Developmental Licence Playbook
Last Update: January 24, 2025
Canada
Access wireless spectrum to test a business idea
Developmental Licence Playbook at a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open Date : November 14, 2019
Financing Type
Other Support
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration
Grant Providers
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
- Government of Canada
- Innovation Canada
Status
Open
Overview of the Developmental Licence Playbook program
Apply for a developmental licence that provides access to wireless spectrum to test and validate innovative solutions in health care, transportation, smart cities, manufacturing, agriculture, public safety and more.
Eligible projects & activities
This grant is designed to support wireless innovators in Canada by providing temporary access to spectrum for testing new technologies and services. Eligible projects under this grant focus on advancing wireless communication capabilities across various applications.
- Testing of new technology or services using fixed and land mobile systems.
- Deployment of narrowband wireless communication systems and higher-powered towers/antennas.
- Development and testing of Internet of Things (IoT) applications and sensors using high band spectrum.
- Trials involving autonomous automobiles and smart city technologies.
- Exploration of dynamic spectrum access and augumented reality (AR) devices.
- Testing of satellite technology systems with fixed and mobile earth stations.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 350,000
Implementing wireless satellite technology in remote health care centers
$ 300,000
Developing a wireless communication system for smart transportation
$ 500,000
Establishing a wireless communication network for manufacturing
$ 250,000
Testing new land mobile wireless systems for public safety
$ 500,000
Testing an innovative smart city wireless network
$ 450,000
Creating a wireless network for smart agriculture
Eligibility criteria of the Developmental Licence Playbook program
To qualify for a developmental licence in Canada, applicants must meet several criteria related to the nature and purpose of their project.
- The project must relate to research and development.
- It must focus on advancing technology.
- The licence should be for a time-limited period.
- The project should not interfere with current or anticipated systems.
- The project must not be used for a commercial trial that involves financial cost recovery from users.
Who is eligible?
The developmental licences program is open to a wide range of applications as long as the project meets the criteria set by ISED. The key criteria for applicants include:- Projects must relate to research and development.- They should focus on advancing technology.- The testing should be time-limited.- The use of the spectrum should not interfere with current or anticipated systems.- The licences must not be used for commercial trials involving financial cost recovery from users.
Eligible expenses
The developmental licence program enables innovators to test new wireless technologies and services in Canada. Eligible projects focus on advancing technologies across different sectors without interfering with existing systems.
- Testing fixed and land mobile systems using narrowband technologies or higher-powered devices.
- Conducting trials for small cell, high-density devices such as Internet of Things and smart city technologies.
- Exploration of autonomous automobiles and augmented reality devices.
- Testing satellite technology systems with fixed and mobile earth stations.
- Conducting fundamental research that advances Canada's leadership in sectors like healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing.
- Validation of haptic technologies and dynamic spectrum access systems.
Eligibility criteria of the Developmental Licence Playbook program
The evaluation and selection of projects for the developmental licences program focus on ensuring that proposed innovations align with advancing wireless technology and meet specific non-commercial criteria.
- Relevance to research and development activities aimed at advancing technology.
- Time-limited nature of the project proposal.
- Ensure no interference with current or anticipated wireless communication systems.
- Exclusion of commercial trials that involve financial cost recovery from users.
How to apply to the Developmental Licence Playbook program
1
Complete Letter of Intent
- Access the Letter of Intent form on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) website.
- Provide detailed information about your testing plan, including project objectives, timelines, and technical specifications.
2
Submit Letter of Intent
Submit the completed Letter of Intent through the ISED website.
3
Assessment of Intent
- ISED will review your submitted Letter of Intent.
- ISED will communicate with you to ensure the issuance of a suitable licence for your testing activity.
4
Payment and Issuance of Licence
- Pay the associated fees for the licence, depending on the type of testing.
- Receive the developmental licence from ISED.
5
Conduct Testing
Proceed with the testing activities under the conditions specified in the licence.
6
Renewal and Submission of Test Results
- Renew the licence if the conditions continue to be met and if needed.
- Optionally submit the results of your testing to ISED to help them evolve their technology framework.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Developmental licences can be renewed annually provided that the project continues to meet the qualifying criteria.
- No fees currently apply to developmental spectrum licences.
- Information about project objectives and technical details must be provided and will be treated confidentially.
- Innovators are encouraged to voluntarily submit final test results upon completing the trial.
Apply to this program
Tax CreditsOpen
Canada
Incentivize Canadian companies to invest in clean technology
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingOpen
Canada
Strategic Innovation Fund supports transformative Canadian economic investments
Grant and FundingClosed
Canada
Support for the implementation of energy efficiency and energy management solutions
Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationWage Subsidies And InternsOpen
Canada
Connect organizations with academia for research and innovation collaboration
Grant and FundingOpen
Canada
Financial assistance to work in collaboration on innovation projects
Wage Subsidies And InternsOpen
Canada
Money to hire students for an environmental co-op
Grant and FundingOpen
Canada
Intellectual property training, tools and expertise
Grant and FundingOpen
Canada
Funding for collaborative business-led projects and innovation networks
Grant and FundingOpen
Canada
Financial support for technology innovations