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PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems
Support for business growth in British Columbia
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Funding available
$ 3,000,000
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Who can apply
Not-for-profit organizations that support businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs in British Columbia
See full eligibility
Overview
The Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program supports business growth in British Columbia through non-repayable contributions. It funds not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations and other eligible recipients to deliver business supports, commercialization, productivity improvement and market development activities.
Receipt of requests is now closed
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase operational productivity
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Youth (<40)
- Startups
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
Revenue structures
- Mixed revenue (<50% earned)
Scope
- Regional
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Technology commercialization
- Productivity improvement
- Market development and diversification
- Ecosystem development and business support
- Business acceleration
Documents Needed
- A completed application submitted in the portal
- A detailed project cost breakdown entered in the RIE Project Cost Detailing Sheet
- Externally reviewed financial statements for at least 2 complete years
- A listing of project funding from all non-PacifiCan sources, with evidence of confirmed funding for each confirmed source
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Application deadline extended
PacifiCan extended the Regional Innovation Ecosystems application deadline to October 30, 2026, and noted that applicants who already applied do not need to re-apply.
PacifiCan extended the Regional Innovation Ecosystems application deadline from September 11, 2026 at 12:00 pm PT to October 30, 2026 at 12:00 pm PT. The page also says applicants who already applied do not need to re-apply. A July 21, 2026 information session recording was added to the page.
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit organizations that support businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs in British Columbia
- For-profit entities only if they are Indigenous, part of a consortium, and/or their project's benefits are broadly distributed
- Legal entities capable of entering into a legally binding agreement
- Industry associations
- Municipalities or other municipal-type organizations
Who is not eligible
There are specific types of companies that are not eligible for this grant. Post-secondary educational institutions, Business Accelerator and Incubators, angel networks, Indigenous organizations, social enterprises, a group of eligible recipients such as an industry association or consortium, and municipalities are eligible, while for-profit companies are not eligible.
- For-profit companies
Eligible expenses
- Wages and benefits
- Purchase of machinery and equipment
- Operating costs directly related to the project, such as management fees or working capital
- Travel costs, such as trade missions to support commercial demonstrations or export sales
- Consultancy fees, intellectual property costs, subcontracting costs, and specialized services such as testing, research and development, technical or innovation services
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Land and building acquisition
- Allowance for interest on debts
- Entertainment
- Refinancing of an existing debt
- Costs incurred before the project funding start date
Eligible geographic areas
The Regional Innovation Ecosystems program is specific to British Columbia and supports designated not-for-profit organizations and their initiatives. The funding aims to enhance and develop regional innovation across the province.
- British Columbia, Canada
Selection criteria
- Alignment with PacifiCan priorities
- Measurable economic benefits for British Columbians and Canadians
- Strong market or industry demand
- Effective governance and an established management team
- Share of private investment relative to government assistance
How to apply
- Review the eligibility requirements
- Review the applicant guide
- Complete the Project cost detailing sheet
- Contact PacifiCan with any questions
- Submit your application and supporting documents through the online application portal
Processing and Agreement
- PacifiCan reimburses successful projects through claims submitted by the funding recipient
- Successful applicants will receive detailed instructions on the reimbursement process
- Funding recipients must submit regular progress reports and financial statements throughout the project
Additional information
- PacifiCan's service standard is to provide a funding decision within 90 business days of receiving a complete funding proposal for 90% of applications.
- Successful applicants will sign a standard Contribution Agreement with PacifiCan.
- Funding recipients must submit regular progress reports and financial statements throughout the project, from implementation to the final results report.
- PacifiCan may request Global Affairs Canada to conduct trade risk assessments as needed, and the results contribute to PacifiCan decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions about the PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems Program
What is the PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems?
The Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program supports business growth in British Columbia through non-repayable contributions. It funds not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations and other eligible recipients to deliver business supports, commercialization, productivity improvement and market development activities.
How much funding can be received?
PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $3,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems program?
To be eligible for the PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems program, you must:
The applicant must support businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs in British Columbia.
For-profit entities may only be eligible if they are Indigenous, part of a consortium, and/or their project's benefits are broadly distributed.
Applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
What expenses are eligible under PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems?
Technology commercialization
Productivity improvement
Market development and diversification
Ecosystem development and business support
Business acceleration
Who can I contact for more information about the PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems?
You can contact Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan).
Where is the PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems available?
The PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems program is available the province of British Columbia.
Is the PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems a grant, loan, or tax credit?
PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems is a Grant and Funding