Ontario Creates Business Intelligence Program

• Signed Applicant Affidavit

Who is eligible?

• Incorporated not-for-profit Ontario organizations
• Incorporated not-for-profit national organizations offering significant benefit to the Ontario creative industries

Who is not eligible

• Colleges and universities applying directly to the BIP program

Eligible expenses

• Consulting or consulting firm fees for project delivery
• Administrative costs such as utilities, payroll, couriers, photocopying, office supplies and office rent
• Project costs included in the approved budget for carrying out the study

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Strategic planning for an organization
• Feasibility studies
• Studies evaluating the applicant’s own programs
• Projects that include recommendations for government or public funders
• Consultants’ travel, hospitality or other personal expenses

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario

• Ontario Creates will prioritize eligible applications that align with the goals and directions outlined in the agency’s current strategic plan.
• The agency’s decision to participate will be based on mandate alignment, quality of project plan, project costs and financing, applicant and project team capacity, and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Applications with a score of less than 20% in the mandate alignment category will be considered to have failed to meet the Project Eligibility Requirements.

• Step 1: Confirm eligibility
  • Review the program guidelines and Research Standards Guide.
  • Contact Ontario Creates in advance to discuss organization and project eligibility if needed.
• Step 2: Create portal account
  • Register on the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal.
  • Open a new application in the portal.
• Step 3: Prepare application
  • Complete the application form and compile required supporting documents.
  • Sign and include the Applicant Affidavit.
  • Disclose any use of AI in the application or proposed project.
• Step 4: Submit online
  • Submit the application electronically through the Online Application Portal before 5:00 PM ET on the deadline date.
  • Ensure the application is submitted before the project start date.

• Applications are reviewed through a competitive process and funding is not guaranteed.
• Ontario Creates may request clarification on the application or budget, and may request project design changes before contracting.
• Ontario Creates will confirm its participation within eight weeks of the application deadline.
• If approved, the applicant must finalize project financing and sign an agreement with Ontario Creates within 60 days.
• Ontario Creates reviews draft and final study materials before public release.

• Primary research and data collection are prioritized.
• Use of AI in the application or project should be disclosed in the application form.
• Successful applicants must make the final report public in an accessible format.
• Up to $500 per application may be available for accessibility-related application support if requested at least four weeks before the deadline.