Open
Source verified August 4, 2026
LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology
Consulting and financing for advanced technology
Latest source updateLast Update: July 24, 2026Latest change: LIFT now more clearly emphasizes Canadian-based businesses, digitally enabled equipment, and supplier requirements across the Productivity path and related pages.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 24, 2026
Latest change: LIFT now more clearly emphasizes Canadian-based businesses, digitally enabled equipment, and supplier requirements across the Productivity path and related pages.
LIFT eligibility and scope updated
The LIFT solution page now frames the Productivity path around digitally enabled equipment and smart equipment, adds a new FAQ defining that equipment, and includes industry-specific examples for eligible projects. It also tightens the wording to Canadian-based businesses and notes preferential financing terms when technology solutions are sourced from Canadian suppliers or integrators. The related Productivity and digitally enabled equipment page reflects the same shift in focus from general equipment to digitally enabled equipment, and the AI/digital transformation page also now states Canadian-based businesses as the minimum requirement. The application flow remains the same, but the supporting checklist and launch materials were refreshed to match the updated LIFT wording.
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
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 for digital and AI projects.
- Data infrastructure, secure data platforms, cybersecurity tools, ERP systems and CRM systems.
- AI use-case development and implementation, including training and integration adoption costs.
- Equipment purchases such as robotics systems, automation systems, automated production equipment, network hardware, connectivity equipment and other advanced specialized 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.
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.
Is the LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology a grant, loan, or tax credit?
LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology is a Expert Advice