Open
CanNor — IDEANorth
Northern economic development and infrastructure support
Record updated
- Funding available
- $ 6,000,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Deadline
- Open continuously
- Location
- Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, Canada
- Who can apply
- Registered organizations, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, including social enterprises, businesses, other levels of government, and other non-federal entities, public or private.
- See full eligibility
Overview
IDEANorth supports economic development in Canada’s North through foundational investments in sector development, business scale-up, and economic infrastructure. Eligible activities include research and planning, product commercialization, construction or expansion of multi-user infrastructure, and planning, pre-feasibility, feasibility, geotechnical, and engineering studies.
At a glance
Funding available
- Maximum funding
- $6,000,000
- Maximum share of project costs
- 80%
- Develop team skills
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop a new product or service
- Increase operational productivity
- Conduct research and development activities
- Optimize production processes
- Obtain certifications or accreditations
- Strengthen organizational capacity
- Access new markets
- Launch or market a product/service
- Renovate or expand facilities
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
- Renovate or adapt facilities
Eligible candidates
- Location
- Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon
- Eligible Industries
- All industries
- Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
- Organisation size
- All organization sizes
- Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Youth (<40)
- Startups
- Women
- Legal structures
- For-profit business, Social economy enterprise
Start applying for this program
Take a practical assessment to gain a clear understanding of how well this program aligns with your specific needs and long-term goals.
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Registered organizations, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, including social enterprises, businesses, other levels of government, and other non-federal entities, public or private.
Who is not eligible
- Federal entities
- Unregistered organizations
Eligible expenses
- Professional fees, such as technical, environmental, legal, project management and business services.
- Incremental salaries and benefits directly attributable to the project.
- Space and equipment rentals or purchases, project feasibility studies, research fees such as surveys, data acquisition and research studies, and capital purchases or acquisitions such as information technology, signage, machinery and equipment, renovations or upgrades, buildings and engineering works.
- Travel, including meals and accommodations, shipping costs, and translation services.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Economic development costs that would be incurred in the absence of IDEANorth.
- Payment for services that would normally be provided without charge.
- Direct skills training or education courses for individuals normally offered through learning institutions or apprenticeship programs.
- Wage subsidies for persons receiving training through course work or on the job.
- Core expenses and recoverable taxes, such as GST.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada’s North
Activities funded
- Research and planning, sector strategies, capacity building, training materials, certification standards, and support for economic and business development.
- Product commercialization, market development and expansion, development and adaptation of innovative products and services, clean technologies, technology clusters, and technology demonstration, adoption, adaptation, and piloting.
- Construction or expansion of small-scale multi-user economic infrastructure.
- Planning, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, plus geotechnical and other engineering designs and studies for large-scale economic infrastructure.
How to apply
- Step 1: Confirm project fit
- Review the program streams and eligible activities.
- Confirm that your organization and project align with Northern economic development objectives.
- Step 2: Prepare proposal
- Develop a project proposal describing activities, expected results, budget, and work plan.
- Include information on other funding sources expected or received.
- Step 3: Submit application
- Send your expression of interest or application by email to CanNor.
- Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, alongside targeted calls for expressions of interest.
- Step 4: Enter funding agreement
- If approved, sign a contribution agreement setting out payment conditions, obligations, and reporting requirements.
Selection criteria
- Economic benefit and impact (35%).
- Alignment with program and government priorities (20%).
- Organizational capacity (15%).
- Budget and value for money (15%).
- Work plan and feasibility of timelines (15%).
Processing and Agreement
- Project proposals are ranked using weighted assessment criteria.
- Funding will be administered and paid according to the specific contribution agreement between CanNor and the recipient.
- Payments may be based on documented claims, pre-determined performance expectations or milestones, or advance payments specifically provided for in the funding agreement.
- When payments are based on milestones or advances, a final accounting of all project expenditures will be required.
- Progress and financial reports are required at least annually, and a final report is required at the conclusion of the project.
Contacts
Official sources
Frequently Asked Questions about the CanNor — IDEANorth Program
What is the CanNor — IDEANorth?
IDEANorth supports economic development in Canada’s North through foundational investments in sector development, business scale-up, and economic infrastructure. Eligible activities include research and planning, product commercialization, construction or expansion of multi-user infrastructure, and planning, pre-feasibility, feasibility, geotechnical, and engineering studies.
How much funding can be received?
CanNor — IDEANorth Funds up to 80% of admissible expenses, capped at $6,000,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the CanNor — IDEANorth program?
To be eligible for the CanNor — IDEANorth program, you must:
Registered organizations, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, including social enterprises, businesses, other levels of government, and other non-federal entities, public or private, with an interest in economic development in the North.
What expenses are eligible under CanNor — IDEANorth?
Professional fees, such as technical, environmental, legal, project management and business services.
Incremental salaries and benefits directly attributable to the project.
Space and equipment rentals or purchases, project feasibility studies, research fees such as surveys, data acquisition and research studies, and capital purchases or acquisitions such as information technology, signage, machinery and equipment, renovations or upgrades, buildings and engineering works.
Travel, including meals and accommodations, shipping costs, and translation services.
Who can I contact for more information about the CanNor — IDEANorth?
You can contact Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) by email at cannor.operations.cannor@canada.ca or by phone at 867-667-3346.
Where is the CanNor — IDEANorth available?
The CanNor — IDEANorth program is available the province of Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon.