How much funding can be received?

Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $50,000 per project.

What expenses are eligible under Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies?

Collaborative projects between a start-up and a partner organization to test an innovative solution addressing an urban issue, ecological transition or labour shortage in Montréal. Joint initiatives to commercialize a new product or solution by proving the concept or demonstrating feasibility through real-world tests and trials with the partner organization. Partnership projects focused on validating a technology, including technical trials carried out in the partner’s operational environment. Pre-commercial demonstration projects or market validation initiatives conducted with a partner organization to confirm targeted markets and accelerate first sales. Sector-based innovation projects in fields such as 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), or commercial vitality and quality of life in neighbourhoods.

Who can I contact for more information about the Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies?

You can contact City of Montreal (MTL) by email at entrepreneuriat@montreal.ca.

Is the Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies is a Grant and Funding

Suspended

Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies

Q: Who is eligible for the Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies program?

To be eligible for the Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies program, you must: Start-up located in a Montréal borough or neighbouring municipality, in operation less than 5 years, with at least two full-time team members and annual sales ≤ $2 million. Share capital (if a joint-stock company) mainly held by Canadian citizens, permanent residents or CSQ holders, and not more than 50% owned by another legal person; social economy businesses (co-op or non-profit) also eligible. Project carried out with a partner organization in the Montréal agglomeration that makes a minimum financial contribution.

Q: Where is the Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies available?

The Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies program is available Montréal, Quebec.

Last Update: March 4, 2026

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Supports Montréal start-ups testing innovative solutions with partner organizations

Grant and Funding

Overview

The Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies offers up to $50,000, covering a maximum of 50% of eligible project costs, to help emerging businesses in the Montréal area commercialize innovative solutions that address urban issues, ecological transition or labour shortages. Eligible activities include proof of concept and feasibility testing in real conditions, technology validation, pre-commercial demonstrations, market validation and initial sales in sectors such as biofood, tourism, logistics and mobility, medical technologies, clean technologies, green energy and neighbourhood commercial vitality.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals

Develop a new product
Obtain certifications
Selling in a new market

Eligible Funding

Maximum amount : 50,000 $
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Receipt of requests is suspended

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries

Transportation and warehousing
Information and cultural industries
Health care and social assistance
Accommodation and food services
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Location

Montreal
Montréal
Quebec

Legal structures

For-profit business
Social economy enterprise
Non-financial cooperative

Annual revenue

$ 2,000,000 maximum revenue

Organisation size

All organization sizes

Audience

Startups

Activities funded

Collaborative projects between a start-up and a partner organization to test an innovative solution addressing an urban issue, ecological transition or labour shortage in Montréal.
Joint initiatives to commercialize a new product or solution by proving the concept or demonstrating feasibility through real-world tests and trials with the partner organization.
Partnership projects focused on validating a technology, including technical trials carried out in the partner’s operational environment.
Pre-commercial demonstration projects or market validation initiatives conducted with a partner organization to confirm targeted markets and accelerate first sales.
Sector-based innovation projects in fields such as 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), or commercial vitality and quality of life in neighbourhoods.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 40,000

Developing a pilot project for smart waste management in urban areas of Montreal

$ 35,000

Implementing a renewable energy solution for underserved neighborhoods

$ 50,000

Creating a mobile app to help Montreal workers find jobs more efficiently

$ 48,000

Offering a pre-commercial demonstration of an innovative public transportation app

$ 45,000

Launching a community garden initiative to promote urban agriculture

$ 45,000

Providing a feasibility study for a new bike-sharing system

Eligibility

The company must be an emerging/start‑up business with its head office or main place of business located in one of Montréal’s boroughs or neighbouring municipalities, and have been in operation for fewer than five years.
The company must have a team of at least two people working full-time and annual sales of $2 million or less.
If the company is a joint-stock corporation, its share capital must be mainly held by Canadian citizens, permanent residents or holders of a Certificat de sélection du Québec, and it cannot be more than 50% owned by another legal entity; social economy enterprises (cooperatives or non-profits) that meet these criteria are also eligible.
The company must have a formal collaboration agreement with a partner organization established in the Montréal agglomeration that meets the program’s partner criteria and provides a minimum financial contribution to the project.
The project must be carried out over a maximum of 12 months, fall within one of 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), and aim to commercialize an innovative solution or product addressing an urban issue, ecological transition or labour shortage.

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.

Selection criteria

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.

How to apply

Preparation of documents

Fill out the admission application form.
Obtain a resolution from the board of directors or a relevant official document authorizing the submission of the application.
Prepare the curricula vitae of the management team or provide web pages presenting their profiles.
Present the financial statements of the last accounting period, or the balance sheet and income statement prepared internally accompanied by the bank account statements from the six months preceding the application date.
Estimate over 3 financial years the sales potential of the innovative product for the targeted market.
Write a business plan or a document describing the innovative product, the business model, and the marketing strategy.

Submission of the request

Submit the request and all required documents to the City of Montreal.

Additional information

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.

Documents and links