NovaScience Program - Support for projects in scientific culture and innovation

• Non-repayable grant with a maximum duration of two years.
• Maximum aid rate: 80% of eligible expenses for non-profit organizations (NPOs), 50% for for-profit organizations (FPOs).
• Maximum grant amount per project: $200,000 for "scientific culture and innovation," "equity, diversity and inclusion in science and technology," "artificial intelligence training initiatives," and "life sciences" themes; $100,000 for "event" projects; $50,000 for "Zoom on Innovation" projects.
• Government funding cannot exceed 80% of eligible expenses for NPOs or 50% for FPOs, including all combined government support.

• The applicant must be a legally constituted non-profit or for-profit organization, cooperative, recognized educational institution, school organization, affiliated hospital center, technology transfer center, or municipal/regional government entity, all established in Quebec.
• The applicant organization must not be currently listed on the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA).
• The applicant must have fulfilled all previous financial aid obligations to the Government of Quebec or Investissement Québec in the last two years.
• The project must be conducted in Quebec and align with one of the program's specified themes (e.g., scientific culture and innovation, equity and inclusion, event-related, life sciences, AI training, or innovation visits).
• The project must include at least one partnership and be aimed at a defined target audience within the education or training sector (preschool to university, adult education, or workforce training).

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit organizations (NPOs) based in Quebec
• For-profit organizations (FPOs) with an establishment in Quebec
• Collective enterprises (cooperatives) as defined in the Social Economy Act
• Recognized educational institutions and school organizations
• Hospital centers and affiliated college centers for technology transfer
• Municipalities, cities, regional county municipalities (MRCs), and similar organizations

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their status or main activity, ensuring alignment with the grant's educational and scientific objectives.

• State-owned enterprises or those controlled by a municipal, provincial, or federal government.
• Entities in bankruptcy or insolvency situations.
• Companies engaged in the production or distribution of weapons.
• Businesses involved in fossil fuel exploration, production, and refining, except those transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
• Industries involved in gambling, violent games, combat sports involving living beings, or racing.
• Organizations engaged in sexual exploitation, such as erotic bars and escort agencies.
• Companies related to the production, sale, or service of tobacco or drugs, except regulated interventions regarding cannabis and industrial hemp.
• Activities primarily focused on religion, politics, or defense of rights as protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries, wages, and social benefits for employees assigned to the project (excluding regular teaching staff, except costs for hiring substitutes).
• Fees for specialized services and external consultants directly necessary for the project (capped at 50% of total eligible expenses).
• Scholarships and prizes granted to students.
• Purchase of materials, consumables, supplies, and directly used electronic or computer equipment necessary for the project (excluding equipment normally present and used in the organization).
• Rental costs for project-specific equipment and rental of premises.
• Travel, meal, and accommodation expenses for activities occurring within Quebec, in compliance with government guidelines.
• Costs for dissemination and communication of project-related knowledge (excluding copyright fees).
• Advertising, promotion, and communication expenses tied directly to the project.
• Costs related to the management and exploitation of intellectual property arising from the project.
• Administrative and management fees, up to 10% of total eligible expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations and businesses with an establishment in Quebec.
• Municipalities, cities, and regional county municipalities (MRCs) within Quebec.

• Clear identification of the target audience, their needs, and the related issue (5 points).
• Relevance of the project, including its connection to the needs of the target audience and how it addresses the program’s objectives and priorities (20 points).
• Quality of the project, including the scientific, technological, or educational rigor, and the effectiveness of the methods and approaches used (20 points).
• Potential economic or social benefits, including demonstrated impact on the target audience, project sustainability, and effectiveness of communication and outreach strategies (25 points).
• Project implementation guarantees, including the planning calendar, management quality, risk assessment, and the rationality of expenses (25 points).

• An electronic acknowledgment of receipt is sent within two business days after the application submission.
• Selected projects are published on the Ministry's website with the names of recipients.
• Privacy and confidentiality measures are enforced according to Quebec's laws regarding access to public documents and personal information.
• Committee members involved in project selection sign confidentiality agreements, and their identities are not disclosed.