Open
Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals
Supports shared energy innovation infrastructure
Last Update: June 28, 2026
Funding available
$ 1,000,000 - $ 10,000,000
Timeline
- Open Date : June 23, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
The Energy Innovation Program’s Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call supports Canadian recipients developing shared energy innovation infrastructure. It funds new testing facilities and the expansion or modernization of existing facilities for testing, validation, prototyping, and certification activities.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Implement environmental initiatives
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : June 23, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Utilities
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Technology testing, validation, and/or performance verification prior to commercialization
- Demonstration, pilot testing, prototyping, and/or technology scale-up in controlled environments and/or operationally-integrated test environments
- Certification, standards testing, and/or system integration validation
- Buildout and/or deployment of physical and/or digital infrastructure that results in new and/or expanded service offerings
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including for profit and not for profit organizations, Canadian academic institutions, and utilities
- Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies where applicable
- Indigenous communities or governments, tribal councils or entities that fulfill a similar function, national or regional Indigenous councils or tribal organizations, and for-profit or not-for-profit organizations majority owned and controlled by Indigenous people
Eligible expenses
- Salaries and benefits for employees on the payroll of the recipient for the actual time spent on the project
- Training and workshops
- Professional, scientific, technical and contracting services
- Travel expenditures, including meals and accommodation
- Capital expenditures such as the purchase, installation, testing and commissioning of qualifying equipment, materials and products
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Deferred maintenance costs
- All costs incurred outside the eligible expenditure period
- The reimbursable portion of federal and provincial taxes
- In-kind contributions
- Purchase of land
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Projects may be prioritized at the EOI and FPP stages based on departmental priorities such as regional balance in Canada, strategic value and socio-economic considerations, and advancing IDEA in the natural resources sector.
- Projects may be prioritized if they serve a broad and identifiable user base.
- Projects may be prioritized if they implement open, transparent access policies, including published pricing and clear user intake processes.
- Projects may be prioritized if they implement an IP policy that does not restrict users’ agency over their own IP strategies.
- Projects may be prioritized if they demonstrate commercially reasonable efforts to support the Buy Canadian Policy.
How to apply
- Determine your eligibility to apply by reviewing the Applicant guide.
- Complete and submit an EOI via the application portal.
- If invited, complete and submit an FPP via the application portal.
Processing and Agreement
- EOIs will be reviewed by a Technical Review Committee.
- FPPs will be reviewed by a Technical Review Committee.
- Applicants selected at FPP will be notified that their project has been conditionally selected for funding and will be invited to begin due diligence.
- Funding is contingent upon the execution of a contribution agreement.
- After entering into a contribution agreement, recipients must submit reporting documents quarterly, annually, at the end of the project, and on the anniversary of completion each year thereafter, for five years.
Additional information
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all available program funding has been allocated.
- The project selection process has two phases: Expression of Interest (EOI) and Full Project Proposal (FPP).
- Applicants invited to the FPP phase will be required to provide a letter of contribution for each identified partner.
- NRCan will not have meetings or calls with individual applicants during the intake period.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals Program
What is the Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals?
The Energy Innovation Program’s Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call supports Canadian recipients developing shared energy innovation infrastructure. It funds new testing facilities and the expansion or modernization of existing facilities for testing, validation, prototyping, and certification activities.
How much funding can be received?
Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $10,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals program?
To be eligible for the Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals program, you must:
The applicant must be the entity responsible for the testing facility infrastructure.
The project must have a confirmed location in Canada.
The project must show a credible path to long-term operational sustainability.
What expenses are eligible under Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals?
Technology testing, validation, and/or performance verification prior to commercialization
Demonstration, pilot testing, prototyping, and/or technology scale-up in controlled environments and/or operationally-integrated test environments
Certification, standards testing, and/or system integration validation
Buildout and/or deployment of physical and/or digital infrastructure that results in new and/or expanded service offerings
Who can I contact for more information about the Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals?
You can contact Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) by email at eipiee-piefei@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca or by phone at none.
Where is the Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals available?
The Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals program is available across Canada.
Is the Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Energy Innovation Program — Innovation Ecosystem Enablers – Call for proposals is a Grant and Funding