How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 10000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI)?

Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI) is funded by Government of British Columbia, Innovate BC

What are Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI)'s eligibility criterias?

Eligibility criteria not mentioned

Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI)

Last Update: April 5, 2025

BC, Canada

Wage subsidy for B.C's tech sector

Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI) at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $10,000

Timeline

Open Date : April 1, 2023
Closing date : October 20, 2023

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Public administration

Grant Providers

Government of British Columbia
Innovate BC

Status

Closed

Overview of the Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI) program

Get up to $10,000 to hire a new employee from an under-represented group to fill a business or tech-related role.

Eligible projects & activities

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 10,000

Onboard a female data analyst to enhance our data management capabilities

$ 10,000

Onboard a person with disabilities as a tech support specialist

$ 10,000

Employ a veteran as a network administrator to manage IT infrastructure

$ 10,000

Hire a recent immigrant project manager for IT project coordination

Eligibility criteria of the Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI) program

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and hiring practices.

The applicant must be a B.C.-based technology business/organization hiring for a business or tech role.
The applicant can also be a B.C.-based non-tech business/organization, including public body and Indigenous community, hiring for a tech role.

Who is eligible?

The Innovator Skills Initiative targets employers and employees in the tech sector within British Columbia, Canada, with a focus on increasing diversity and supporting under-represented groups.### Employer Eligibility:- B.C.-based technology business/organization hiring for a business or tech role.- B.C.-based non-tech business/organization, including public bodies and Indigenous communities, hiring for a tech role.### Employee Eligibility:- Individuals who self-identify as belonging to an under-represented group.- Must be living in B.C. and eligible to work in B.C.- New hire on or after April 1, 2023.- Completed training or education on or after December 1, 2019.### Placement Eligibility:- Minimum 4-month work period.- Start no earlier than April 1, 2023, and end no later than October 31, 2023.- Minimum average of 15 hours per week.

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies are not eligible for the Innovator Skills Initiative grant:

Companies based outside of British Columbia
Companies hiring for non-tech roles in non-tech organizations

Eligible expenses

This grant provides support for employers in B.C.'s tech sector to hire under-represented individuals, addressing both skills shortages and diversity in the industry. It focuses on creating paid work experiences and supporting Indigenous placements.

Hiring new employees from under-represented groups for tech or tech-related roles.
Providing a 4-month minimum work placement for new hires.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies operating in British Columbia, as it is managed by Innovate BC, a provincial organization supporting local innovation.

Businesses registered and operating within the province of British Columbia, Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI) program

The grant has evaluation and selection criteria. The applications are assessed based on the following:

Applicant's eligibility as a B.C.-based technology business/organization or a non-tech business/organization hiring for a tech role
Employee's self-identification as belonging to an under-represented group and meeting specific criteria
Placement details including duration and start/end dates

How to apply to the Innovate BC — Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI) program

Read the Program Guidelines

Familiarize yourself with the details of the Innovator Skills Initiative, including objectives and requirements.
Understand the eligibility criteria and key dates for the grant.

Submit the Application Form

Complete the application form provided by Innovate BC.
Include all required information and documentation as specified in the application guidelines.
Ensure the application is submitted before the deadline through the designated platform or submission process as indicated by Innovate BC.

Additional information

Here is additional relevant information regarding the Innovator Skills Initiative grant:

Grants are processed with each step of the application (Employer Application, Employee Confirmation, and Employee Intake) taking up to 30 business days.
The grant is disbursed after the work term is completed, although early claims may be considered under specific conditions.
Employers can apply for the grant retroactively for work terms that started after April 1, 2023.
International students on work permits or visas in B.C. are eligible, provided they have written authorization to work in Canada.
Employers will be supported with resources and links for recruiting, retaining, and developing employees from under-represented groups.