Open
Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario
Supports Northern Ontario SMEs entering defence supply chains
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Funding available
Up to 100% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) – Northern Ontario provides repayable contributions of up to 75% of eligible costs for businesses, non-repayable contributions of up to 90% for eligible not-for-profits, and up to 100% for eligible Indigenous recipients to help SMEs and organizations integrate into domestic and international defence supply chains and strengthen Canada’s defence industrial and innovation capacity. Eligible activities must be military-first and may include digitization and automation, market expansion and commercialization, defence certifications, equipment and facility modernization, dual-use technology adaptation, TRL 7–9 R&D, and pre-construction readiness work for defence-related infrastructure.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- No objectives are currently available
Eligible Funding
- Up to 100% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Scale-up projects that increase defence-related production and innovation capacity, improve productivity/competitiveness, and help integrate into domestic or international defence supply chains.
- Market development and commercialization projects (including technology showcases) that support entry into defence supply chains and new defence markets.
- Projects to achieve defence certifications/qualification standards needed to bid on defence work and integrate into defence supply chains.
- Development, adoption, or improvement of dual-use technologies with a defined and measurable military component, including late-stage R&D (TRL 7–9) and commercial demonstration.
- Regional innovation ecosystem or strategic asset projects that strengthen Northern Ontario’s defence ecosystem (e.g., technical/business support services for SMEs, collaborative industrial research, and preparatory work for small defence-linked infrastructure projects).
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated businesses (including Indigenous businesses: First Nation/Métis/Inuit) seeking to integrate into defence supply chains
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ontario (or positioning themselves) to participate in defence supply chains
- Not-for-profit organizations providing technical/business support services to SMEs for defence supply chain development and integration
- Industry associations involved in strengthening regional defence and security innovation ecosystems
- Indigenous-led organizations (First Nation/Métis/Inuit)
Who is not eligible
- Non-incorporated businesses (e.g., sole proprietors that are not incorporated).
- Organizations that cannot demonstrate a clear military-first project aligned with a specific military need (including dual-use projects without a defined and measurable military component).
- Applicants seeking funding for basic research activities.
- Applicants whose project costs were legally committed/incurred before April 1, 2025.
- Applicants whose project includes ineligible expenditures such as land/building acquisition, lobbying, entertainment, debt refinancing, or ongoing operating/regular maintenance costs.
Eligible expenses
- Incremental labour costs directly related to the project (wages and benefits).
- Materials used that are incremental and directly related to the project.
- Capital purchases such as machinery, equipment, and infrastructure.
- Consulting and professional/technical service fees needed to advance the project (including pre-construction readiness support).
- Pre-production costs (e.g., technology development and commercial demonstration).
- Costs to commercialize products and to expand or maintain markets.
- Specialized services (e.g., testing, research and development services, technical or innovation services).
- Costs for required military certifications and standards to bid on defence projects (e.g., TAM, JCP, ADSM, CMMC, ISO, technical and engineering standards).
Eligible geographic areas
- Northern Ontario
Additional information
- Funding is available only for activities carried out between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2028, and projects must be completed by March 31, 2028.
- Eligible costs may be retroactive up to 12 months before the application is received, but not earlier than April 1, 2025.
- All supported activities must be military-first and qualify under the NATO spending target, with a clear link to a specific military need.
- Submitting an application does not guarantee approval; approvals depend on assessment outcomes and funding availability.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern 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 – Northern Ontario?
The Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) – Northern Ontario provides repayable contributions of up to 75% of eligible costs for businesses, non-repayable contributions of up to 90% for eligible not-for-profits, and up to 100% for eligible Indigenous recipients to help SMEs and organizations integrate into domestic and international defence supply chains and strengthen Canada’s defence industrial and innovation capacity. Eligible activities must be military-first and may include digitization and automation, market expansion and commercialization, defence certifications, equipment and facility modernization, dual-use technology adaptation, TRL 7–9 R&D, and pre-construction readiness work for defence-related infrastructure.
How much funding can be received?
Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario program?
To be eligible for the Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario program, you must:
Incorporated business (including Indigenous) in/positioning for defence supply chains
Able to enter a legally binding agreement
Capacity to deliver project by March 31, 2028
What expenses are eligible under Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario?
Scale-up projects that increase defence-related production and innovation capacity, improve productivity/competitiveness, and help integrate into domestic or international defence supply chains.
Market development and commercialization projects (including technology showcases) that support entry into defence supply chains and new defence markets.
Projects to achieve defence certifications/qualification standards needed to bid on defence work and integrate into defence supply chains.
Development, adoption, or improvement of dual-use technologies with a defined and measurable military component, including late-stage R&D (TRL 7–9) and commercial demonstration.
Regional innovation ecosystem or strategic asset projects that strengthen Northern Ontario’s defence ecosystem (e.g., technical/business support services for SMEs, collaborative industrial research, and preparatory work for small defence-linked infrastructure projects).
Who can I contact for more information about the Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario?
You can contact Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) or by phone at 1-877-333-6673.
Where is the Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario available?
The Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario is a Grant and Funding