CanExport Innovation
Last Update: June 17, 2025
Canada
Supports Canadian R&D partnerships with international partners
CanExport Innovation at a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $75,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : September 1, 2025
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Grant Providers
- Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)
- National Research Council Canada (NRC)
- Government of Canada
- Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
Status
Closed
Overview of the CanExport Innovation program
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.
Financing terms and conditions
- The applicant may submit a maximum project budget of $100,000; there is no set minimum.
- The program funds up to 75% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $75,000 per project. The applicant is responsible for the remaining 25% (in-kind contributions are not permitted).
- The total Canadian government assistance for a single project must not exceed 75%; if it does, CanExport Innovation will adjust the funding to comply with this limit.
Eligible projects & activities
- 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.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 60,000
Forming an international R&D partnership for solar panel technology
$ 70,000
Creating an R&D partnership to develop advanced battery technology
$ 40,000
Creating a collaborative R&D partnership for biodegradable packaging
$ 48,000
Establishing a joint R&D partnership to develop smart agriculture solutions
$ 45,000
Developing a collaborative R&D partnership in AI for healthcare diagnostics
$ 50,000
Establishing R&D partnership to validate eco-friendly material for auto parts
Eligibility criteria of the CanExport Innovation program
- The applicant must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), academic institution, or non-government research centre registered in Canada.
- SMEs must be for-profit companies with fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees and be an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP), or cooperative in Canada (sole proprietorships are ineligible).
- The organization must have an active Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number.
- The applicant must own or co-own intellectual property rights (IP) for the technology featured in the application and/or have appropriate decision-making authority over the IP.
- The technology must have a prototype and be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher.
- The applicant must intend to commercially launch the technology within 5 years.
- The organization must demonstrate sufficient private revenues to cover 25% of the costs for proposed activities (in-kind contributions are not permitted).
- The applicant must have sufficient funds or a credible plan to secure funds from private and/or public sources to finance R&D work resulting from a collaborative R&D agreement.
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
Eligibility criteria of the CanExport Innovation program
- 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.
How to apply to the CanExport Innovation program
1
Preliminary Consultation with TCS
Contact the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) for guidance on navigating international markets and strengthening your application.
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."
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.
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.
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.
6
Sign Funding Agreement
An authorized officer of your firm must review, sign, and return the funding agreement within 30 calendar days of approval.
Additional information
Here are some miscellaneous details about the CanExport Innovation grant.
- Applications for 2024 open on February 29, 2024, at 9am EST.
- Projects must start on or after April 1, 2024.
- Applicants are urged to review the 2024-25 Applicant's Guide carefully.
- Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
- Funding decisions are made within 60 business days of application submission.
- Eligible applicants include Canadian SMEs, academic institutions, and non-government research centres.
- Funding covers up to 75% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $75,000 per project.
- Ineligible expenses include costs incurred prior to application submission and travel expenses that contravene Canada's official travel advisories.
Contact Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)
canexportinnovation@international.gc.ca
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