Made in Saskatchewan Technology Program (MIST)

Who is eligible?

The Made in Saskatchewan Technology Program (MIST) is open to tech startups that meet the following criteria:- Location: The startup must be based in Saskatchewan, meaning it should have a Saskatchewan head office address, be registered to carry business in the province, and at least 50% of its employees must reside in Saskatchewan.- Size: The startup must have fewer than 50 employees, including full-time, part-time, and contract workers.- Revenue: Startups should have reported annual recurring revenue of under $1 million in their latest year-end financial statements.- Technology Readiness: The startup must have a novel technology that is close to commercialization, with a minimum Technology Readiness Level of 6.- Capacity: The startup should have the capacity to work with an enterprise-level customer, such as the government.Eligible project partners include the Government of Saskatchewan, its ministries, agencies, Crown corporations, Saskatchewan public sector organizations, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and municipalities.Startups must have a prospective pilot project partner and must match the funding 1:1 with the eligible public sector or non-profit partner.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses directly associated with the pilot project work items identified in the contract or statement of work.

• Consumables necessary for the project.
• Salaries for research and development and technical personnel within the startup.
• Contracted professional technical services or expertise, such as third-party software developers.
• Costs related to intellectual property protection, technology transfer, and commercialization.
• Travel and accommodation expenses directly related to the project.

Eligible geographic areas

The Made in Saskatchewan Technology Program (MIST) is specifically designed for tech startups that are based in Saskatchewan. Eligible companies must have their head office in Saskatchewan and conduct business in the province as part of the program's geographical requirements.

• Saskatchewan, Canada

The evaluation and selection of projects for the Made in Saskatchewan Technology Program (MIST) focus on assessing key criteria to ensure alignment with the program’s goals of advancing public sector innovation and stimulating the technology sector.

• Innovation: Demonstrate how the technology being developed is novel and innovative, differentiating it from existing market solutions available to the public sector.
• Value Proposition/Relevance: Demonstrate how the technology is relevant to a potential project partner, highlighting its ability to address public sector challenges.
• Technology Readiness: Describe the technology’s readiness level, with a requirement of at least TRL 6, and discuss testing and validation conducted to date.
• Team Capacity and Enterprise Readiness: Describe the capacity to execute the proposed pilot project, including involved personnel and their biographies, and readiness to work with an enterprise-level client.
• Current Level of Engagement with Clients and Partners: Describe the current engagement with existing business, clients, and partners.

• Step 1: Determine Eligibility
• Ensure your startup meets MIST program criteria, such as being based in Saskatchewan, having fewer than 50 employees, and having a novel technology ready for implementation.
• Step 2: Prepare Application
• Gather necessary documents including financial statements, proof of technology readiness, and details of the pilot project.
• Identify and confirm engagement with potential eligible project partners.
• Step 3: Complete Application Form
• Access the application form via the Innovation Saskatchewan website.
• Provide detailed information about your startup, project specifics, and strategic objectives.
• Step 4: Submit Application
• Submit the completed application form before the relevant quarterly deadline (April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31).
• Step 5: Evaluation Process
• Your application will undergo an internal assessment followed by a review by the MIST Advisory Committee.
• Be prepared to submit additional information if requested by the program manager during assessment.
• Step 6: Notification of Results
• Receive notification of approval or rejection around 15 days post-review meeting.
• Approved startups will move forward in coordinating the funding agreement and project initiation.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The maximum funding available from the MIST program is $30,000, and this must be matched 1:1 by the eligible project partner.
• Projects are expected to have a strong innovation component and be ready for market testing.
• Startups can leverage the MIST program to build capacity through collaboration with other startups.
• Startups are required to demonstrate clear project outcomes and need to adhere to reporting requirements for up to a year post-project.
• In-kind contributions from project partners can be considered for matching, provided there is also a monetary contribution.
• Media releases concerning funded projects will involve consultation with the startup; however, IS will maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Intellectual property arising from the pilot projects remains with the startup or negotiated partner arrangements.