CanExport Innovation

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

• Applicant capacity, including managerial, human, and financial resources to execute proposed activities and conduct the resulting R&D work, as well as clear benefits to the Canadian economy.
• Past performance on previous CanExport Innovation projects, demonstrating effective use of funding.
• Technology readiness and ownership, showing that the technology is at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or above, has a prototype, can be commercialized within 5 years, and that appropriate intellectual property (IP) rights are owned or controlled.
• Appropriate choice of foreign partners, ensuring that selected partners possess the expertise and technology required, will make technical contributions, share financial risk, and that there is written proof of their interest.
• Methodology for pursuing partnerships, providing a logical and detailed plan of action for securing R&D partnerships.

• Step 1: Preliminary Consultation with TCS
• Contact the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) for guidance on navigating international markets and strengthening your application.
• Step 2: Create Account on Online Portal
• Create an account on the CanExport Innovation online portal.
• Enter your organization’s information under "My Profile" and select "Update."
• Step 3: Complete Basic Eligibility Section
• Select "Apply Now!" on the CanExport Innovation landing page.
• Complete the "Application Basic Eligibility" section to determine if your company meets the basic eligibility criteria.
• Receive a confirmation of your Basic Eligibility by email within 7 business days.
• Step 4: Submit Full Application
• If deemed eligible, complete and submit the full application using the online portal.
• Ensure submission is at least 60 business days before the start date of the first proposed activity.
• Step 5: Receive Decision Email
• After assessment, receive a decision email to the Signing Authority identified in your application.
• Successful applicants receive the funding agreement by email within 20 business days of the decision email.
• Step 6: Sign Funding Agreement
• An authorized officer of your firm must review, sign, and return the funding agreement within 30 calendar days of approval.

• 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.