How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 250000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative?

Indigenous Innovation Initiative is funded by Grand Challenges Canada

What are Indigenous Innovation Initiative's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be an Indigenous innovator, including businesses, organizations, social enterprises, or groups developing innovative products, programs, or services. The project should have a strong likelihood of achieving a long-term and sustainable impact in urban, rural, remote and Northern First Nation, Inuit and/or Metis communities. Applicants must demonstrate connections to Indigenous identity and community, which could include documentation such as "registration" or a letter of support from their governance organization.

Indigenous Innovation Initiative

Last Update: January 24, 2025

Canada

Get funding to empower First Nation, Inuit and Metis innovators

Indigenous Innovation Initiative at a glance

Eligible Funding

From $100,000 to $250,000

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services

Grant Providers

Grand Challenges Canada

Status

Open

Overview of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative program

Apply to the challenges and get funding to support innovative and scalable Indigenous-led ideas, to develop and test bold ideas from all sectors and industries.

Financing terms and conditions

Funding for this grant supports innovative and scalable Indigenous-led projects focusing on sustainable solutions across various sectors. The modalities prioritize resource allocation and project impact assessment.

Seed funding ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 is available for the development and testing of innovative ideas.
Funding aims to bridge resource gaps by addressing the specific investment needs of Indigenous innovators.
Positive outcomes align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Eligible projects & activities

Eligible projects for this grant focus on supporting Indigenous-led innovations across various sectors, emphasizing sustainable solutions and social impact. The initiative welcomes diverse applications from businesses, organizations, and social enterprises dedicated to addressing community challenges.

Development of innovative health products or services.
Creation of social programs targeting community well-being.
Arts and fashion projects that incorporate Indigenous culture and innovation.
Advancements in technology to support Indigenous entrepreneurship.
Scientific research addressing environmental and social issues.
Business or industry initiatives enhancing economic participation.
Projects ensuring food security within Indigenous communities.
Hospitality and tourism innovations showcasing Indigenous heritage.
Educational programs advocating for Indigenous knowledge and values.
Justice-related initiatives promoting equity and access.
Environmental and clean energy projects led by Indigenous innovators.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 180,000

Establishing a renewable energy project for Indigenous communities

$ 150,000

Developing a mobile app to support Indigenous language learning

$ 110,000

Launching a social enterprise focused on traditional crafts

$ 140,000

Launching an employment training program for Indigenous youth

$ 120,000

Creating a sustainable community garden to address food insecurity

$ 175,000

Implementing a digital health record system for Indigenous clinics

Eligibility criteria of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative program

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and their proposed innovation's potential impact and scalability.

The applicant must be an Indigenous innovator, which includes businesses, organizations, social enterprises, or groups developing innovative products, programs, or services led by and/or created by Indigenous Peoples.
The innovation must be culturally safe and inspire ongoing community use.
The innovation must be cost-effective.
The project should have a strong likelihood of achieving long-term and sustainable impact in First Nation, Inuit, or Metis communities, including urban, rural, remote, and Northern areas.
The innovation should have the potential to be scalable or adaptable to other Indigenous community settings.
The applicant must be open to monitoring, measuring, and evaluating their innovation projects to create knowledge and learnings applicable within the Indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The applicant must demonstrate connections to Indigenous identity and community, which could include a "registration" with their respective Indigenous governance organization, a letter of support from a governance organization, a letter of nomination from an Indigenous community organization or group, or other relevant evidence of connection.

Who is eligible?

The Indigenous Innovation Initiative offers seed funding for Indigenous innovators, which can be businesses, organizations, social enterprises, or groups focused on innovative product, program, or service development. This initiative focuses on Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, ensuring inclusivity beyond traditional registration status, supporting both status and non-status individuals and communities.To qualify, applicants should:- Be Indigenous innovators, including businesses, organizations, social enterprises, or groups.- Demonstrate a connection with Indigenous identity and community, which may involve registration with Indigenous governance organizations or endorsements from Indigenous community organizations.- Present a culturally safe, cost-effective innovation with the potential for long-term, sustainable impact across various Indigenous communities.- Have innovations that are scalable or adaptable to different Indigenous settings.- Be open to evaluating and sharing learnings from their innovation projects to contribute to the broader Indigenous innovation ecosystem.

Eligible expenses

This grant supports Indigenous innovators in developing and testing bold ideas across diverse sectors. The eligible projects seek to address community challenges through innovative solutions.

Innovative products, programs, or services across sectors such as health, technology, and arts.
Projects focused on food security, hospitality, and tourism.
Initiatives in education, justice, environment, and clean energy.
Business and industry solutions with potential community impact.
Social enterprises offering sustainable community solutions.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is designed to support Indigenous innovators in various communities across Canada. The initiative aims to create a more inclusive economic ecosystem for First Nation, Inuit, and Metis innovators covering multiple geographic settings.

Urban First Nation communities in Canada.
Rural First Nation communities in Canada.
Remote First Nation communities in Canada.
Northern First Nation communities in Canada.
Urban Inuit communities in Canada.
Rural Inuit communities in Canada.
Remote Inuit communities in Canada.
Northern Inuit communities in Canada.
Urban Metis communities in Canada.
Rural Metis communities in Canada.
Remote Metis communities in Canada.
Northern Metis communities in Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative program

The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria to ensure alignment with the initiative’s objectives.

Cultural safety and ability to inspire ongoing use within Indigenous communities.
Cost-effectiveness of the proposed innovation.
Potential for achieving a long-term and sustainable impact in First Nation, Inuit and/or Métis communities.
Scalability or adaptability of the project to other Indigenous community settings.
Willingness to engage in monitoring, measuring, and evaluating the innovation project for shared learning and application within the Indigenous innovation ecosystem.

How to apply to the Indigenous Innovation Initiative program

Preliminary Preparation

Ensure your project aligns with the Indigenous Innovation Initiative objectives.
Assess and establish your Indigenous identity or community connection.

Prepare Application

Prepare a detailed proposal outlining your innovative idea, objectives, and potential impact.
Address how your innovation is culturally safe, cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable.
Include plans for monitoring and evaluation of your project.
Compile supporting documentation, such as letters of support or registration evidence.

Application Submission

Submit your completed application through the designated application portal or via email, as directed by the Indigenous Innovation Initiative.
Ensure all required documents and forms are uploaded and complete before submission.

Confirmation of Submission

Receive a confirmation email acknowledging the receipt of your application.
Keep this confirmation for future reference and follow-ups.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The initiative emphasizes the importance of cultural safety and the ongoing use of culturally appropriate practices in projects.
Projects should have a potential for scalability and adaptability to various Indigenous community settings.
There is a requirement for projects to be cost-effective and have a strong likelihood of achieving long-term and sustainable impacts.
Successful applicants must demonstrate connections to Indigenous identity and community, which could include documentation such as registration or letters of support.
Proposals are open to review, monitoring, and evaluation to create knowledge and learnings applicable to the broader Indigenous innovation ecosystem.