Innovate BC — BC Fast Pilot program

Who is eligible?

• B.C.-based incorporated SMEs
• For-profit companies
• Businesses with a prototype ready for pilot demonstration

Who is not eligible

• Non-profit organizations
• Businesses not registered and operating in B.C.
• Companies with 500 or more employees
• Projects that are solely software-based

Eligible expenses

This grant supports projects that involve the design, testing, and validation of innovative technologies at a pilot scale in real-world conditions. The activities focus on enabling small to medium-sized enterprises in B.C. to commercialize their prototypes through practical demonstration and testing.

• Design and construction of a pilot rig.
• Preparation of the site for the pilot installation.
• Commissioning and testing of mechanical systems in the pilot plant.
• Operation and management of the pilot plant.
• Testing for stability, reliability, durability, and monitoring component degradation.
• Validation of product features and assessing product performance.
• Generating data for the design of a large scale or commercial installation.
• Preparing detailed reports and documentation throughout the project.
• Training end users on the new technology to ensure effective adoption.
• Collection and recording of data from pilot tests to inform future developments.

Eligible geographic areas

• British Columbia

• Meets company and project eligibility requirements
• Financial and operational capacity to deliver the pilot and commercialize the technology
• Strength of market opportunity
• Technology innovation and differentiation
• Quality of the pilot partner and project structure

• Step 1: Connect with NRC IRAP
• If needed, get assigned an Industrial Technology Advisor
• Allow time for the ITA assignment process
• Step 2: Request the Expression of Interest form
• Obtain the form from your ITA
• Complete it with your ITA to ensure requirements are met
• Step 3: Submit for review
• Your ITA submits the completed form to the Joint Review Committee
• Applications are screened, evaluated, and selected for the next step
• Step 4: Submit a full proposal if invited
• Successful applicants are invited to submit a full project proposal
• Work with your ITA to develop the proposal

• Applications are reviewed for completeness, eligibility, and program fit
• A Joint Review Committee screens and evaluates submissions
• Selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal
• Funding decisions depend on committee recommendations, the full proposal, and available funds

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Up to $200,000 in joint funding is available, but the exact amount depends on the availability of funds.
• Technological Readiness Level (TRL) of 7 or higher is required for the project to be considered.
• The program is designed to help B.C. SMEs achieve sales by proving the impact and value of their technology in real-world conditions.
• The application process includes submitting baseline data and reporting on critical metrics and KPIs after the pilot-scale demonstration.
• The review and decision process involves a Joint Review Committee and the potential involvement of internal and external evaluators.
• Funding decisions are influenced by the recommendations of the Joint Review Committee, the quality of the full proposal, and available funding levels.
• This competitive program emphasizes the need for strong project proposals, regardless of alignment with priority areas.