Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

Yes, certain types of companies are not eligible for the Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program.

• Franchisees
• Games of chance operations and bingo halls
• Personal service providers
• Real estate developers, agents or brokers
• Licenced liquor establishments whose primary business is alcohol sales (excepting production breweries, brew pubs, wineries, and distilleries)
• Distributors, agents, or traders, including retailers, except where value-added products or services are part of the deliverables or for the purpose of selling Nova Scotia products/services abroad
• Associations
• Professional service providers, except where the project represents a unique and/or strategic opportunity with potential economic benefit, incremental sales outside Nova Scotia, and/or job creation
• Creative industries companies’ activities which are eligible under the Creative Industries Fund
• Tourism operators
• Publicly funded organizations
• Non-revenue-generating not-for-profit organizations

Eligible expenses

The Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program assists small and medium-sized businesses in accessing resources from post-secondary institutions to enhance various aspects of their operations. The eligible activities are centered on boosting productivity, developing new offerings, and facilitating business growth.

• Improving business productivity through post-secondary institution expertise.
• Developing new products, services, or processes.
• Utilizing research resources to support business growth.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is specifically available to companies located within the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Only businesses operating in this region are eligible to apply for the program.

• Companies based in the South Shore Region (Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne).
• Businesses located in the Western Region (Yarmouth, Digby).
• Organizations from the Valley Region (Annapolis, Kings, Hants).
• Enterprises in the Northern Region (Cumberland, Colchester).
• Businesses in the Northeastern Region (Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough).
• Companies in the Cape Breton Region (Cape Breton, Richmond, Inverness, Victoria).
• Entities within the Halifax Regional Municipality (Halifax & West, Dartmouth & East).

Additional information about the Productivity & Innovation Voucher Program includes various procedural guidelines and compliance measures.

• The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act applies to information collected in connection with the program.
• Approved applicants must participate in public announcements or ceremonies relating to the awarding of a voucher and the release of project information to the media and general public.