ESSOR – Component 1C

• Non-repayable contribution covering up to 50 % of eligible expenses, for a first project, with a maximum of 50 000 $ per project.
• A minimum contribution of 50 % of eligible expenses from private sources is required.
• Expenses are eligible only from the date of submission of the application.

• The applicant must be a legally constituted for-profit business or a social economy enterprise, with financial viability relying on more than 40% autonomous revenue from the most recent fiscal year.
• The business must be registered in Quebec, have a physical establishment in Quebec, and carry out ongoing or regular commercial activities there.
• The business must have 250 or fewer employees and annual revenues of at least $2.5 million.
• The project must result from a digital plan developed through the ESSOR program's sub-component 1B, aiming at productivity gains, process optimization, or adoption of best business practices.
• For foreign companies, registration in Quebec and commitment to begin ongoing commercial operations within Quebec within 12 months of project approval are required.

Who is eligible?

• Legally constituted for-profit businesses
• Collective social economy enterprises as defined by the Act respecting the social economy (RLRQ, chapter E 1.1.1), with at least 40% of financial viability based on self-generated revenue from economic activities in the previous financial year
• All sectors of activity are eligible for digital solution implementation projects, provided these stem from a digital plan from sub-component 1B

Who is not eligible

• Companies listed on the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA), including their subcontractors for the project.
• Enterprises on the list of companies non-compliant with francisation requirements by the Office québécois de la langue française.
• State-owned enterprises or those majority-controlled by a government body (municipal, provincial, or federal), municipal entities, or companies majority-owned by a state corporation.
• Businesses with a main activity in the production or distribution of weapons, fossil fuel exploration (except for low-carbon transition activities), gambling, violent or exploitative entertainment, sexual exploitation, or those associated with tobacco or illicit drugs (excluding certain cannabis or industrial hemp interventions).
• Holding companies and businesses under bankruptcy or insolvency protection.

Eligible expenses

• Professional fees for external consulting firms, in accordance with the Government of Quebec's management policy standards.
• Travel and accommodation expenses associated with project implementation, compliant with the Government of Quebec's standards (including eligible transportation costs, lodging per-diem rates, and meal allowances).

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Relevance of the project, particularly its contribution to the program's objectives and the growth of local entrepreneurship.
• Quality of governance, including the expertise of the leaders and the company's ability to implement the project (financial, human, and technical resources).
• Quality of the project, especially the coherence of the digital plan, the funding structure, and the commitment of partners.
• Potential impacts on profitability, productivity, competitiveness, and job quality within the company.
• Incentive nature or necessity of financial aid and alignment of the project with the company's business model.

• Applications can be submitted until March 31, 2025.
• A French-language website is required for applicant companies.
• All required documents must be provided; incomplete applications will be refused.
• Supporting documents, such as an updated digital plan and financial statements, must meet specific requirements regarding period and format.