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PSCE – Component 2
Non-repayable funding to support SMEs’ export market diversification
Last Update: March 16, 2026
Funding available
$ 60,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Quebec, Canada
Overview
PSCE – Component 2 provides a non-repayable contribution of up to $60,000 per business per year to help Québec companies diversify and consolidate markets outside Québec (internationally and in the rest of Canada). Eligible activities include hiring a new full-time sales representative for an out-of-Québec market, developing export diagnostics/strategies (including market studies and coaching), implementing marketing and digital marketing for foreign markets, exhibiting at trade events (including virtual), and obtaining required certifications or approvals for target markets.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Obtain certifications or accreditations
- Access new markets
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- Financial cooperative
- For-profit business
- Social economy enterprise
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- From $ 1,000,000 to $ 50,000,000 in revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Hire a full-time new sales representative to develop and grow markets outside Québec (internationally or elsewhere in Canada).
- Develop an export diagnostic or an export business plan.
- Develop an export strategy (including conducting a market study outside Québec and receiving support/coaching to build market-development know-how).
- Develop and implement a marketing strategy, including a digital strategy for foreign markets.
- Participate as an exhibitor in a trade event outside Québec (in-person or virtual), such as a trade fair, show, congress, or customer-site exhibition.
Documents Needed
- Compliant service offer (proposal) for professional fees (if applicable)
- Supporting documents for short-term rental of an exhibition space/office/premises outside Québec (if applicable)
- Supporting documents for market studies or access to databases (if applicable)
- CV and job description for the new full-time commercial representative position outside Québec (if applicable)
- Supporting documents for eligible marketing/advertising or event-related expenses outside Québec (if applicable)
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- For-profit businesses
- Non-financial cooperatives
- Social economy enterprises (cooperatives and non-profits/OBNL) as defined under Québec’s Social Economy Act
- All industries are eligible except the excluded sectors listed by the program (e.g., agriculture/forestry/fishing/hunting; mining/oil & gas; utilities; construction; retail trade with limited exception; broadcasting; telecommunications; finance & insurance; real estate/rental & leasing; management of companies; administrative/support services; educational services; health care & social assistance; arts/entertainment/recreation; accommodation & food services; other services excluding public administration; public administration)
Who is not eligible
- Businesses in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector.
- Businesses in mining and quarrying, oil and gas extraction.
- Businesses in public utilities.
- Businesses in finance and insurance, or in real estate and rental/leasing services.
- Businesses in sectors such as construction, retail trade (unless the specific retail exceptions are met), telecommunications/radio broadcasting, education, health and social assistance, arts/entertainment/recreation, accommodation and food services, other services (except public administration), or public administration.
Eligible expenses
- Professional fees (up to $25,000 in eligible expenses per project; excludes the external expert’s travel and accommodation costs).
- Short-term rental of exhibition space, an office, or other premises outside Québec for exhibitions or prospecting activities.
- Purchase of market studies or access to databases.
- Testing and analysis fees required to obtain an approval, compliance, or certification that facilitates exporting (including environmental certification).
- Shipping/transport costs for goods, samples, and promotional materials needed for an out-of-Québec trade event.
- Salary (up to 52 weeks, excluding bonuses and benefits) for hiring a new full-time export sales representative for a new position outside Québec (one hire per company for the program’s duration).
- Advertising and digital marketing costs (social media publications, newsletters, and search engine marketing such as Google Ads), up to $10,000 in eligible expenses per project.
- Registration fees or passes for out-of-Québec trade events (in-person or virtual).
- Fees to access a business matchmaking platform.
- Purchase of standards documents.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Travel and accommodation expenses for an external expert (excluded from eligible professional fees).
- Non-eligible portions of salary: bonuses and benefits (in the context of hiring a foreign sales representative).
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec (company must be registered in Quebec and have an establishment there).
Processing and Agreement
- Investissement Québec is responsible for processing the application (eligibility, analysis, and decision), as an agent of the Government of Québec.
- The application is rigorously analyzed according to the program’s selection criteria.
- A decision is rendered by Investissement Québec; prequalification (where applicable) does not constitute authorization for financial assistance.
- The Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) and Investissement Québec may, without prior notice, suspend the submission and analysis of applications in order to ensure the availability of the budget envelope.
Additional information
- The intake for Component 2 is planned to open from January 15 to 29, 2026 for projects targeting Canada, and future intakes are scheduled by target territory (with dates to be confirmed for several periods).
- The program may be suspended without notice by the MEIE and Investissement Québec to ensure budget availability.
- Investissement Québec administers the program as the Québec government’s mandatary, and it is responsible for processing applications (eligibility review, analysis, and decision).
- Significant changes have been made to the PSCE; applicants are advised to review the updated program sections carefully.
Documents and links
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the PSCE – Component 2 Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the PSCE – Component 2. 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 PSCE – Component 2?
PSCE – Component 2 provides a non-repayable contribution of up to $60,000 per business per year to help Québec companies diversify and consolidate markets outside Québec (internationally and in the rest of Canada). Eligible activities include hiring a new full-time sales representative for an out-of-Québec market, developing export diagnostics/strategies (including market studies and coaching), implementing marketing and digital marketing for foreign markets, exhibiting at trade events (including virtual), and obtaining required certifications or approvals for target markets.
How much funding can be received?
PSCE – Component 2 Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $60,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the PSCE – Component 2 program?
To be eligible for the PSCE – Component 2 program, you must:
For-profit business, non-financial cooperative, or social economy enterprise (as defined by Quebec’s Social Economy Act).
Registered in Quebec, with an establishment and active operations in Quebec.
Annual revenue >$1M and ≤$50M.
What expenses are eligible under PSCE – Component 2?
Hire a full-time new sales representative to develop and grow markets outside Québec (internationally or elsewhere in Canada).
Develop an export diagnostic or an export business plan.
Develop an export strategy (including conducting a market study outside Québec and receiving support/coaching to build market-development know-how).
Develop and implement a marketing strategy, including a digital strategy for foreign markets.
Participate as an exhibitor in a trade event outside Québec (in-person or virtual), such as a trade fair, show, congress, or customer-site exhibition.
Who can I contact for more information about the PSCE – Component 2?
You can contact Investissement Québec (IQ) by email at soutien.aidefinanciere@invest-quebec.com or by phone at 1 844 474-6367.
Where is the PSCE – Component 2 available?
The PSCE – Component 2 program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the PSCE – Component 2 a grant, loan, or tax credit?
PSCE – Component 2 is a Grant and Funding