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PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE)
Funding to support business growth in the Prairies
Last Update: April 10, 2026
Funding available
Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada
Overview
Your not-for-profit organization could get a financial contribution to assist businesses at all stages of development in scaling up and becoming more globally competitive. Investments focus on enhancing business support networks for under-represented grou
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop a new product or service
- Access new markets
Eligible Funding
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance
Location
- Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Youth (<40)
- Startups
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Higher Education
- Research
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Children & youth
- Indigenous peoples
- Women & girls
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Regional
- Provincial
- International
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
The eligible activities for this grant focus on fostering a robust regional innovation ecosystem in the Prairie provinces by responding to business scale-up challenges and opportunities. These initiatives are designed to enhance technology commercialization, improve productivity, and support business acceleration and incubation.
- Enhancing businesses' innovation efforts by setting up or expanding facilities to provide specialized services, including technology commercialization at readiness levels 7-9.
- Developing entrepreneurship and helping businesses access new markets, export, and attract investment for business scale-up purposes.
- Improving productivity through technology transfer, validation, training, and implementation.
- Building ecosystem capacity by developing strategic alliances and conducting research to address scaling-up barriers within a sector or cluster.
- Accelerating business and incubation processes by aiding entrepreneurs in creating and growing startups, through services such as business plan formation, marketing strategies, hiring, and access to office space and expert mentorship.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
The Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program targets not-for-profit organizations in the Prairie provinces that support business innovation, growth, productivity, and competitiveness in priority sectors.
- Not-for-profit organizations involved in supporting businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
- Post-secondary educational institutions focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Business accelerators and incubators aiding start-ups and scale-ups.
- Angel networks providing capital and mentorship to innovative businesses.
- Indigenous organizations, including Indigenous-led not-for-profit organizations and businesses.
- Social enterprises driving social innovation and impact.
- A group of eligible recipients such as industry associations or consortiums.
- Municipalities and other levels of government involved in economic development.
- Applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
Who is not eligible
This grant is specifically designed for not-for-profit organizations, which inherently excludes certain types of entities. The restrictions ensure focus on fostering innovation ecosystems beneficial to strategic sectors.
- For-profit businesses that do not have a not-for-profit partner involved.
- Organizations that are not legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
Eligible expenses
This grant supports activities that aim to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems in the Prairies by addressing challenges and opportunities related to business scale-up, productivity, and technology commercialization. Eligible projects focus on fostering innovation, enhancing business environments, and supporting under-represented groups in the innovation economy.
- Technology commercialization, including enhancing business innovation efforts and setting up specialized services for businesses.
- Facilitating late-stage product development through technology showcasing and demonstrations.
- Business scale-up initiatives, such as developing entrepreneurship and helping businesses penetrate markets and attract investment.
- Productivity improvement through technology transfer, needs validation, and adoption of technologies for new applications.
- Ecosystem capacity building, including strategic business alliances and research to break down barriers to scaling and productivity.
- Business acceleration and incubation services, offering mentorship, office space, and specialized equipment to startups.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is targeted towards the Prairie provinces in Canada, aligning with regional development objectives guided by PrairiesCan. The geographical focus ensures support for innovation ecosystems throughout these areas.
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- PraiiesCan offers assistance in connecting applicants with other key players and funding sources to bolster project success.
- Applicants are encouraged to contact PrairiesCan for guidance throughout the application process.
- PraiiesCan coordinates with applicants to promote an inclusive innovation ecosystem by supporting underrepresented groups.
- A standard Contribution Agreement outlines recipient obligations for successful applicants.
- PrairiesCan provides an orientation to the reimbursement process for successful applicants.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE). This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE)?
Your not-for-profit organization could get a financial contribution to assist businesses at all stages of development in scaling up and becoming more globally competitive. Investments focus on enhancing business support networks for under-represented grou
How much funding can be received?
PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program?
To be eligible for the PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program, you must:
The applicant must be a not-for-profit organization supporting businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
Eligible entities include post-secondary institutions, business accelerators, incubators, Indigenous organizations, social enterprises, or consortia.
All applicants must have legal standing to enter into binding agreements.
What expenses are eligible under PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE)?
The eligible activities for this grant focus on fostering a robust regional innovation ecosystem in the Prairie provinces by responding to business scale-up challenges and opportunities. These initiatives are designed to enhance technology commercialization, improve productivity, and support business acceleration and incubation. Enhancing businesses' innovation efforts by setting up or expanding facilities to provide specialized services, including technology commercialization at readiness levels 7-9.
Developing entrepreneurship and helping businesses access new markets, export, and attract investment for business scale-up purposes.
Improving productivity through technology transfer, validation, training, and implementation.
Building ecosystem capacity by developing strategic alliances and conducting research to address scaling-up barriers within a sector or cluster.
Accelerating business and incubation processes by aiding entrepreneurs in creating and growing startups, through services such as business plan formation, marketing strategies, hiring, and access to office space and expert mentorship.
Who can I contact for more information about the PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE)?
You can contact Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) or by phone at 1-888-338-9378.
Where is the PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) available?
The PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program is available the province of Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan.
Is the PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
PrairiesCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) is a Grant and Funding