Open
innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants
Supports collaboration between startups and early technology adopters
Last Update: April 29, 2026
Funding available
$ 75,000
Timeline
- Closing date : July 17, 2026
Location
Quebec, Canada
Overview
The INNOVÉÉ — Primo-adoptants grant offers a maximum of $75,000 per project to support collaboration between young innovative companies and established firms, focusing on co-developing and adopting new technologies. Eligible activities include innovation and research projects facilitated by incubators or accelerators, aiming to foster early adoption of high-growth potential technologies in Quebec.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Conduct research and development activities
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Start a business
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : July 17, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Partnership projects between an innovative startup and a first-time adopter to refine or complete a technology.
- Research and development projects carried out in an in-situ test environment at the first-time adopter’s site.
- Real-world demonstration, validation, or testing of a first product, process, or service.
Documents Needed
- Completed and signed financial assistance application form.
- Incubator or accelerator commitment letter.
- First-time adopter commitment letter.
- Service offer from the eligible public research centre or consultants, if applicable.
- Resume of the project resource persons.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Young innovative startups with high growth potential.
- Established companies acting as first-time adopters.
- Incubators or accelerators supporting eligible startups.
Who is not eligible
- Holding companies.
- Businesses in the pre-commercialization phase, when applying as first-time adopters for-profit.
- Companies with ownership or family links between the startup and the first-time adopter.
- Companies in gaming, fossil fuels, weapons, sexual exploitation, tobacco or drugs, or controversial arms-related sectors.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries, wages, and employee benefits.
- Specialized service fees, including subcontracting.
- Travel and accommodation expenses.
- Direct material and inventory costs.
- Equipment rental, direct equipment costs, external testing and certification, intellectual property protection, and project management fees within the stated limits.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Expenses incurred before the complete and eligible application is submitted.
- Fees paid to the first-time adopter.
- Fees paid to companies with shared shareholders with the first-time adopter or the startup.
- Debt service, loan repayments, capital replacement, and working capital uses.
- Operating costs, fixed asset purchases, land, building, and land development costs.
Eligible geographic areas
- All regions of Quebec.
Selection criteria
- Scientific or technological quality of the project.
- Collaboration and expertise for project delivery.
- Project feasibility, implementation steps, and financing structure.
- Scientific, technological, and social outcomes.
How to apply
1
Preparation of the project
- Identify a first-time adopter company or organization capable of collaborating on the innovation project.
- Ensure that the project includes at least one startup that meets the criteria of the program.
- Verify the eligibility of the project by consulting the program guide.
2
Collaboration with an incubator or accelerator
- Choose an incubator or accelerator identified by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy for mandatory support in the context of the project.
- Develop a project plan with the chosen incubator or accelerator.
3
Writing the engagement letter
- Prepare a letter of commitment that meets the program's requirements.
- Set the earliest submission date for the letter of commitment no later than April 18, 2025, at 4 PM.
4
Submission of the request
- Compile all required documents, including the letter of commitment, for submission.
- Follow the instructions on the official website of the ministry to submit documents for the Primo-adoptants project call.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are first reviewed for admissibility.
- Eligible files are assessed by a sector-based evaluation committee.
- Projects are scored on scientific or technological quality, collaboration and expertise, project feasibility and financing, and scientific, technological, and social outcomes.
- The ministry publishes the list of selected projects or successful companies on its website.
- A financial assistance agreement is signed before funding is paid, and reports may be required after approval.
Additional information
- The maximum project duration is 18 months.
- Financial assistance cannot be combined with another funding program from the Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie.
- Applications must be submitted by one of the official 2026 deadlines: April 3, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., July 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., or November 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
- Save the official application form locally and complete it in Adobe Reader rather than in a web browser.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants Program
What is the innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants?
The INNOVÉÉ — Primo-adoptants grant offers a maximum of $75,000 per project to support collaboration between young innovative companies and established firms, focusing on co-developing and adopting new technologies. Eligible activities include innovation and research projects facilitated by incubators or accelerators, aiming to foster early adoption of high-growth potential technologies in Quebec.
How much funding can be received?
innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants Funds up to 60% of admissible expenses, capped at $75,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants program?
To be eligible for the innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants program, you must:
Must enable an innovative technology company to partner with a first-time adopter to refine or complete the development of its technology.
Must include at least one startup meeting the criteria set out in the program guide.
What expenses are eligible under innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants?
Partnership projects between an innovative startup and a first-time adopter to refine or complete a technology.
Research and development projects carried out in an in-situ test environment at the first-time adopter’s site.
Real-world demonstration, validation, or testing of a first product, process, or service.
Who can I contact for more information about the innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants?
You can contact innovÉÉ by email at startups-innovation@economie.gouv.qc.ca.
Where is the innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants available?
The innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants a grant, loan, or tax credit?
innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants is a Grant and Funding