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Source verified September 21, 2026
LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology
Consulting and financing for advanced technology
Latest source updateLast Update: September 24, 2026Latest change: The LIFT sector listing now uses the expanded label “mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.”View change
Latest source update
Last Update: September 24, 2026
Latest change: The LIFT sector listing now uses the expanded label “mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.”
LIFT sector label updated
The LIFT industries table now shows the expanded sector label “mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction” instead of “Mining & Oil/Gas.” The technology examples for that sector did not change.
Funding available
$ 25,000 - $ 5,000,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
LIFT offers Canadian businesses consulting and financing for digital transformation, AI and productivity upgrades, with loans from $25K to $2M for Digital transformation and AI and $350K to $5M for Productivity and digitally enabled equipment. Eligible investments include cybersecurity and enterprise systems, digitally enabled equipment and automation, and related installation or integration costs.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase production or service capacity
- Increase operational productivity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 25,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 1,000,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Digital transformation projects.
- AI adoption projects.
- Cybersecurity and data initiatives.
- Productivity projects using digitally enabled equipment, robotics or automation.
Documents Needed
- Completion of a BDC Advisory Services Digital Plan is mandatory for Digital transformation and AI.
- An up-to-date plan for productivity improvements is required for Productivity and digitally enabled equipment.
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian-based businesses.
- Businesses with annual revenue of at least $1M for the Digital transformation and AI path.
- Businesses with annual revenue of at least $5M for the Productivity and digitally enabled equipment path.
- Businesses from any industry may qualify for the Digital transformation and AI path, subject to some exceptions.
- For the Productivity and digitally enabled equipment path, businesses in manufacturing, transport and warehousing, wholesale, construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, architectural, engineering and related services, and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.
Who is not eligible
- Businesses with annual sales of less than $1M do not meet the $1 million minimum sales requirement.
- Businesses with annual sales of less than $5M do not meet the $5 million minimum sales requirement for the productivity path.
- Businesses operating outside the listed eligible sectors do not meet the sector requirement for the productivity path.
- For AI adoption, exceptions include supplier of premises, hotels and trucking companies with less than 10 vehicles.
Eligible expenses
- Software, hardware, integration, training, staffing, and data needs.
- Data infrastructure, secure data platforms, cybersecurity tools, cybersecurity readiness, security audits, ERP systems, CRM systems, system configuration, and AI use-case development and implementation.
- Training and integration adoption costs.
- Robotics systems, automation systems, automated production equipment, network hardware, connectivity equipment, specialized inspection equipment, advanced specialized equipment, renewable energy equipment, and waste-management equipment.
- Installation, integration, and implementation costs directly tied to the technology investment.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
How to apply
- Start your request online and tell BDC about your project and business.
- Talk with an advisor to assess your needs and determine how to move forward.
- Access financing to put your investment into motion.
Processing and Agreement
- After you tell BDC about your project and business, BDC helps assess your eligibility and determine your next steps.
- You then talk with an advisor to assess your needs and move forward.
Additional information
- Free guides, articles and tools are available on technology, productivity, digital and AI topics.
- BDC Advisory Services can help build a productivity plan or refine an existing one.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology Program
What is the LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology?
LIFT offers Canadian businesses consulting and financing for digital transformation, AI and productivity upgrades, with loans from $25K to $2M for Digital transformation and AI and $350K to $5M for Productivity and digitally enabled equipment. Eligible investments include cybersecurity and enterprise systems, digitally enabled equipment and automation, and related installation or integration costs.
How much funding can be received?
LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology Funds up to $5,000,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology program?
To be eligible for the LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology program, you must:
Applicants must be Canadian-based businesses.
Minimum annual revenue is $1M for the Digital transformation and AI path or $5M for the Productivity and digitally enabled equipment path.
Applicants must meet the selected path’s requirements, including a required plan and, for the Productivity path, an eligible sector.
What expenses are eligible under LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology?
Digital transformation projects.
AI adoption projects.
Cybersecurity and data initiatives.
Productivity projects using digitally enabled equipment, robotics or automation.
Who can I contact for more information about the LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology?
You can contact Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) or by phone at 1-877-232-2269.
Where is the LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology available?
The LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology program is available across Canada.