How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 33% of admissible expenses, capped at $2500000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund?

Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund is funded by Government of Ontario

What are Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund's eligibility criterias?

The company must be a for-profit business in the human health sciences industry with a designated business number from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The company must have at least two years of operations and either audited or accountant-reviewed financial statements. The company must employ between five and 500 active full-time employees in Ontario by the project start date and be located or planning to locate in a community in Ontario by the project start date.

Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund

Last Update: February 25, 2025

ON, Canada

Supports SMEs in commercializing and scaling life sciences innovations

Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $2,500,000
Up to 33% of project cost

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Health care and social assistance

Grant Providers

Government of Ontario

Status

Open

Overview of the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund program

The Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund offers conditional grants of up to $2.5 million to support small- to medium-sized life sciences enterprises in Ontario, aiming to commercialize market-ready products and prepare for procurement opportunities. Eligible activities include projects that enhance production capacity, advance new technologies, and support domestic manufacturing expansion.

Financing terms and conditions

The Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund (LSSUF) offers conditional grants covering up to 33% of total eligible project costs, with a cap of $2.5 million per project.
Eligible project costs must be incurred and paid by the project start date, which cannot be before the application intake close date, up to the project completion date.
Costs eligible for reimbursement are those necessary for project completion and not for any other purpose. They must be documented and verifiable through invoices, receipts, or recipient records.
Projects must be completed within two years, and financing must be secured by the project start date.
Stacking with other provincial programs for the same project is prohibited, but stacking with federal funding programs is allowed, ensuring total government support does not exceed 67% of eligible project costs.
No disbursements will occur until the funding agreement is fully executed and necessary conditions, such as evidence of project financing and proof of insurance, are satisfied.
Recipients are required to maintain their employment footprint in Ontario, with commitments to any jobs created as part of the project extending 12 months beyond project completion.
Failure to meet job creation and retention commitments may result in a pro rata clawback of funds.
Funding agreements mandate repayment of funds if terms and conditions, such as performance measures, are not met.

Eligible projects & activities

Projects that enhance or expand the production capacity and/or capability of the company to boost domestic manufacturing.
Advancement of new technologies through the latter stages of the product development cycle, including testing and regulatory approvals.
Supporting infrastructure and/or operating costs to bring a product to market, particularly for market-ready support facing commercialization hurdles in the Canadian market.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 45,000

Upgrade office technology for improved remote work capabilities

$ 120,000

Develop solar panels for urban residential use

$ 40,000

Implement farmer training on sustainable agricultural practices

$ 75,000

Launch a sustainable fashion line using recycled materials

$ 100,000

Create an online platform for local food delivery

$ 60,000

Establish a community arts education program

Eligibility criteria of the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund program

The applicant must be a for-profit life sciences company in the human health sciences industry, excluding the Food and Animal Sciences industries.
The company must have a business number designated by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
The applicant must have at least two years of operations and financial statements (audited or accountant-reviewed).
The company must be a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a minimum of five and a maximum of 500 active full-time employees in Ontario by the project start date.
The company must be located, or plan to locate, in an Ontario community by the project start date.
The applicant must have secured its intellectual property, have a working prototype or commenced small-scale commercial production, initiated regulatory approvals, and demonstrated a timeline to achieve those approvals.
The applicant must ensure compliance with all applicable laws, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
The company must not owe any fees, levies, or taxes to His Majesty the King in right of Ontario or his agencies.

Who is eligible?

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the life sciences sector.
Companies within the human health sciences industry.
Organizations based in Ontario or intending to relocate to Ontario by the project start date.

Who is not eligible

Life science companies in the Food and Animal Sciences industries are not eligible.

Eligible expenses

Construction and facility modifications or upgrades, with approval from Ontario.
Site servicing and power service upgrades required to execute the project.
New hardware and software necessary for the successful completion of the project, including setup costs and maintenance.
Equipment associated with new technology or systems directly related to the project.
Direct material costs necessary for configuring and testing production processes and systems.
Software licensing costs are eligible only for the duration of the project up to the project completion date.
Incremental specialized labour directly related to the project, eligible to a maximum of the project duration.
Costs of specialized expertise required for the project, including third-party engineering services, software development, and project management.
Costs involved in providing employees with training and development required for the project for their role(s).
Costs incurred for permits, inspections, and other fees directly attributable to the project.
Purchases related to the project from suppliers located outside Ontario.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies based or planning to locate in a community within Ontario.

Eligibility criteria of the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund program

Completeness and clarity of the application.
Feasibility of the proposed project.
Alignment with the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund's objectives and the provincial priorities.
Potential for investment in life sciences and biomanufacturing.
Development of innovative technologies that result in commercialization opportunities in the life sciences sector.
Scaling of technology for healthcare adoption in Ontario.
Enhancement of healthcare resiliency and effectiveness.
Building of domestic manufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience.
Potential for increasing competitiveness and productivity of life science companies in Ontario.
Extent to which government support improves project outcomes or affects project scope or timelines.
Projected job creation outcomes.
Feasibility of obtaining regulatory approval.
Potential for increased production throughput or productivity.
Revenue growth potential, including exploration of new markets.
Assessment of project risks, including management, financial, and market risks.

How to apply to the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund program

Preliminary Registration

Create a ONe-key account and ID for secure access to the Government of Ontario system.
Register your company on the Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) platform using your Canada Revenue Agency Business Number (CRA BN), Legal Name, Operating Name, and contact information for at least two individuals.

Prepare Application

Complete the TPON application form.
Attach a copy of the Articles of Incorporation or Limited Partnership Agreement.
Submit financial statements from the previous two consecutive fiscal years, either audited or accountant reviewed, as two separate documents.
Include quotes from contractors/vendors for eligible project cost items.
Provide a letter of financial attestation from a senior management authority (CEO, CFO, etc.) confirming financial resources to complete the project.
Submit a corporate family tree showing relationships with parent, subsidiaries, and/or affiliate companies.

Submit Application

Ensure all documents and forms are completed and attached as per requirements.
Submit the completed application through the TPON platform before the application intake closing date.

Confirmation of Submission

Receive a confirmation of application submission.
Retain confirmation details for your records and future reference.

Additional information

The Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund (LSSUF) is a discretionary program, meaning there is no guarantee of funding even if an applicant fulfills all eligibility criteria and program objectives.
Successful companies must commit to sustaining the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs during the project and for an additional 12 months post-project.
There are specific obligations concerning job creation and retention outlined in the funding agreement, with potential clawbacks if commitments are unmet.
Applicants will need to submit interim and final reports detailing project progress, expenses, and outcomes to receive fund disbursements.
Costs incurred before the project start date or costs for which rebates, credits, or refunds can be received are ineligible.
Approved projects receive funding disbursements only after the funding agreement is fully executed, and specific conditions such as proof of financing and insurance are met.
Applications must include a Tax Compliance Verification number, and approved companies must subsequently provide an Ontario TCV certificate before fund release.
LSSUF applications are processed through Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) platform.
Public announcements of approved projects include a project description, investment commitments, government support amounts, and progress reports.
Information submitted may be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Companies must maintain financial records for seven years from their creation for audit purposes.
There is no allowance for stacking with other provincial programs for the same project, except for specific situations like tax credits.
A company’s employment footprint in Ontario must be maintained as per the funding agreement, with deviations considered an event of default.
The program allows funding stacking with federal sources up to 67% of eligible project costs.
Mergers and acquisitions, shareholder payments, and costs not directly associated with meeting funding agreement deliverables are ineligible.