NGen — Sustainable Manufacturing Challenge

• Application Agreement
• IP Tables
• SME Declaration Form
• Project Plan and Risk Register
• Completed Financial Workbook

Who is eligible?

• Canadian for-profit businesses in advanced manufacturing or cleantech.
• Indigenous organizations.
• Private-sector-funded R&D not-for-profits.
• Non-federal Crown corporations with commercial activities.

Who is not eligible

• Other not-for-profit organizations.
• Post-secondary institutions.
• Federal Crown corporations.
• Government departments and agencies.
• International organizations without a registered business presence in Canada.

Eligible expenses

• Canada-based salaries and wages for staff working directly on the project.
• Subcontracting and consultancy work performed in Canada.
• New equipment purchase, rental, operation, and maintenance.
• Materials and supplies consumed by the project.
• Software licences, facility rentals, project travel, publication costs, Indigenous honoraria, IP protection, cybersecurity costs, and certain payments to federal entities.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Retroactive costs, in-kind contributions, refundable taxes, customs duties, fines, and penalties.
• Routine administration, overhead, marketing, advertising, selling, and board salaries.
• Buildings, land, infrastructure, facility modifications, and non-movable installations.
• Travel to conferences, full-scale production, single-firm projects, and activities without a clear commercial application.
• Costs already covered by other government funding or charged above cost by related parties.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada

• Responses to 10 assessment questions, scored out of 100 marks in total for projects up to CAD 10 million.
• Transformative impact and competitive advantage for Canadian industry.
• Meaningful collaboration, including at least two Canadian industry partners.
• Applied approach with a short- to medium-term path to commercialization and commercial benefit.
• Enduring value for Canada’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

• Step 1: Become a member
  • Register as an NGen member.
  • Access the member portal to start the application process.
• Step 2: Complete screening intake
  • Fill in the project intake and Application Agreement.
  • Submit the project summary, partners, and high-level financial information for screening.
• Step 3: Build the full application
  • Answer the project questions.
  • Complete the financial workbook and project details.
  • Upload the project plan, risk register, IP table, and other required files.
• Step 4: Submit for assessment
  • Submit the full application through the member portal.
  • Complete any financial due diligence requests if needed.
• Step 5: Receive the decision
  • Wait for NGen’s decision after expert assessment.
  • If approved, sign the project agreement and prepare for launch.

• Applications are first screened for scope and financial due diligence.
• Eligible proposals are reviewed by independent experts, with up to 100 marks for projects up to CAD 10 million.
• Projects over CAD 10 million go through a dual-stage assessment and may include an interview.
• NGen notifies applicants by email if the project is accepted or rejected.
• Approved projects move to contracting before launch.

• All projects must be completed by January 31, 2028.
• Projects over CAD 10 million follow a dual-stage assessment and may include interviews.
• Guides, templates, and support materials are available online in English and French.