Services
Expertises
Resources
Who we are
Contact us
Open

Capitale-Innovation

Supports innovative product development and commercialization

Offered by
Quebec City

Record updated

Funding available
$ 500,000
Up to 50% of project cost
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
Private incorporated companies
See full eligibility

Overview

Capitale-Innovation offers a non-repayable contribution of up to $500,000 per project to eligible businesses in the Québec agglomeration and Wendake for innovative product or process development, production, and commercialization. Eligible projects include incubator-exit setup, pre-commercial validation or demonstration, and structured commercialization in new markets outside Québec.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$500,000
Maximum share of project costs
50%
Financing goals
  • Develop a new product or service
  • Conduct research and development activities
  • Optimize production processes
  • Access new markets
  • Launch or market a product/service
  • Renovate or expand facilities

Eligible candidates

Location
  • L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec City, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Wendake
  • Capitale-Nationale
  • Quebec
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
All revenue ranges
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
All groups
Legal structures
For-profit business, Sole proprietorship, Social economy enterprise, Non-profit, Non-financial cooperative
Non-profit candidates
Revenue structures
Mixed revenue (50%+ earned)

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

Latest changes

Capitale-Innovation funding rules updated

Capitale-Innovation now shows a maximum contribution of $500,000, revised percentage tiers, and expanded eligibility and expense rules.

See more

Capitale-Innovation now shows a maximum non-repayable contribution of up to $500,000 per project, with new percentage tiers: 50% up to $250,000 and 40% for amounts above $250,000 up to $500,000. The page also adds and clarifies eligibility exclusions and applicant rules, including integrity-related restrictions, while the list of eligible and ineligible expenses now includes new wording on acquisitions and contract work. The supported project scope is still focused on innovative product or process development, production, and commercialization, and the page now makes the first significant sale expectation and the 24-month timeframe explicit.

Official source: ville.quebec.qc.ca
July 9, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Private incorporated companies
  • Duly registered sole proprietorships and general partnerships majority-owned by Indigenous people and located in Wendake
  • Social economy enterprises (non-profits and cooperatives) with mostly commercial activities
  • Applicants operating in eligible sectors such as agri-food, digital technologies, manufacturing, optics-photonics, life sciences, or clean technologies

Who is not eligible

  • Social economy enterprises that cannot demonstrate sound democratic governance
  • Applicants not discharged from bankruptcy, listed in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics, or with overdue amounts owed to the City of Québec
  • Applicants that, in the two years before the application, failed to meet obligations tied to previous City of Québec financial assistance after formal notice
  • Organizations that do not meet the high integrity standards expected of a recipient of public funds
  • Members of the National Assembly of Québec, municipal elected officials, and their family members cannot be party to or benefit from an agreement arising from the Entente de délégation du FRCN; persons subject to the Règlement sur l’éthique et la discipline dans la fonction publique can benefit only if they comply with the applicable provisions

Eligible expenses

  • Professional fees, consulting services, and studies.
  • General, administrative, and working capital costs needed to carry out the project.
  • First-site setup costs, including purchases or rentals of goods, rent for the first six months, equipment or asset purchases or rentals, and required marketing or promotion.
  • Salaries and benefits for a first full-time employee who is not a shareholder or officer, and salaries for human resources assigned to the project.
  • Data, material, and equipment acquisitions, excluding rolling equipment, as well as marketing, promotion, advertising, and eligible leasehold improvement, refurbishment, expansion, or renovation work.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Regular operating costs.
  • Charity activities and volunteer resources.
  • Debt payments or repayment of existing loans.
  • Costs incurred before the application was filed as substantially complete and compliant.
  • Acquisition of the innovative product or process, research and development costs, incubator fees and rent, land or building purchases, standard furniture, and salaries.

Eligible geographic areas

  • Québec City agglomeration
  • Wendake
  • Saint-Roch district for digital arts and interactive entertainment incubation exit projects
  • Markets outside Quebec for commercialization projects

Activities funded

  • Launching operations in the company’s own premises after leaving a recognized incubator.
  • Testing, validating, or demonstrating an innovative product or process through a pre-commercial showcase.
  • Implementing a structured commercialization plan in a new market outside Quebec.
  • Carrying out fit-up or improvement work for dedicated R&D or growth spaces.

How to apply

  • Step 1: Check the program details
    • Review the eligibility conditions and the list of required information in the financing form.
  • Step 2: Complete the admissibility form
    • Fill in all required fields in PDF format.
    • Attach the requested information in the manner indicated by the form.
  • Step 3: Send the form
    • Email the completed form to degp@ville.quebec.qc.ca with the requested subject line.
  • Step 4: Receive confirmation
    • An acknowledgement of receipt is sent.
    • A business development advisor then contacts the applicant to discuss eligibility.

Selection criteria

  • Quality and strength of the business model.
  • Distinctive and innovative nature of the project, including the relevance of the offer in the market and its competitive advantages.
  • Viability and coherence of the project, including the realism of the financial structure.
  • Organizational and financial capacity to complete the project and achieve its objectives, including environmental, social, and governance factors.
  • Project benefits and structuring impact, including economic spinoffs in employment, removal of development barriers, demonstrated need for funding, and support structure.

Processing and Agreement

  • Any overdue amounts owed to the City will be deducted from the financial assistance at the time of payments.
  • If the business leaves the territory or ceases its activities, repayment clauses apply based on the date of the event.

Additional information

  • Applications are analyzed under the current investment policy.
  • Final approval depends on the renewal of the agreement with the Government of Quebec and available funds.
  • If you already received a City of Quebec subsidy under Vision entrepreneuriale Québec, you must wait for the final payment before filing a new request, except for the “Bourse entrepreneuriale” and “Bons d’accompagnement” streams.

Contacts

degp@ville.quebec.qc.ca
418-641-6185
Add helloDarwin as a preferred source on Google

Frequently Asked Questions about the Capitale-Innovation Program

What is the Capitale-Innovation?

Capitale-Innovation offers a non-repayable contribution of up to $500,000 per project to eligible businesses in the Québec agglomeration and Wendake for innovative product or process development, production, and commercialization. Eligible projects include incubator-exit setup, pre-commercial validation or demonstration, and structured commercialization in new markets outside Québec.

How much funding can be received?

Capitale-Innovation Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $500,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the Capitale-Innovation program?

To be eligible for the Capitale-Innovation program, you must: The applicant must be an eligible private incorporated business, an eligible Indigenous-owned sole proprietorship or general partnership in Wendake, or a social economy enterprise with mostly commercial activities. The business must hold intellectual property or exclusive rights in the relevant territory. The head office must be located in the Québec agglomeration or Wendake.

What expenses are eligible under Capitale-Innovation?

Professional fees, consulting services, and studies. General, administrative, and working capital costs needed to carry out the project. First-site setup costs, including purchases or rentals of goods, rent for the first six months, equipment or asset purchases or rentals, and required marketing or promotion. Salaries and benefits for a first full-time employee who is not a shareholder or officer, and salaries for human resources assigned to the project. Data, material, and equipment acquisitions, excluding rolling equipment, as well as marketing, promotion, advertising, and eligible leasehold improvement, refurbishment, expansion, or renovation work.

Who can I contact for more information about the Capitale-Innovation?

You can contact Quebec City by email at degp@ville.quebec.qc.ca or by phone at 418-641-6185.

Where is the Capitale-Innovation available?

The Capitale-Innovation program is available Capitale-Nationale, Quebec.

Is the Capitale-Innovation a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Capitale-Innovation is a Grant and Funding