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Genome Canada

Q: How much funding can be received?

Genome Canada Funds up to 20% of admissible expenses, capped at $2,000,000 per project.

Q: Who is eligible for the Genome Canada program?

To be eligible for the Genome Canada program, you must: The project must be a partnership between a receptor and a researcher, with active and necessary roles for all partners. The receptor must act as Project Leader and be a Canadian for-profit enterprise. The project must support the invention, development or commercialization of a genomics-based or -enabled biotechnological innovation with a clearly articulated market opportunity.

Q: What expenses are eligible under Genome Canada?

Salaries and benefits for team members, subject to Genome Canada guidelines. Consumables, including materials and supplies, equipment maintenance contracts, general maintenance of research infrastructure, and travel directly related to the project. Equipment and research infrastructure used for the project, including individual equipment items costing less than or equal to $100,000; more expensive equipment may be eligible case by case. Services from others, including fee-for-service providers; project budgets may include these costs up to 25 per cent of the total budget, with higher amounts assessed case by case. For receptors that are small businesses with one to 49 employees, up to 20 per cent or $250,000, whichever is less, of Genome Canada funding may be used for IP protection, including patent prosecution, for IP resulting from the project.

Q: Where is the Genome Canada available?

The Genome Canada program is available across Canada.

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Genome Canada?

Genome Canada is funded by Genome Canada

Funds public-private genomics innovation projects

Offered by

Genome Canada

Official source: genomecanada.ca

Source change captured October 7, 2026

Funding available: $ 300,000 - $ 2,000,000; Up to 20% of project cost
Deadline: Unspecified
Location: Canada
Who can apply: Canadian for-profit enterprises acting as the receptor; See full eligibility

Overview

Genome Canada’s Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) national stream funds research and development projects across Canada that support public-private innovation, offering $300,000 to $2 million for collaborations between academic researchers and Canadian for-profit receptors. Eligible projects support the invention, development or commercialization of genomics-based biotechnological innovations, including research, technology transfer and intellectual property protection.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding: $2,000,000
Minimum funding: $300,000
Maximum share of project costs: 20%

Financing goals

Increase social or community impact
Improve governance or administrative structure
Develop strategic partnerships
Conduct research and development activities
Develop workforce skills
Conduct research or evaluation activities

Eligible candidates

Location: Canada
Eligible Industries: All industries
Annual revenue: All revenue ranges
Organisation size: 1-49 employees
Audience: Indigenous Peoples
Persons with Disabilities
2SLGBTQI+
Canadians
Youth (<40)
Startups
Women
Legal structures: For-profit business

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026

Periods: 2

Latest changes

October 7, 2026

Funding timeline updated

Genome Prairie’s funding page now shows Streams 1 and 2 closed for new applications, with Stream 3 letters of intent due November 25, 2026.

Genome Prairie’s Funding Opportunities page now states that Streams 1 and 2 are closed for new applications. Stream 3 now lists a letter of intent deadline of November 25, 2026, replacing the earlier December 2026 application-process timing. The same page also says the 2027 GenTRAC funding cycle is closed and that the next cycle will begin in January 2027.

Official source: genomecanada.ca

October 7, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

Canadian for-profit enterprises acting as the receptor
Researchers employed by Canadian post-secondary institutions
Researchers employed by research institutes or hospitals
Researchers employed by not-for-profit organizations with explicit research mandates

Who is not eligible

Wholly owned subsidiaries of a foreign public corporation

Eligible expenses

Salaries and benefits for team members, subject to Genome Canada guidelines.
Consumables, including materials and supplies, equipment maintenance contracts, general maintenance of research infrastructure, and travel directly related to the project.
Equipment and research infrastructure used for the project, including individual equipment items costing less than or equal to $100,000; more expensive equipment may be eligible case by case.
Services from others, including fee-for-service providers; project budgets may include these costs up to 25 per cent of the total budget, with higher amounts assessed case by case.
For receptors that are small businesses with one to 49 employees, up to 20 per cent or $250,000, whichever is less, of Genome Canada funding may be used for IP protection, including patent prosecution, for IP resulting from the project.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

Market research
Commercial launches of already-developed technology
Patent enforcement or litigation
Projects, project components or service provision that would normally be funded solely by the receptor, such as routine analyses or certain types of clinical trials
Indirect costs to the project, including institutional overhead costs, and costs associated with commercialization beyond the proof of concept stage, such as packaging, testing, marketing and related consultants

Eligible geographic areas

Canada

Activities funded

Research and development projects that support public-private innovation
Projects that support the invention, development or commercialization of a genomics-based or -enabled biotechnological innovation with a clearly articulated market opportunity
Co-operative R&D between researchers and receptors to translate research into market-ready solutions

How to apply

Submit a Letter of Intent through Proposal Central at Genome Canada.
Submit the full proposal through Proposal Central, including a 3–5 minute pre-recorded video.
If advanced, present a pitch to the Core Evaluation Team.

Documents Needed

Letter of Intent
Full proposal
3–5 minute pre-recorded video
Data management plan
Complete co-funding documentation, including a letter of commitment or agreement and supporting documentation

Selection criteria

Innovation and commercial plan
Project plan
Benefits to Canada and the economy
Project leadership and management
Financial aspects

Processing and Agreement

All LOI submissions undergo an eligibility assessment by Genome Canada, and the regional Genome Centre is notified of the decision within 10 business days of the submission deadline.
All full proposals are reviewed independently, at-home and then discussed by the Core Evaluation Team, which decides which proposals advance to the pitch phase.
The Core Evaluation Team assesses each pitch using the same criteria as for full proposals.
Funded projects must provide regular progress reports, generally semi-annually, and a final report after project completion.
Funding is conditional on a legally binding intellectual property agreement between the project partners.

Additional information

Genome Canada recognizes intellectual property forms such as patent applications, patents, trade secrets, designs, processes and proprietary datasets.
Applicants may request an exemption from data-sharing requirements, and exemptions are normally confirmed early in the application process once the nature of the data and information is understood.
The program encourages the inclusion and advancement of equity-deserving, under-represented communities in the Canadian innovation economy.
All reviewers engaged by Genome Canada sign confidentiality and conflict of interest agreements.

Official sources

genomecanada.ca

Frequently Asked Questions about the Genome Canada Program

What is the Genome Canada?

How much funding can be received?

Genome Canada Funds up to 20% of admissible expenses, capped at $2,000,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the Genome Canada program?

To be eligible for the Genome Canada program, you must: The project must be a partnership between a receptor and a researcher, with active and necessary roles for all partners. The receptor must act as Project Leader and be a Canadian for-profit enterprise. The project must support the invention, development or commercialization of a genomics-based or -enabled biotechnological innovation with a clearly articulated market opportunity.

What expenses are eligible under Genome Canada?

Salaries and benefits for team members, subject to Genome Canada guidelines. Consumables, including materials and supplies, equipment maintenance contracts, general maintenance of research infrastructure, and travel directly related to the project. Equipment and research infrastructure used for the project, including individual equipment items costing less than or equal to $100,000; more expensive equipment may be eligible case by case. Services from others, including fee-for-service providers; project budgets may include these costs up to 25 per cent of the total budget, with higher amounts assessed case by case. For receptors that are small businesses with one to 49 employees, up to 20 per cent or $250,000, whichever is less, of Genome Canada funding may be used for IP protection, including patent prosecution, for IP resulting from the project.

Where is the Genome Canada available?