Digital Transformation Offensive Program (OTN) — Stream 1 – Support

Who is eligible?

The grant is specifically targeted towards companies in the food processing sector in Quebec. To be eligible to apply, an organization must be classified as a food processor, meaning it works with food that is no longer in its raw or fresh state. Associated sectors and suppliers like transportation, packaging, or technology solutions are not considered food processors and hence cannot apply. Applicants must have completed a digital diagnostic and a strategic planning exercise, be able to invest 40% of the total project costs, have a minimum turnover of $1 million from the previous financial year, and possess the human resources to complete the undertaking within a specified timeframe.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their status or main activity. The restrictions aim to ensure that funds are directed toward strategic sectors aligned with the grant's objectives.

• Agricultural sectors and related industries.
• Suppliers in transport or packaging sectors.
• Providers of technological solutions.

Eligible expenses

• Selection, purchase, and integration of technological solutions identified in the digital transformation plan.
• Consulting fees for external experts or integrators supporting the implementation of digital transformation projects.
• Training costs for workforce upskilling and digital technology adoption (up to 85% of eligible training expenses).

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. Below is a summary followed by the detailed criteria in bullet point form:

To be eligible for the grant, the applicant must be a transformative food processing company and meet specific financial and operational requirements. The eligibility depends on completing a digital diagnosis and planning strategic initiatives to demonstrate the company’s preparedness and willingness to invest in the digital transition.

• Complete a digital diagnosis (Investissement Québec offers a subsidy for this).
• Complete a strategic planning exercise (must include a defined mission, vision, and development axes).
• Demonstrate the ability to invest 40% of the total project funding, i.e., $10,000 on a project worth a maximum of $25,000.
• Have human resources available to complete the project within a short period.
• Have achieved a minimum revenue of $1M in the previous financial year.

Here are the steps to submit an application for the grant:

• Step 1: Preliminary Preparation
• Ensure your company qualifies as a food processor in Quebec.
• Conduct a digital diagnosis of your company.
• Complete a strategic planning exercise outlining mission, vision, and development axes.
• Step 2: Financial Assessment
• Verify your financial ability to invest 40% of the project cost.
• Ensure the availability of human resources to complete the project within the required timeline.
• Confirm that your previous fiscal year’s revenue was at least $1M.
• Step 3: Application Form Completion
• Fill out the prequalification form to confirm eligibility.
• Complete the detailed application form, outlining the project plan and milestones.
• Gather all necessary supporting documents as listed in the program guidelines.
• Step 4: Submission
• Email your completed application and all attachments to otn@conseiltaq.com.
• Include any additional requested documentation as stipulated in the submission guidelines.
• Step 5: Follow-up
• After submission, contact Sylvie Bouchard, vice-president of business development, for any queries.
• Keep track of submission confirmation and any feedback or requests for additional information.

• The project must be completed within four months from the signature date of the agreement; reasonable extensions are possible.
• The OTN program administered by CTAQ will conclude on June 30, 2025.
• Integrators selected to support the project must not be suppliers of technological solutions.