CanExport SMEs
grant_single|update April 14, 2025
Canada
Funding to develop export markets
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|fromMinToMax
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDate March 13, 2025
- grant_single|closingDate May 31, 2025
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- grant_single|allIndustries
grant_single|grantors
- Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)
- Government of Canada
- Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The CanExport SMEs program, offered by Canada's Trade Commissioner Service, provides financial aid of up to $50,000 to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to export Canadian goods and services to new international markets. Eligible activities include cost-sharing for international business development, aiming at diversifying exports and fostering global expansion for Canadian businesses.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- Co-financing of activities with funding ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 CAD, covering up to 50% of total project costs.
- Projects must have total costs between $20,000 and $100,000 CAD, funded equally by the applicant and program, with in-kind contributions not permitted.
- Funding decisions aim to be made within 60 business days, subject to application volume.
- Applicants may only have one active CanExport SMEs project at a time but may engage with other CanExport streams concurrently.
- Grant types can be either contributions or grants; the choice is at the discretion of the program.
- Contribution payments require expenses to be incurred first and provide post-activity reimbursement.
- Grant payments are made upfront per fiscal year, with no post-disbursement claims necessary.
- Projects must fall within a fiscal year—April 1 to March 31—with certain exceptions subject to fiscal boundaries.
- Total government financial assistance from all levels must not exceed 75% of project costs.
- Applicants can receive up to $99,999 in total CanExport SMEs funding per fiscal year across various sub-programs.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Participating in trade events abroad to meet with key contacts from target markets.
- In-person participation as an exhibitor at international trade events.
- Shipping and handling for items related to event participation.
- Business meeting room rentals abroad.
- Creating and adapting promotional materials for foreign markets.
- Website adaption to specific target markets.
- Video creation or adaptation for trade events or meetings in foreign markets.
- Advertising participation in trade events in target markets.
- Interpretation services for in-person international interactions.
- Adapting and translating contractual agreements for target markets.
- Supplier diversity certification fees for recognized bodies in foreign markets.
- Legal, tax, and business consulting for target market entry.
- Market research, feasibility studies, and identification of key business contacts in target markets.
- Filing applications for intellectual property protection in international markets.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 49,000
Developing market entry strategies for European textile industry
$ 48,500
Establishing partnerships with Middle Eastern food distributors
$ 49,500
Adapting tech solutions for the Latin American healthcare sector
$ 50,000
Expanding clean energy product line in Scandinavian countries
$ 48,000
Launching digital marketing campaigns for Asian tech markets
$ 47,000
Developing distribution strategies for the Australian beverage market
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- The company must be established in Canada and be a for-profit entity.
- The company must be an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP), or cooperative in Canada.
- The business must have an active Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number.
- The company must have between 1 and 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
- The company must have between $100,000 and $100 million in annual revenue declared in Canada during its last complete tax reporting year or during the last 12 months for monthly and quarterly filers.
- The company must legally own the goods and services intended for export.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- Businesses established in Canada
- For-profit entities
- Incorporated legal entities, limited liability partnerships (LLP), or cooperatives in Canada
- Enterprises with an active Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number
- Businesses with between 1 and 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
- Enterprises with annual revenue between $100,000 and $100 million declared in Canada during the last complete tax reporting year or the last 12 months for monthly and quarterly filers
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Sole proprietorships
- Limited partnerships (LP)
- Third-party representatives, including agents, promoters, sales representatives, consultants
- Trading houses and export brokers (unless for the agriculture and agri-food sector)
- Distributors and wholesalers acting as intermediaries
- Franchisees (only the franchisor is eligible)
- Companies related to recreational cannabis, tobacco, vaping, or similar industries
- Projects related to unabated fossil fuel energy sectors
- Companies with insufficient economic ties to Canada
- Applications from corporate entities that do not demonstrate meaningful economic ties to Canada
- A company applying on behalf of another entity identified by a different CRA business number, such as a parent company applying for its subsidiary
- Consultants applying on behalf of their clients
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- International travel expenses for meetings or events with key contacts, including airfare, ground transportation, per diems, and mandatory visa fees.
- Expenses related to participation in international trade events, such as booth rental, on-site booth design and installation, utilities for booths, business card scanner rentals, and shipping and handling of event materials.
- Creation or translation of marketing materials from English or French to a language used in the target market, including brochures, flyers, banners, and website adaptation.
- Creation or adaptation of videos for trade events or meetings, including infographics, voiceover, animations, and translations.
- Advertising costs specific to trade event participation targeted to the approved target market.
- Interpreter fees for in-person interactions with key contacts.
- Adaptation and translation of contractual agreements.
- Supplier diversity certification fees recognized in the target market.
- Consultant or legal firm fees for expert business, tax, or legal advice specific to the target market.
- Consultant fees for market research, feasibility studies, identification of key contacts, and facilitation of B2B meetings.
- Costs related to the protection of intellectual property in the target market, including filing patent applications and trademark registrations.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- Small and medium-sized enterprises established in Canada.
- Legal entities incorporated or with a limited liability partnership or cooperative status in Canada.
grant_single_labels|criteria
- Represents new or expanded initiatives aligned with the company's international business development goals and goes beyond the company's core activities.
- Clear explanation of how a new project builds on or differs from previous projects, especially for repeat market entries.
- The objectives, activities, and expected outcomes of the project are realistic.
- The proposed activities and expenses are specific and reasonable, with a preference for projects that include participation in established commercial events with fixed dates.
- Demonstrated commercial potential of the product or service in the target market(s) through market research or other information.
- Capacity in terms of human and financial resources to undertake the proposed activities.
- Previous export history and past interactions with CanExport, the TCS, and partners of Global Affairs Canada.
- Performance on previous CanExport projects and expectation to claim the majority of the funds awarded.
- Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously funded project considered in the evaluation of a new application.
- Alignment with the Government of Canada's Export Diversification Strategy, prioritizing applications focusing on export diversification.
- Projects targeting markets covered by free trade agreements.
- Applications from businesses owned or led by traditionally underrepresented groups in international trade, such as women, Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians, LGBTQ2+, visible minorities, and young entrepreneurs.
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grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- Successful applicants may receive up to $50,000 per year for eligible market development activities, with funding decisions provided within 60 business days, depending on application volume.
- The program gives priority to applicants who have not previously received funding through CanExport SMEs, as well as those aligned with Canada's Export Diversification Strategy and Free Trade Agreements.
- Applicants must disclose any pre-existing relationships and affiliations, failure of which can lead to rejection or termination of the grant.
- The project period must typically align with the Government of Canada's fiscal year, and activities can span multiple years under exceptional circumstances, provided the separation of costs by fiscal year.
- There are two types of funding available: contributions and grants. Contributions require detailed reporting for reimbursement, while grants are dispensed annually in full without claims but with required reporting on results.
- International travel expenses, such as airfare and per diems, have strict guidelines and eligibility requirements.
- Applicants must link all funded activities to their target markets, with clear explanations and justifications required for market selection.
- All transactions related to project activities must be completed using a corporate or business account, and in-kind contributions are not permitted.
- Submission of applications must be at least 60 business days before the proposed start date of activities, which must be well-documented and justified in the application.
- Decisions on applications are final and communicated to the designated Legal Signing Authority, with 20 business days allotted for confirming agreements post-funding decision.
- If the funding agreement is not returned within 20 business days, the funding offer is forfeited.
grant_single_labels|contact
nrc.canexport-help-aide-canexport.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
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