Closed
Source verified August 10, 2026
PRIMA — INNOV-R SME
Supporting collaborative industrial research to cut GHGs
Latest source updateLast Update: August 10, 2026Latest change: The INNOV-R SME call now shows a new timeline for 2026 and updated linked application documents.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 10, 2026
Latest change: The INNOV-R SME call now shows a new timeline for 2026 and updated linked application documents.
INNOV-R SME timeline and documents updated
The INNOV-R SME Call for Projects page now shows a new call schedule: launch on August 11, 2026, letter of intent deadline on September 22, 2026, and detailed application submission on November 2, 2026. The relevant documents list now links to the Applicant Guide INNOV-R PME and the Letter of Intent Form, and the complete application form is no longer listed. The financing table also now states that contributions from a Québec company with 250 or more employees may be in cash or in-kind.
Funding available
$ 450,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
A SME with fewer than 250 employees, incorporated under federal or Québec laws, registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, with a place of business in Québec and production and/or RSDE activities in Québec.
See full eligibility
Overview
INNOV-R PME supports Québec SME collaborative industrial research projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible work includes developing new products or processes, significantly improving existing ones, and related innovation activities.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 450,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 250 employees maximum
Audience
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development of a new product or a new process.
- Significant improvement of an existing product or process.
Documents Needed
- Applicant Guide INNOV-R PME
- Letter of Intent Form
- Complete Application Form
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- A SME with fewer than 250 employees, incorporated under federal or Québec laws, registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, with a place of business in Québec and production and/or RSDE activities in Québec.
- A SME that is not controlled by one or more large companies.
Who is not eligible
- Sociétés d’aide au développement des collectivités (SADC).
- Companies listed on the register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts (RENA), including subcontractors registered with RENA that are expected to perform project work.
- Companies that, during the two years preceding the application for financial assistance, failed to respect their obligations after formal notice in connection with prior financial assistance from MEIE or IQ under the Fonds du développement économique or IQ’s equity funds.
- Companies under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, and holding companies.
- Companies with unethical conduct that could tarnish the Government of Québec’s image of integrity and probity.
Eligible expenses
- Professional fees for specialized services, including subcontracted services; direct labor costs for the project, including social benefits and mandatory contributions.
- Travel and accommodation expenses related to project delivery; direct material and inventory costs; direct equipment costs calculated according to project duration and useful life.
- Equipment rental fees; costs to acquire studies or other documentation; and platform fees.
- Costs to prepare and obtain intellectual property protection, rights or licenses, including patent-related fees; and costs for homologation or certification needed for commercialization.
- Management fees up to 5% of eligible project expenses, as well as final external audit costs for the project.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Expenses incurred before the filing date, including expenses for which the company has entered into contractual commitments.
- Debt service fees, repayment of future loans, capital losses or capital replacement, and capital payments or disbursements.
- Operating expenses for regular activities and recurring fees such as annual subscription fees and software update fees.
- Intellectual property maintenance, land acquisition or development, and building acquisition, construction, or expansion.
- Transactions between related companies or partners, Québec sales taxes, and commercialization expenses.
Eligible geographic areas
- Québec
Selection criteria
- 50 points: Degree of innovation of the solution developed; quality of the project team, partnership, and project management; commercial or deployment potential of the solution developed and the adequacy with the IP management plan; capacity of the SME to carry out the project with financial and human resources; and social, environmental, economic, or other benefits for Québec.
- 50 points: Capacity of the solution to reduce GHG emissions in Québec during the first 10 years of commercialization; conformity with ISO 14064-2, including a realistic reference scenario; and risks related to deployment.
How to apply
- Submit the letter of intent by 22 September 2026.
- If the project is approved, submit the detailed application to the relevant RSRI by 2 November 2026.
Processing and Agreement
- The letter of intent is analyzed and the eligibility criteria of sections 4.1 and 4.2 of the guide are verified.
- Financial statements submitted with the letter of intent are evaluated by an external evaluator, who issues a recommendation regarding the company’s solvency.
- A response is sent on April 4, 2025.
- If the project is approved, the applicant receives the detailed application form.
- The detailed application is then reviewed, and funding confirmation for retained projects is sent by email from the RSRI.
Additional information
- The financial partners of a project approve a single budget presenting all the activities, and matching an already funded project with the addition of new activities funded by the RSRI is not in accordance with the standards of the measure.
- The co-financing sources identified must be free of existing commitments.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the PRIMA — INNOV-R SME Program
What is the PRIMA — INNOV-R SME?
INNOV-R PME supports Québec SME collaborative industrial research projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible work includes developing new products or processes, significantly improving existing ones, and related innovation activities.
How much funding can be received?
PRIMA — INNOV-R SME Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $450,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the PRIMA — INNOV-R SME program?
To be eligible for the PRIMA — INNOV-R SME program, you must:
Be submitted by a SME established in Québec and carrying out internal production or R&D activities there.
Be carried out with another Québec company or an eligible recipient environment.
Demonstrate at least 100,000 tonnes of CO2 reduced or avoided in Québec during the first 10 years after commercialization.
What expenses are eligible under PRIMA — INNOV-R SME?
Development of a new product or a new process.
Significant improvement of an existing product or process.
Who can I contact for more information about the PRIMA — INNOV-R SME?
You can contact Advanced Materials Research and Innovation Hub (PRIMA) by email at michel.lefevre@prima.ca or by phone at 5142413322.
Where is the PRIMA — INNOV-R SME available?
The PRIMA — INNOV-R SME program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the PRIMA — INNOV-R SME a grant, loan, or tax credit?
PRIMA — INNOV-R SME is a Grant and Funding