How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $100000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the PSCE – Component 3?

PSCE – Component 3 is funded by Government of Canada, Gouvernement du Québec, Investissement Québec (IQ)

What are PSCE – Component 3's eligibility criterias?

The company must be a for-profit enterprise, a social economy enterprise (such as cooperatives and non-profit organizations), or a non-financial cooperative. The company must have an annual revenue of $100 million or more.

PSCE – Component 3

Last Update: May 14, 2025

QC, Canada

Support for Large Enterprises in Their Structural Projects on International Markets

PSCE – Component 3 at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $100,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

All industries

Grant Providers

Government of Canada
Gouvernement du Québec
Investissement Québec (IQ)

Status

Opening Soon

Overview of the PSCE – Component 3 program

This component of the PSCE program is designed to assist large enterprises with their significant projects on international markets. It aims to encourage these enterprises to undertake projects that promote their internationalization

Financing terms and conditions

Maximum aid granted: up to $100,000 per company, per year
Minimum eligible expenses required: $100,000
Minimum contribution from private sources: 25% of the total project cost
Cumulative ceiling of government aid: 65% of eligible expenses

Eligible projects & activities

Hiring a commercial representative outside Quebec for a maximum period of 52 weeks, where the representative must be an employee of a Quebec company or a foreign subsidiary majority-owned (over 50%) by a Quebec company.
Actions to obtain a contract outside Quebec through a call for tenders or invitation.
Obtaining approvals, compliance documents, or certifications that facilitate export activities.
Actions related to setting up an office, subsidiary, or joint venture abroad, or acquiring a business outside Quebec, provided the project generates economic benefits for Quebec and does not involve relocating production units.
Development and implementation of a marketing strategy, including a digital strategy for foreign markets, as well as the development of digital and virtual tools.
International registration of trademarks.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 100,000

Launching a subsidiary to enter Southeast Asian markets

$ 100,000

Hiring a representative to explore European markets

$ 80,000

Obtaining certification for exporting medical devices

Eligibility criteria of the PSCE – Component 3 program

The eligibility criteria for this grant are focused on the type of enterprise and the sectors that are admissible, alongside specific project requirements.

Enterprise must be a for-profit company, an economic social enterprise (cooperatives and NPOs), or a non-financial cooperative.
Enterprise must have annual revenues of over $100 million.
All sectors are eligible except:
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting
Mining, quarrying, oil, and gas extraction
Utilities
Retail trade (unless meeting three specific criteria)
Finance and insurance
Real estate and rental services
Management of companies and enterprises
Administrative and support services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Accommodation and food services
Other services (except public administration)
Retail trade is eligible if it:
Engages in pre-production activities (e.g., product development)
Engages in post-production activities (e.g., marketing and distribution)
Has its headquarters in Quebec
Projects must involve export-related activities and not be recurring activities for the enterprise.

Who is eligible?

For-profit companies with annual revenues of $100 million or more
Social economy enterprises (cooperatives and non-profit organizations) as defined by Quebec's Social Economy Act, with revenues of $100 million or more
Non-financial cooperatives with revenues of $100 million or more

Who is not eligible

Companies operating in the following sectors are not eligible: agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Mining and quarrying, oil and gas extraction
Utilities
Retail trade (unless all specific criteria are met: preproduction activities, postproduction activities, and head office in Quebec)
Finance and insurance
Real estate and rental and leasing services
Management of companies and enterprises
Administrative and support services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Accommodation and food services
Other services (except public administration)

Eligible expenses

Professional fees, including travel and accommodation expenses for external experts, in accordance with Quebec government management policies, limited to a total of $25,000 per project.
Office or premises rental costs outside Quebec, according to government standards.
Salary for a period up to 52 weeks for a newly hired commercial representative abroad (excluding bonuses and benefits), with a financial support cap of $45,000 and a maximum of three hires for the program's duration.
Costs related to international trademark registration.
Advertising expenses, social media publications, newsletter distribution, search engine marketing (e.g., Adwords), and annual fees for access to an online sales platform for the first year of operation; these expenses combined are limited to a total of $15,000 per project.
Testing and analysis fees for obtaining approvals, compliance, or certifications that facilitate export activities.
Expenses for the purchase of normative documents.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies with their head office located in Quebec.

Eligibility criteria of the PSCE – Component 3 program

Relevance of the project in relation to the company's business model.
Company's capacity to carry out the project based on its financial and human resources.
Situation of the company, including whether financial assistance is a determining factor for proceeding with the project.
Potential benefits of the project for Quebec in terms of employment and investments.
Alignment with established government priorities in the area of exportation, where applicable.

How to apply to the PSCE – Component 3 program

Eligibility Verification

Confirm that your business is eligible according to the stated criteria (for-profit company, non-financial cooperative, or nonprofit organization with revenues of more than $100M).
Verify that your industry sector is eligible.
Ensure that the project meets the general and specific conditions.

Fill out the prequalification form

Access the prequalification form available on the Investissement Québec website.
Complete all required sections to confirm preliminary eligibility.
Ensure that the information provided is accurate and complete.

Prepare the required documentation

Gather the company's financial and administrative documents.
Prepare a detailed description of the project, including objectives, methods, and expected outcomes.
Draft a detailed budget justifying the anticipated expenses and their connection to the project.

Complete the financial assistance application form.

Access the financial aid application form after confirming preliminary eligibility.
Complete all sections of the form following the provided instructions.
Include the requested supporting documents.

Submit the request

Proofread and check all information and documents to ensure that there are no errors or omissions.
Submit the application via the indicated channel (e.g., online or by mail).
Obtain confirmation of the receipt of the application.

Track the evolution of demand

Receive and respond to any request for additional information from Investissement Québec.
Follow official communications to know the status and results of the application.

Additional information

As of February 9, 2024, the program has temporarily suspended the opening of forms and the submission of new applications for Component 3, and the reception of new requests is on hold until further notice.
Any incomplete application received will not be processed.
This suspension aims to ensure the availability of funds to meet contractual commitments.
Applicants can contact the Service d’accueil et d’information at 1 844 474-6367 for further information or questions about the program.
A pre-qualification form must be completed before beginning the formal application process to confirm preliminary eligibility. This confirmation is not an authorization for financial aid.