Closed
Source verified August 6, 2026
Funding available
$ 450,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
A small or medium-sized enterprise with 250 employees or fewer may submit the application as the lead applicant.
See full eligibility
Overview
INNOV-R PME offers up to $450,000 for Quebec SMEs carrying out collaborative industrial research projects that aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec. Supported work includes developing new products or processes, significantly improving existing solutions, and conducting structured research and development activities.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
- Access new markets
- Launch or market a product/service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 450,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 250 employees maximum
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Collaborative industrial research projects with strong greenhouse gas reduction potential in Quebec.
- Projects carried out with another Quebec company or an eligible host environment.
- Structured R&D projects to develop a new product or process, or significantly improve an existing solution.
- Projects that involve significant innovation and technological or business risk.
- One-time projects with a maximum duration of two years and significant commercial or deployment potential.
Documents Needed
- A completed and signed letter of intent, with the company’s financial statements for the last two fiscal years or forecast statements for a start-up, plus interim statements if the latest statements are more than six months old.
- Two-year financial forecasts and cash flow statements dated less than six months.
- A completed and signed application form with the project schedule (Gantt chart), a compliant financing plan, and a detailed yearly justification for each budget line.
- Partner commitment letters, team CVs, and a business plan and/or other relevant document that helps explain the project.
- When applicable, a declaration of compliance with the Programme d’accès à l’égalité en emploi and a certificat de francisation or other valid document issued by the OQLF.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- A small or medium-sized enterprise with 250 employees or fewer may submit the application as the lead applicant.
- The lead SME must be incorporated under current federal or Quebec law and registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
- The lead SME must have a place of business in Quebec and carry out production and/or SR&ED activities in Quebec.
- The lead SME must be able to demonstrate capacity to finance 50% of eligible project costs.
- The lead SME must be able to demonstrate growth potential.
Who is not eligible
- SADCs are not eligible.
- Businesses listed on the Register of Ineligible Enterprises for Public Contracts (RENA), as well as subcontractors listed on the RENA who are expected to carry out work in the project, are not eligible.
- Businesses that failed to meet obligations under prior MEIE or IQ financial assistance within the two years preceding the application, after formal notice, are not eligible.
- Businesses under the protection of the Loi sur les arrangements avec les créanciers des compagnies (L.R.C. [1985], ch. C-36) or the Loi sur la faillite et l’insolvabilité (L.R.C. [1985], ch. B-3) are not eligible.
- Holding companies and businesses whose ethical conduct could tarnish the integrity and probity of the Government of Quebec are not eligible.
Eligible expenses
- Professional fees for specialized services, including subcontracting services.
- Direct labour costs assigned to the project, including benefits and mandatory contributions.
- Travel and accommodation expenses related to the project, in line with applicable Quebec government standards.
- Direct costs of materials, inventory, equipment rental, and equipment costs prorated to the project’s duration and use.
- Studies or documentation, platform fees, intellectual property protection or licensing, certification or homologation needed for commercialization, RSRI management fees, and the final external audit.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs incurred before the application is filed, including expenses tied to contractual commitments already made.
- Debt servicing, repayment of future borrowings, capital losses or capital replacement, and payments made as capital.
- Routine operating expenses and recurring fees such as annual subscriptions and software update fees.
- Intellectual property maintenance, land acquisition or development, and the acquisition, construction, or expansion of buildings.
- Transactions between related companies or partners, Quebec sales taxes, and commercialization expenses.
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec
Selection criteria
- Degree of innovation of the solution developed.
- Quality of the project team, partnership, and project management.
- Commercial or deployment potential of the solution and its social, environmental, economic, or other benefits for Quebec.
- Capacity of the SME to complete the project successfully with its financial and human resources.
- Potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec over the first 10 years of commercialization, including quantified reductions, cost per tonne of CO2e reduced or avoided, and deployment risks.
How to apply
- Identify the appropriate RSRI for the sector targeted by your project.
- Submit a letter of intent by September 22, 2026.
- If your letter of intent is judged compliant, submit a full application upon invitation by November 2, 2026.
- Submit the detailed application to the relevant RSRI.
Processing and Agreement
- The letter of intent undergoes an initial eligibility analysis of the applicant, partnership, and project.
- Only teams whose letter of intent is judged compliant are invited to submit a full application.
- An invitation to submit a full application does not confirm funding.
- Projects are assessed by an external expert committee on the technico-economic component and greenhouse gas reduction potential, and selected projects receive funding confirmation by email from the relevant RSRI.
- At the end of each funded project, an external audit report validating eligible expenses and funding sources is required; otherwise, full repayment of the financial assistance may be requested.
Additional information
- InnovÉÉ can support applicants by answering questions, clarifying program terms, and providing general comments on the compliance and structure of the application.
- This support does not constitute prior approval or a guarantee of funding.
- RSRIs offer personalized support to help applicants complete the greenhouse gas reduction potential section.
- Communications related to a funded project must mention the Government of Quebec’s financial support and follow the applicable public communications guide.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME Program
What is the innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME?
INNOV-R PME offers up to $450,000 for Quebec SMEs carrying out collaborative industrial research projects that aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec. Supported work includes developing new products or processes, significantly improving existing solutions, and conducting structured research and development activities.
How much funding can be received?
innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $450,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME program?
To be eligible for the innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME program, you must:
Lead applicant must be a Quebec SME with internal production or R&D activities in Quebec.
Project must be carried out collaboratively with another Quebec company or an eligible host environment.
Project must develop or significantly improve a product or process and show at least 100,000 tonnes CO2 eq. of reduction or avoidance potential in Quebec over 10 years after commercialization.
What expenses are eligible under innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME?
Collaborative industrial research projects with strong greenhouse gas reduction potential in Quebec.
Projects carried out with another Quebec company or an eligible host environment.
Structured R&D projects to develop a new product or process, or significantly improve an existing solution.
Projects that involve significant innovation and technological or business risk.
One-time projects with a maximum duration of two years and significant commercial or deployment potential.
Who can I contact for more information about the innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME?
You can contact innovÉÉ by email at nelkhadir@innovee.quebec or by phone at 514 416-6777 poste 212.
Where is the innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME available?
The innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME a grant, loan, or tax credit?
innovÉÉ — INNOV-R — SME is a Grant and Funding