Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies

• Completed application form
• Board of directors resolution or equivalent authorization document
• Management CVs or online profile links
• Latest financial statements or internal balance sheet and income statement with recent bank statements
• Three-year sales potential estimate and business plan

Who is eligible?

• Start-up companies (including social economy businesses such as cooperatives and non-profit organizations) that meet the program’s criteria
• Businesses in the biofood sector and organizations working on access to food
• Companies in entertainment and tourism
• Organizations in logistics and intelligent mobility
• Businesses developing medical technologies and community health solutions
• Companies in clean technologies and green energy, including energy optimization and circular economy
• Businesses contributing to the commercial vitality of neighbourhoods and residents’ quality of life

Who is not eligible

• Projects that have already received another subsidy from the City of Montréal.
• Start-ups whose head office or main place of business is located outside Montréal’s boroughs or neighbouring municipalities.
• Projects implemented over a period longer than 12 months.
• Projects whose main activities fall outside the specified sectors (biofood and access to food; entertainment and tourism; logistics and intelligent mobility; medical technologies and community health; clean technologies and green energy including energy optimization and circular economy; commercial vitality of neighbourhoods and residents’ quality of life).

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and wages for temporary or permanent staff working on the project.
• Professional fees, including legal support, research by recognized institutions, accounting services, and services for software or data processing development.
• Purchase of equipment and supplies required for the project.
• Rental fees for equipment used in the project.
• Fees related to obtaining product licencing or certification.

Eligible geographic areas

• Start-up companies whose head office or principal place of business is located in one of Montréal’s boroughs.
• Start-up companies whose head office or principal place of business is located in neighbouring municipalities of Montréal.
• Partner organizations established within the Montréal agglomeration.

• Growth potential of the start-up and its capacity to successfully complete the open innovation project.
• Quality of the project itself and the collaboration between the start-up and the partner organization.
• Scope and financial benefits (economic impact) expected from the project.

• Step 1: Verify program availability
  • Confirm that the program is still accepting new applications; note that it is currently indicated as suspended because available funds have been fully committed.
• Step 2: Establish partnership agreement
  • Conclude an agreement with an eligible partner organization established in the Montréal agglomeration.
  • Ensure the partner organization commits to a minimum cash financial contribution representing at least 10% of total project costs.
• Step 3: Prepare project plan and financial structure
  • Define the open innovation project, including objectives, activities, and a maximum implementation period of 12 months.
  • Detail the project’s financing structure, including the requested subsidy, the partner organization’s contribution, and any other sources of funding (loans, other public contributions, private investments, or in-kind service contributions).
  • Estimate the innovative product’s sales potential in the target market over three financial years.
• Step 4: Gather required documents
  • Obtain and complete the official application form (in French).
  • Prepare a board of directors’ resolution authorizing submission of the application, or another official document establishing the power of attorney of the person acting on behalf of the organization, if applicable.
  • Collect the curriculum vitae of each member of management, or provide online profile links.
  • Prepare financial statements for the last fiscal year; if there are no financial statements, prepare an internal balance sheet and income statement, and gather bank account statements for the six months preceding the application date.
  • Prepare a business plan or other document summarizing the innovative product, the business model, and the commercialization strategy.
• Step 5: Complete and submit the application
  • Fill in all sections of the application form (in French), ensuring that the requested subsidy amount and project details are clearly stated.
  • Attach all required supporting documents listed for the application.
  • Submit the complete application package to the Ville de Montréal through the method indicated on the official application form or program web page (no specific electronic or postal submission method is detailed in the provided information).
• Step 6: Wait for evaluation and confirmation
  • Once the application is received, the eligibility of the project and the maximum subsidy amount are to be confirmed within 30 working days.
  • Keep the contact information of the program handy in case the city requests clarifications or additional documents during the review process.
• Step 7: Sign agreement and start incurring expenses
  • If the project is declared eligible and a subsidy is granted, sign the contract with the partner organization and any required agreement with the Ville de Montréal.
  • Ensure that project expenses are incurred only after the project has been formally confirmed.
  • Receive the first instalment, which corresponds to 60% of the maximum estimated subsidy amount, once admissibility is confirmed and the contract is signed.
• Step 8: Implement project and manage admissible expenses
  • Carry out the project activities according to the approved plan and within the agreed 12‑month maximum period.
  • Limit expenditures to admissible expense categories as defined by the program.
  • Keep detailed records: invoices, payroll records, proof of payments for project expenses, and proof of the partner organization’s contribution.
• Step 9: Prepare accountability documents
  • At the end of the project, complete the official accountability form (in French).
  • Compile all supporting documents detailing the actual cost of the open innovation project (invoices, wage records, other cost evidence).
  • Gather proof of payment (other than cash) for admissible expenses, such as copies of cashed cheques, bank drafts, bank statements or credit card statements.
  • Gather proof of payment (other than cash) of the partner organization’s contribution and its collection, excluding a receipt, annotated invoice or acquittance.
  • Prepare verifiable proof of any contribution in services, if applicable.
• Step 10: Submit accountability report and receive final payment
  • Send the completed accountability form and all required supporting documents by email to entrepreneuriat@montreal.ca.
  • After the city receives and verifies the accountability documents, obtain the balance of the subsidy.

• Project eligibility and the maximum subsidy amount are confirmed within 30 working days of receiving the application.
• After approval, the project is confirmed and the contract with the partner organization is signed before funding is paid.
• The first instalment is paid after eligibility is confirmed and the contract is signed.
• The balance is paid after the accountability documents are received and verified by the City.

• The program is currently suspended and new applications cannot be submitted because all available funds have been fully committed.
• The legal framework for this subsidy is defined in the By-law establishing the open innovation subsidy program for emerging businesses (RCG 20-033) and its amendments.
• The program is designed to encourage collaborations that contribute to the sustainable transformation of Montréal, including economic, cultural, social, environmental, and mobility-related dimensions.
• The City reserves the right to request partial or full reimbursement of the subsidy if certain conditions are not respected in the year following project completion.