Northern Industries Innovation Fund

The Northern Industries Innovation Fund provides financial assistance to support innovative projects, promoting competitiveness and economic development in Northern B.C. The funding aims to enhance the financial feasibility of initiatives impacted by the pine beetle epidemic.

• Up to $50,000 in rebate funding available for qualifying projects.
• The funding covers up to 50% of the total project budget.
• Applicants are required to contribute a minimum of 10% of the project budget.

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's location, organizational structure, and industry involvement.

• The applicant must be located or headquartered within the Northern Development Initiative Trust region.
• The business must be privately owned and incorporated.
• The applicant must have less than 500 employees.
• The business must have revenues less than $100 million.
• The applicant can be a registered non-profit organization engaged in industrial activities.
• Post-secondary institutions must work with a private sector partner or on an applied research project with private sector implications.
• Community contribution companies are eligible.
• Priority is given to companies operating in regions most impacted by the pine beetle epidemic.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

This grant does not specify explicit restrictions on industries or company types other than requiring applicants to be part of eligible industries and meeting specific eligibility criteria. There are no clearly outlined exclusions or restrictions on particular company activities or statuses.

Eligible expenses

The Northern Industries Innovation Fund supports a range of innovation projects aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and economic viability of businesses in Northern B.C. These projects include applied research and development as well as the trial and testing of new technologies and equipment.

• Applied research and development to enhance traditional industry practices.
• Development and introduction of new or improved products and services.
• Testing of innovative equipment to assist in capital investment decisions.
• Implementation of technology trials to improve industry processes.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies headquartered or located within a specific region, as defined by the funding body, to align with regional economic development strategies.

• The Northern Development Initiative Trust region in Northern British Columbia, Canada.

The Northern Industries Innovation Fund (NIIF) grant has evaluation and selection criteria:

• Applicants must be located/headquartered within the Northern Development Initiative Trust region.
• Priority is given to companies operating in regions most impacted by the pine beetle epidemic.
• Projects must increase the competitiveness of local businesses in traditional industries across Northern B.C.
• Applicants must contribute a minimum of 10% of the project budget.
• Projects should support economic diversification and the viability of businesses.

The Northern Industries Innovation Fund provides additional relevant details for applicants to be aware of:

• The program is designed to mitigate economic impacts, specifically addressing challenges such as the pine beetle epidemic.
• The program supports projects that align with economic diversification and viability.
• There is an emphasis on funding projects that contribute to capital investment decisions through the testing of innovative technologies and equipment.
• Community-based innovation hubs are considered if their project deliverables have industry development impacts.