on at least a 1:1 basis during the funding period.
Maximum contribution per recipient is up to $5 million per year.

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:

$ 945,000

Implementation of startup leadership diversity mentorship initiative

$ 2,200,000

Development of a cleantech investor readiness bootcamp series

$ 4,950,000

Launch of a specialized AI entrepreneurship accelerator program

$ 3,750,000

Expansion of health tech incubation services for hardware startups

$ 1,730,000

Creation of sustainable food systems pre-acceleration program

$ 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

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

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

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

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

ON, Canada

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP). 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 Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP)?

How much funding can be received?

What expenses are eligible under Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP)?

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.