Closed
CanExport Innovation
Supports Canadian R&D partnerships with international partners
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 75,000
Timeline
- Open Date : March 1, 2026
- Closing date : March 4, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
CanExport Innovation provides grants up to $75,000 to Canadian organizations to establish collaborative research and development partnerships with international partners. Eligible activities include travel-related meetings, virtual meetings, and IP protection, aiming to support technology development, adaptation, and validation.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Conduct research and development activities
- Obtain certifications or accreditations
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : March 1, 2026
- Closing date : March 4, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Conducting travel-related meetings with pre-identified foreign partners to negotiate R&D partnerships.
- Participating in virtual meetings with foreign partners to negotiate and formalize R&D partnership agreements.
- Engaging in virtual events relevant to the industry for B2B meetings to attract foreign partners for R&D collaborations.
- Shipping technology or sample materials for demonstration purposes to facilitate formalization of R&D partnerships.
- Applying for new certifications in foreign markets to comply with foreign regulations and assist in formalizing R&D partnerships.
- Seeking expert or legal advice for IP protection in foreign markets where the foreign R&D partner resides.
- Developing promotional materials specifically for enhancing negotiations with foreign R&D partners.
- Utilizing consultant or legal services to assist in pursuing foreign R&D opportunities, including due diligence and strategy development for international collaborations.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees
- Recognized Canadian academic institutions dedicated to education and research
- Non-government research centres that are not wholly or majority government funded
Who is not eligible
- Accelerators and incubators
- Charities
- Third-party representatives, including agents, promoters, consultants, trading houses, and export brokers
- Government departments, agencies, Crown corporations, and other organizations at the federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal level
- Sole proprietorships
Eligible expenses
- Economy class roundtrip or multi-city airfare for approved travel to meet foreign partners.
- Per diem allowances for accommodation and meals for approved travellers.
- Single entry visas for travel related to meeting with foreign partners.
- Ground transportation costs within target markets.
- Rental of meeting rooms and audio-visual equipment for meetings with foreign partners.
- Registration fees for in-person events relevant to the applicant's industry.
- Registration and translation services for virtual meetings with foreign partners.
- Shipping costs for technology or sample materials for demonstration purposes during R&D partnership negotiations.
- Certification application fees paid directly to foreign agencies for new certifications in partner markets.
- Consultant or legal fees for processing certification applications overseas.
- Translation services for promotional material and certifications.
- Consultant or legal services related to Intellectual Property protection in foreign markets.
- Consultant or legal fees for conducting due diligence, developing international R&D strategies, and drafting agreements.
- Development and translation services for promotional materials aimed at securing foreign R&D partnerships.
Eligible geographic areas
- Organizations registered in Canada
Additional information
- The program is highly competitive, with applications assessed as they are received until the intake budget is fully allocated; funding may not be available for all eligible projects.
- Applicants can have only one active CanExport Innovation project at a time; a new project can be submitted only after the previous one is officially closed.
- Successful applicants must submit a final report through the portal no later than 7 days after the project completion date and keep all supporting records for 5 years for potential audit.
- The CanExport Innovation portal operates through the NRC-CNRC system, which may experience scheduled maintenance periods during which access to applications is temporarily unavailable.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the CanExport Innovation Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the CanExport Innovation. 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 CanExport Innovation?
CanExport Innovation provides grants up to $75,000 to Canadian organizations to establish collaborative research and development partnerships with international partners. Eligible activities include travel-related meetings, virtual meetings, and IP protection, aiming to support technology development, adaptation, and validation.
How much funding can be received?
CanExport Innovation Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $75,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was March 4, 2026.
Who is eligible for the CanExport Innovation program?
To be eligible for the CanExport Innovation program, you must:
Be a for-profit company
Less than 500 full-time employees
Net annual revenue in Canada between $100K and $100M
Have an active CRA business identification number
What expenses are eligible under CanExport Innovation?
Conducting travel-related meetings with pre-identified foreign partners to negotiate R&D partnerships.
Participating in virtual meetings with foreign partners to negotiate and formalize R&D partnership agreements.
Engaging in virtual events relevant to the industry for B2B meetings to attract foreign partners for R&D collaborations.
Shipping technology or sample materials for demonstration purposes to facilitate formalization of R&D partnerships.
Applying for new certifications in foreign markets to comply with foreign regulations and assist in formalizing R&D partnerships.
Seeking expert or legal advice for IP protection in foreign markets where the foreign R&D partner resides.
Developing promotional materials specifically for enhancing negotiations with foreign R&D partners.
Utilizing consultant or legal services to assist in pursuing foreign R&D opportunities, including due diligence and strategy development for international collaborations.
Who can I contact for more information about the CanExport Innovation?
You can contact Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) by email at canexportinnovation@international.gc.ca.
Where is the CanExport Innovation available?
The CanExport Innovation program is available across Canada.