NGen — Cluster Accelerator Program

• Completed Cluster Accelerator Funding intake and screening form
• Cluster project proposal answering NGen’s six assessment questions
• Risk register, project milestone schedule, and work breakdown structure
• SME Declaration Forms for participating small and medium-sized enterprises
• Signed Cluster Accelerator Agreement or Ecosystem Services Agreement with NGen

• Be a new or existing not-for-profit, industry-led cluster organization focused on advanced manufacturing.
• Be incorporated in Canada and represent a majority of SME manufacturing and/or technology companies with fewer than 500 employees.
• Include other ecosystem partners such as academia, research, services, and/or public organizations.
• Provide industry support (cash and/or in-kind) of at least 150% of the requested NGen funding.
• For start-up cluster projects, include an initial partnership of five or more Canadian SME manufacturers.

Who is eligible?

• Existing advanced manufacturing clusters taking on new or expanded work that requires additional support.
• Newly activated or reactivated clusters focused on advanced manufacturing with a majority of SME members.
• Not-for-profit, industry-led cluster organizations representing SME manufacturers and/or technology companies in a region, sector, or both.

Who is not eligible

• Cluster organizations that are not incorporated in Canada.
• Clusters whose primary activities are unrelated to advanced manufacturing.
• Organizations unable to demonstrate a majority of SME manufacturing or technology members.

Eligible expenses

• Portion of wages, salaries, contracts, and mandatory employment-related costs directly linked to project activities.
• Equipment, facilities and supplies costs, including purchase, rental, operation, maintenance, materials, and capital expenditures tied to project objectives.
• Room or facility rentals, including space for conferences and related telecommunications, and other project-related user fees.
• Travel, meals, and accommodation in line with the National Joint Council Travel Directive, plus dissemination and publication costs.
• Direct project costs such as market studies, cybersecurity, payments to eligible federal entities, Indigenous honoraria, and other identifiable project delivery expenses.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Public sector advocacy activities and cluster activities unrelated to advanced manufacturing.
• Costs incurred by cluster members located outside Canada, unless pre-approved as eligible foreign program delivery costs.
• Retroactive costs incurred before contracting with NGen and capital or infrastructure costs unrelated to project objectives.
• Construction or purchase of buildings or land (unless pre-approved as eligible industry match), routine administration and overhead, interest, penalties, taxes, and rebates.
• Gifts, entertainment, alcoholic beverages, lobbying fees, grants or scholarships, and activities where benefits accrue to a single firm or organization.

Eligible geographic areas

• Clusters incorporated and operating in Canada.

• Clarity of opportunity or cluster concept, including market size, strategic importance, and alignment with advanced manufacturing.
• Expected economic and ecosystem benefits, such as business growth, job creation, export potential, and broader sectoral impacts.
• Quality and feasibility of the project workplan, including milestones, risk management, and partner roles.
• Strength and sustainability of the cluster’s business model and how benefits will be maintained beyond the project.
• Strength of the financial plan, including total project costs, industry commitments, and sources of matching funds.

• All cluster project proposals are reviewed by a panel of three independent assessors who score each application.
• The aggregated assessor score is used by NGen as the basis to decide whether to fund or not fund a proposed project.
• Successful applicants must enter into a standard Ecosystem Services Agreement or Cluster Accelerator Agreement with NGen before receiving funding.
• Unsuccessful applicants are informed of the reasons for the decision and may resubmit an amended application in a future call.
• Projects are considered complete only after NGen accepts the final report and reconciles all expenses and contributions.

• Applicants must register their cluster organization and member companies as NGen members; membership is free.
• Funded clusters must become active members of the NGenCAN Cluster Accelerator Network and may need to attend up to four meetings per year.
• Projects are considered complete only once a final report on activities, results, funding, and industry contributions is accepted by NGen.
• Successful applicants must sign a Cluster Accelerator Agreement or Ecosystem Services Agreement with NGen as a condition of funding.