ESSOR – Component 1A

Q: How much funding can be received?

ESSOR – Component 1A Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $50000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the ESSOR – Component 1A a grant, loan, or tax credit?

ESSOR – Component 1A is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the ESSOR – Component 1A?

ESSOR – Component 1A is funded by Investissement Québec (IQ)

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the ESSOR – Component 1A?

You can contact Investissement Québec (IQ) by email at aidefinanciere@invest-quebec.com or by phone at 1 844 474-6367.

Q: Where is the ESSOR – Component 1A available?

The ESSOR – Component 1A program is available the province of QC.

Q: Are startups eligible for the ESSOR – Component 1A program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the ESSOR – Component 1A program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

QC, Canada

Investment support for feasibility studies in Quebec

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $50,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : April 24, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Manufacturing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Transportation and warehousing
Professional, scientific and technical services
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

The ESSOR Program - Component 1: Support for Investment Project Realization aims to accelerate the implementation of investment projects in Quebec by providing financial assistance for feasibility studies and preliminary diagnostics. Eligible activities include market analyses, site selection studies, technology evaluation, and regulatory assessments, with potential grants covering up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $50,000 per project.

Financing terms and conditions

The financial contribution takes the form of a non-repayable grant covering up to 50% of the eligible project expenses.
Amount of aid granted per project: maximum of $50,000 (up to $250,000 only for equipment manufacturers and processors in the aluminum sector).
A minimal contribution from private sources representing at least 50% of the eligible expenses is required from the applicant, coming from equity or private cash sources.

Activities funded

Feasibility studies aimed at analyzing and evaluating the technical and economic parameters of projects related to the establishment, modernization, or expansion of businesses.
Market analyses relevant to the investment projects.
Studies concerning projected investments, including site selection analyses.
Procedural or technological evaluations and assessments of usage rights.
Analyses relating to the regulatory and legal framework of the project.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 50,000

Regulatory study for coastal wind farm initiative

$ 30,000

Digital platform expansion feasibility study for increased market reach

$ 50,000

Market analysis for electric vehicle components factory

$ 50,000

Preliminary study on biomass plant integration potential

$ 49,000

Technology evaluation for smart water management systems

$ 47,500

Feasibility study for innovative agro-technology deployment

Eligibility

Eligibility for this grant requires businesses to meet specific criteria related to their legal status, operations, and ethical compliance.

Businesses must be for-profit entities legally constituted, or social economy enterprises as per the Social Economy Act, with at least 40% of revenue from autonomous activities in the last fiscal year.
Businesses must be registered in Quebec, have an establishment there, and conduct ongoing or regular business operations.
Foreign businesses must register in Quebec and commit to continuous or regular business operations within 12 months post-project authorization.
Seasonal businesses from certain regions like Côte-Nord and Gaspésie−Îles-de-la-Madeleine are eligible within specified sectors including the primary sector.
Entities listed on the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts (RENA), or violating official language policies, and those failing financial obligations to Quebec bodies in the last two years are ineligible.
State-owned corporations or those controlled by municipal, provincial, or federal governments, and entities under insolvency legislation are excluded.
Holding companies and organizations with ethically questionable practices that could tarnish government image are excluded.
Businesses primarily engaged in activities such as arms production, fossil fuel exploration, gambling, violent gaming, sexual exploitation, and tobacco or drug-related services (excluding cannabis) are ineligible.
Applications may be rejected if the applicant does not meet high standards of integrity expected from recipients of public fund-based financial assistance.

Who is eligible?

Profit-oriented companies that are legally established
Social economy enterprises as defined by the Social Economy Act, with at least 40% of financial viability based on self-generated income from economic activities in the last financial year
Foreign enterprises legally registered in Quebec committed to conducting continuous or regular commercial operations in Quebec within twelve months of project authorization
For-profit enterprises, cooperatives, and social economy enterprises operating in specified regions such as Côte-Nord, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and certain areas of Capitale-Nationale, with limitations on sector activities

Who is not eligible

Companies temporarily or permanently registered in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA), including subcontractors registered in the RENA for project-related work.
Companies on the list of businesses non-compliant with the francization process, published by the Office québécois de la langue française.
Companies that have defaulted on financial obligations related to government aid in Quebec in the past two years following a formal notice.
Crown corporations or companies directly or indirectly controlled by any government (municipal, provincial, or federal), municipal entities, or businesses majority-owned by a Crown corporation.
Companies under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
Holding companies.
Businesses with ethical behaviors or associations that may damage the integrity or reputation of the Quebec government.
Businesses whose main field of activity involves the following: production or distribution of weapons; exploration, extraction, drilling, production, or refining of fossil energies (including oil and thermal coal), except those supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy; gambling operations such as casinos, bingo halls, or gaming terminals; production or operation involving violent video games or combat sports with living beings; sexual exploitation (e.g., erotic bars, escort agencies, massage parlors, swingers clubs, or pornography production); production, sale, or services related to tobacco or drugs, except for interventions involving cannabis or industrial hemp.
Companies in certain sectors, including: primary sector (agriculture, forestry, fishing), with some exceptions (e.g., greenhouse production, major conditioning projects over $10M, and forestry exploitation); mining and oil & gas extraction; real estate, rental, and leasing services; construction (except productivity improvement projects); utilities/public services; management of companies and enterprises; health care and social assistance; education services; public administration; finance and insurance; arts, entertainment, and recreation; telecommunications; broadcasting; accommodation and food services (except accommodation linked to tourism projects); and other services (except public administration).

Eligible expenses

Professional fees for external consultants in compliance with government standards outlined in the Recueil des politiques de gestion du gouvernement du Québec.
Travel and accommodation expenses related to the implementation of the project in accordance with the government standards outlined in the Recueil des politiques de gestion du gouvernement du Québec.
Costs related to the purchase of specialized, relevant, and necessary information for the project (such as market statistics and analyses).

Selection criteria

Pertinence of the project: Contribution to the attainment of the program objectives and to the emergence, growth, and expansion of the enterprise.
Quality of project governance: Expertise and competencies of the company’s key personnel and the organization's capability to execute the project, including financial, human, and technical resources available.
Quality of the project: Alignment with the company’s business model, realism of the financial structure, proposed timeline, and financial projections if it's a startup project.
Potential impact of the project on profitability, productivity, competitiveness of the enterprise, and on the quality of jobs created or affected.
Incentiveness or necessity of financial assistance: The financial aid's role in enabling or accelerating the project.
Alignment between the project and the company’s business model.

How to apply

Prequalification of the project

Verify the eligibility of your project by completing the prequalification process on the official website

Read the program guide

Carefully read the official program guide and website information
Familiarize yourself with the requirements and selection criteria

Collect mandatory documents

Gather all required supporting documents listed in the guide (such as completed forms, detailed project description, recent financial statements, service offers, proof of francization, etc.)
Ensure every document is in French as required

Prepare application and project details

Register for MEIE's services on ClicSEQUR Entreprises to access the application form
Prepare a detailed description of your business and project, including financial structure and benefits

Submit online application

Fill out and submit the financial aid application form (ESSOR – Component 1A) online via ClicSEQUR Entreprises, attaching all required documents
Refer to the checklist to verify completeness before submission

Receive application acknowledgment

The organization receives an automated acknowledgment of receipt
The eligibility of expenses begins on the submission date
The applicant is kept informed of the status of their request

Respond to requests for information

If additional information or documents are requested, provide them within the given deadlines

Receive the decision notice

Receive a decision notice after the application review
If accepted, sign the offer letter electronically (eZsign)
If refused, you are informed by email

Additional information

Applicants must have a French-language website to be eligible.
Only expenses incurred from the date of application submission are eligible for reimbursement if the project is approved.
Additional documentation or clarifications may be requested during the evaluation process, and applicants are required to comply with these requests within the specified timeframe.
If the project is modified during implementation, a formal request explaining the change must be submitted and approved by Investissement Québec before any related expenditure is made.

Contacts

aidefinanciere@invest-quebec.com

1 844 474-6367

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the ESSOR – Component 1A Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the ESSOR – Component 1A. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the ESSOR – Component 1A?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the ESSOR – Component 1A a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the ESSOR – Component 1A?

Who is eligible for the ESSOR – Component 1A program?

To be eligible for the ESSOR – Component 1A program, you must: Companies must be registered in Quebec, have an establishment there, and actively carry out a business activity. Social economy enterprises must derive 40% of their autonomous revenues from their economic activities. Foreign companies must commit to conducting business operations in Quebec no later than twelve months after the project authorization.