Open
Source verified August 11, 2026
Funding available
$ 30,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Quebec, Canada
Overview
ESSOR Component 1C offers a non-repayable contribution covering up to 30% of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $30,000 for the duration of the program, for eligible Quebec-registered enterprises implementing a digital plan. Eligible costs include external professional fees, specialized information purchases, and travel and accommodation expenses under government standards.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop an online presence
- Optimize production processes
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- $ 2,500,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
- 250 employees maximum
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Implementation of a digital plan produced through sub-stream 1B
Documents Needed
- Completed and signed Identification du représentant du CA et Consentement form
- A detailed description of the project and financing structure
- The digital plan produced only through sub-stream 1B and completed within the last 24 months
- Annual financial statements for the last two years, including at least one Mission de compilation, and compliant service offers
- Applicable compliance documents: valid proof of compliance with francization requirements, a declaration under the Programme d’accès à l’égalité en emploi if required, and bylaws for social economy enterprises
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Quebec-registered for-profit businesses
- Quebec-registered social economy enterprises within the meaning of the Loi sur l’économie sociale (RLRQ, chapitre E- 1.1.1)
- Applicants that carry out, or commit to carry out, an activity in Quebec no later than 12 months after project authorization
- For sub-stream 1C, businesses with 250 employees or fewer and annual revenue of at least $2.5M
Who is not eligible
- Businesses listed, provisionally or permanently, in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA), including planned subcontractors listed in the RENA for project work
- Businesses that are not compliant with the francization process, that defaulted on prior Quebec government financial aid obligations within the previous two years, or that are under protection of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
- State-owned corporations, businesses controlled directly or indirectly by a municipal, provincial, or federal government, municipal entities, and businesses majority-owned by a state-owned corporation
- Businesses whose main line of business is weapons, gambling, violent games or combat sports involving living species, sexual exploitation, or pornography
- Businesses whose main line of business is fossil fuel exploration, extraction, drilling, production, or refining, or tobacco or drug-related products and services, subject to the stated exceptions for low-carbon transition and certain cannabis and industrial hemp activities
Eligible expenses
- Professional fees for external consultants
- Purchase of specialized information
- Travel, accommodation, and meal expenses
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Human resources activities
- Business development activities outside Quebec
- Equipment installation activities
- Expenses incurred before the application is filed
- Capital, internal, debt service, and sales tax expenses
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec
Selection criteria
- Project relevance to program objectives
- Project governance and management capacity
- Quality of the digital plan and project realism
- Potential impact on profitability, productivity, competitiveness, and job quality
- Need for financial assistance and fit with the business model
How to apply
- Complete the online prequalification form to confirm the preliminary admissibility of the company and project.
- Read the program information page and the Guide de présentation des demandes.
- Gather all mandatory documents in French and refer to Annex A for service offer requirements.
- Register for MEIE services on ClicSÉQUR Entreprises to access the form.
- Complete the Programme ESSOR, sous-volet 1C online financial assistance application form on ClicSÉQUR Entreprises.
- Attach all mandatory documents, use the checklist to confirm completeness, and submit the form through the platform.
Processing and Agreement
- Eligible applications are analyzed as submitted
- Additional information may be requested during review
- The ministry may limit the number of selected applications
- Approved projects receive an offer letter with payment conditions
- Any requested change must be sent in writing before the expense is incurred
Additional information
- If the company and project meet all DÉPART program criteria, the application must be submitted to that program instead.
- All documents submitted with the application must be written in French.
- The applicant’s website must have a French version.
- Filing an application does not guarantee that financial assistance will be awarded.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- ESSOR - Component 5Support for resilient softwood lumber sawmill investments
- ESSOR – Component 1ASupports feasibility studies for investment projects
- ESSOR – Component 1BSupport for digital diagnostics and implementation planning
- ESSOR – Component 2 (Productivity Project)Supports investment projects for productivity and expansion
- ESSOR – Component 3Support for greener investment projects
- ESSOR – Component 4Supports Quebec companies in international expansion
Frequently Asked Questions about the ESSOR – Component 1C Program
What is the ESSOR – Component 1C?
ESSOR Component 1C offers a non-repayable contribution covering up to 30% of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $30,000 for the duration of the program, for eligible Quebec-registered enterprises implementing a digital plan. Eligible costs include external professional fees, specialized information purchases, and travel and accommodation expenses under government standards.
How much funding can be received?
ESSOR – Component 1C Funds up to 30% of admissible expenses, capped at $30,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the ESSOR – Component 1C program?
To be eligible for the ESSOR – Component 1C program, you must:
Applicant must be a Quebec-registered for-profit or social economy enterprise.
Applicant must have 250 or fewer employees, annual revenue of at least $2.5M, and operate or commit to operate in Quebec within 12 months of project authorization.
Project must implement a sub-stream 1B digital plan completed within the last 24 months.
What expenses are eligible under ESSOR – Component 1C?
Implementation of a digital plan produced through sub-stream 1B
Who can I contact for more information about the ESSOR – Component 1C?
You can contact Investissement Québec (IQ) by email at soutien.aidefinanciere@invest-quebec.com or by phone at 1 844 474-6367.
Where is the ESSOR – Component 1C available?
The ESSOR – Component 1C program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the ESSOR – Component 1C a grant, loan, or tax credit?
ESSOR – Component 1C is a Grant and Funding