PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Business Scale-Up and Productivity

• PacifiCan funding may cover up to 50% of eligible project costs.
• Minimum funding per project is $200,000 and maximum is $5 million.
• A single organization may receive up to $10 million across multiple projects.
• At least 50% of the total project funding must come from confirmed non-government sources at the time of application.
• Repayment is interest-free, with a 1-year grace period after project completion, followed by equal monthly payments over 5 years; no penalty for early repayment.

• The business must be incorporated in Canada and have been operating in British Columbia for at least 2 years.
• The applicant must be a high-growth, for-profit business scaling up and producing innovative goods, services, or technologies.
• The company must have staffed operating facilities located in British Columbia.
• The applicant must show evidence of confirmed funding from all other sources, with at least 50% of the proposed project costs from non-government sources.
• The project must aim to support or accelerate growth through productivity improvement, business scale-up, or technology commercialization activities.

Who is eligible?

• High-growth, incorporated businesses operating in British Columbia
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 500 full-time employees (preference may be given)
• Businesses in advanced manufacturing
• Clean technology and clean resources sectors
• Companies involved in digital industries, health/bio-sciences, value-added natural resources processing, ocean technology, and agritech/value-added agriculture

Eligible expenses

• Capital costs, such as equipment and machinery essential to the project.
• Labour expenses, including wages and benefits directly tied to the project.
• Marketing costs associated with the project.
• Costs related to intellectual property.
• Technology development and commercial demonstration expenses.
• Professional, advisory, and technical service fees relevant to the project.

Eligible geographic areas

• British Columbia

• Market potential of the proposed project.
• Management capability of the applicant organization.
• Financial capacity to execute and repay the project.
• Economic benefits and expected outcomes for British Columbia.
• Technology readiness (for technology commercialization projects only).
• Alignment with PacifiCan’s agency priorities.

• Selected projects are required to report on inclusiveness efforts related to Indigenous people, women, and youth.
• Applications may undergo a technical assessment by national level programs for projects involving novel or clean technology.
• Each business is limited to one Expression of Interest per intake period and one successful application per year.
• Financial statements and proof of non-government funding sources must be provided at the time of the initial expression of interest submission.