Protein Industries Canada — Technology Leadership
grant_single|update April 18, 2025
Canada
Funding for collaborative projects on plant protein
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|closingDate January 16, 2025
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
grant_single|grantors
- Protein Industries Canada
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
Get a grant to cover up to 45% of eligible expenses for a collaborative project focused on genetics, crops, ingredients and products. Collaborators must be Protein Industries Canada members, with annual membership fees of $500.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- Co-funding can reach up to 45 % of the eligible costs of approved projects, depending on the contribution determined by the program objectives and alignment with strategic priorities.
- No maximum amount limit per project is defined; however, the contribution from Protein Industries Canada cannot exceed 45 % of the eligible costs.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Germplasm development aimed at improving processing efficiency, quality, sensory characteristics, and the development of novel plant-based ingredients.
- Implementation of technologies to measure and enhance on-farm sustainability and facilitate information flow along the value chain.
- Development, scaling, and optimization of plant-based ingredients, including innovative manufacturing processes and co-products from Canadian crops.
- Conversion of Canadian-made ingredients and co-products into consumer-ready food products, value-added animal feed, and new industrial bio-products derived from the co-products of protein extraction and ingredient manufacturing.
- Proof of concept projects demonstrating feasibility at pilot scale for new technologies expected to be commercialized within three to five years.
- Projects enabling the first commercial deployment of a technology to assess technical, economic, and commercial feasibility.
- Projects facilitating the optimization and deployment of commercially viable technology for Canadian crops and agricultural conditions.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 270,000
Developing a circular economy system for plant-based co-products
$ 450,000
Scaling plant-based protein extraction technology for commercial deployment
$ 360,000
Conversion of Canadian-grown pulses into ready-to-eat snacks
$ 180,000
Engaging Indigenous communities in the plant-based value chain
$ 337,500
Development of technology to measure and improve on-farm sustainability
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- The application must be submitted by a consortium of at least two Protein Industries Canada members, ideally three or more, with at least one member being a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME) defined by Statistics Canada (499 or fewer employees).
- The consortium may include academic or research institutions, though this is not mandatory.
- Each member of the consortium must contribute meaningfully to the project, which can include financial commitment, providing intellectual property, or market expertise.
- At least two consortium members must contribute financially to the project.
- At least two partners must be Canadian companies or multi-national corporations legally entitled to do business in Canada with a significant Canadian business operation; non-Canadian entities may participate with approval.
- The project must be aligned with the objectives of Protein Industries Canada and the Global Innovation Cluster initiative.
- The project must be incremental to regular business activities, meaning it would not occur at the same scope or scale without this funding and the participation of consortium partners.
- At least one consortium member should represent a target customer or user of the new technology solution.
- The project team must demonstrate proven capability to manage complex, multi-party collaborative initiatives.
- All Ultimate Recipients must comply with Canadian economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes.
- The project must not be a “designated project” under federal environmental and impact assessment legislation.
- The project must pay a 4% administration fee to Protein Industries Canada, calculated on total eligible reconciled project costs (max twice the PIC contribution).
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- Canadian companies involved in the plant-based food, feed, and ingredients value chain
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with 499 or fewer employees
- Multi-national corporations with significant business operations in Canada
- Academic or research institutions (membership encouraged but not mandatory)
- Non-Canadian entities (may participate with approval)
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Companies that are not compliant with economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced by the Government of Canada.
- Projects that are considered a “designated project” or a “project” under the applicable federal environmental and impact assessment legislation.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Project expenses directly related to approved activities under Genetics, Crops, Ingredients, and Products areas.
- Costs associated with testing and scaling of ingredient manufacturing processes.
- Expenses for the development of new and novel plant-based ingredients and co-products.
- Costs for the creation and commercialization of consumer-ready food products, animal feed, and industrial bio-products derived from plant-based co-products.
- Expenditures related to the measurement, verification, and reporting of traceability, sustainability, and food safety of Canadian crops and ingredients.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- Canada
- United Kingdom (for joint projects with Innovate UK, with specific partnership requirements)
grant_single_labels|criteria
- Ecosystem Development: Evaluation of how the project will contribute to the development of the plant-based food and ingredient ecosystem in Canada.
- Technical Merit: Assessment of the technical soundness, innovation, and scientific basis of the project.
- Commercial Application: Consideration of the project's potential for commercialization, including scalability and expected market impact.
- Alignment with Priority Areas: Alignment of project outcomes with program priority areas (Genetics, Crops, Ingredients, Products) and Global Innovation Cluster objectives.
- Potential for Transformation: Degree to which the project can deliver transformative impacts on the sector.
- Milestones in Sustainability: Emphasis on advancements in environmental sustainability.
- Economic Reconciliation: Extent to which the project incorporates meaningful participation or benefits for Indigenous Peoples and under-represented groups.
- Commercialization Potential: Likelihood that the project will reach product commercialization within the planned timeframe.
- Strength of Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy: Quality and clarity of the IP rationale and management plan.
- Data and Data Governance Strategy: Robustness of the project's strategy for data management, sharing, and governance.
grant_single_labels|apply
1
Preliminary Contact
Email projects@proteinsupercluster.ca to set up an introductory call.
2
Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Review the Project Eligibility Requirements.
- Complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form collaboratively with consortium members.
- Ensure each consortium member fills out and signs a "Declaration As To Authorization and Compliance".
- Submit the EOI and Declaration forms to projects@proteinsupercluster.ca.
3
EOI Evaluation
- Wait for Protein Industries Canada to evaluate the EOI.
- Receive one of three outcomes: invitation to proceed to a full proposal, request for additional information, or decline of EOI.
4
Full Project Proposal
- If invited, participate in a kick-off meeting via conference call.
- Develop the full Project Proposal collaboratively with consortium members and Protein Industries Canada staff.
- Prepare the proposal using provided Word (limit of 50 pages) and Excel templates.
- Submit both parts of the application along with an initial financial assessment to Protein Industries Canada.
5
Proposal Evaluation and Decision
- Wait for Protein Industries Canada to initiate a review of the Project Proposal.
- Undergo evaluation by the Project Selection Committee.
6
Project Approval
- If approved, work with Protein Industries Canada to sign a Master Project Agreement (MPA).
- Complete a detailed financial assessment as requested by Protein Industries Canada.
- Begin reimbursement of eligible costs upon signing the MPA.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Regular collaboration with Protein Industries Canada staff is encouraged throughout the proposal development process to ensure project success.
- All proposals must incorporate economic reconciliation measures with Indigenous communities.
- Projects should include a strategic plan for Intellectual Property and data governance.
- Once approved, a Master Project Agreement must be signed before eligible cost reimbursement can commence.
- Joint projects with Innovate UK must be completed by March 31, 2026.
- Innovate UK collaborators are required to obtain membership in Protein Industries Canada to participate.
- An economic and financial compliance audit by the Government of Canada is mandatory for all consortium members.
- Consortiums need to prepare a detailed budget with clearly broken down annual expenses for multi-year projects.
grant_single_labels|contact
projects@proteinsupercluster.ca
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