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Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario

Q: How much funding can be received?

Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario Funds up to 10000000% of admissible expenses.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The application deadline for this grant program is January 21, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.

Q: Who is eligible for the Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario program?

To be eligible for the Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario program, you must: • Incorporated for-profit business located and operating in southern Ontario. • Employ at least 5 full-time equivalent employees in southern Ontario. • Be within defence supply chains or seeking to integrate into them.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario?

You can contact Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev).

Last Update: December 9, 2025

ON, Canada

Funding initiative supporting southern Ontario defence sector growth

Grant and Funding

Loans and Capital investments

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals

No objectives are currently available

Eligible Funding

Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
Minimum amount : 125,000 $

Timeline

Open Date : December 9, 2025
Closing date : January 21, 2026

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries

Public administration

Location

Ontario

Legal structures

Non-profit
For-profit business

Annual revenue

All revenue ranges

Organisation size

5 employees minimum

Audience

Canadians

Non-profit candidates

Sector of operation

All industries

Target group

All the groups

Revenue structure

All structures

Scope

All dimensions

Overview

The Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario offers between $125,000 and up to $10 million in funding to support projects that strengthen Canada’s defence and security needs while boosting regional economic development. It finances activities that help businesses and not-for-profit organizations enter or grow within defence supply chains and increase their industrial and innovation capacity.

Activities funded

Projects that help businesses enter defence and security supply chains in southern Ontario.
Initiatives that expand or strengthen a company’s existing role within defence supply chains.
Activities that build industrial capacity to better meet Canada’s defence and security needs.
Projects that enhance innovation capabilities related to defence and security products or services.
Collaborative initiatives led by organizations that support business and capability development in the regional defence sector.

Eligibility

The applicant must be an incorporated for-profit business located and operating in southern Ontario.
The business must employ at least 5 full-time equivalent employees in southern Ontario.
The business must be currently within defence supply chains or actively seeking to integrate into them.
The project must aim to enter, grow, or strengthen participation in defence supply chains and increase industrial and innovation capacity.
The project’s start date and timeline must fall within the program’s application windows and deadlines.

Who is eligible?

Incorporated for-profit businesses located and operating in southern Ontario that are within defence supply chains
Incorporated for-profit businesses located and operating in southern Ontario that are looking to integrate into defence supply chains
Not-for-profit incorporated organizations in southern Ontario that support businesses in the defence sector
Not-for-profit incorporated organizations in southern Ontario that support capability development in the defence sector

Eligible geographic areas

Businesses and organizations located and operating in southern Ontario.

Selection criteria

Priority is given to requests with significant and immediate expenditures during the current financial year.

How to apply

Confirm basic eligibility

Review the Regional Defence Investment Initiative overview and objectives
Confirm your organization is located and operating in southern Ontario
Verify you meet the minimum employment requirement of at least 5 full-time equivalent employees if applying as a business
Ensure your activities are within or aiming to integrate into defence supply chains

Verify project timing and priority

Check that your project and eligible costs start before March 31, 2026 if applying by January 21, 2026
If your project starts on or after April 1, 2026, confirm that funding is still available before preparing your application
Assess whether your project can demonstrate immediate and significant expenditures in the current fiscal year to improve priority

Define applicant type and funding

Determine whether you are applying as a business or as a not-for-profit organization
For businesses, confirm that you will request between $125,000 and $10 million in repayable funding
For not-for-profit organizations, confirm that you will request between $125,000 and $10 million in non-repayable funding
Align your funding request with your project scope and anticipated defence-sector impacts

Attend an information session

Consider registering for a FedDev Ontario online information session on the Regional Defence Investment Initiative
Prepare questions on eligibility, funding parameters and the application process
Use information obtained to refine your project concept and application strategy

Prepare project documentation

Gather details on your organization, including legal status and operations in southern Ontario
Prepare a description of your project and how it supports defence and security needs
Document how the project will help enter or grow within defence supply chains and build industrial and innovation capacity
Compile budget estimates showing timing and scale of eligible expenditures

Complete the online application

Access the appropriate application option (“Apply as a business” or “Apply as an organization”)
Complete all required sections of the application accurately and consistently with your supporting documents
Review the application to ensure it reflects eligibility, funding needs and project timelines

Submit your application

Submit your completed application before January 21, 2026 if your project starts before March 31, 2026
If your project starts on or after April 1, 2026, submit your application as early as possible while funds remain available
Retain confirmation of submission and any reference numbers provided

Additional information

FedDev Ontario is delivering the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) as part of a national $357.5-million program led by Canada’s regional development agencies.
FedDev Ontario’s share of RDII exceeds $90 million, with an additional $106 million reallocated from its existing resources, for nearly $200 million dedicated to defence support in southern Ontario.
Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate immediate and significant spending needs within the current federal fiscal year.
FedDev Ontario is offering online information sessions where potential applicants can ask questions about the initiative, including the funding and application process.

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario. 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 Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario?

How much funding can be received?

What expenses are eligible under Regional Defence Investment Initiative in Southern Ontario?

Projects that help businesses enter defence and security supply chains in southern Ontario. Initiatives that expand or strengthen a company’s existing role within defence supply chains. Activities that build industrial capacity to better meet Canada’s defence and security needs. Projects that enhance innovation capabilities related to defence and security products or services. Collaborative initiatives led by organizations that support business and capability development in the regional defence sector.