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Source verified October 14, 2026
Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF)
Funding for regulatory experiments and sandboxes
Latest source updateLast Update: October 4, 2026Latest change: REEF now shows a new Expression of Interest deadline of November 6, 2026, along with revised eligibility, funding, and two-stage application guidance.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: October 4, 2026
Latest change: REEF now shows a new Expression of Interest deadline of November 6, 2026, along with revised eligibility, funding, and two-stage application guidance.
REEF deadline and eligibility updated
The REEF page now shows an Expression of Interest deadline of November 6, 2026, replacing the earlier November 21, 2025 date. It also rewrites the program’s eligibility, priorities, and application process, including a two-stage process with EOI submission followed by proposal development. Funding information now states that multi-year funding is available, departments are expected to share project costs, the total funding envelope is 1.2 million per fiscal year, and the available funding for 2026–2027 was about 650,000. The page also updates the examples of eligible and ineligible projects, including new emphasis on testing regulatory approaches rather than testing technology performance.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
November 6, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
The Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) supports federal regulators in operationalizing and testing novel regulatory solutions through experiments and sandboxes, with a total funding envelope of 1.2 million per fiscal year. It can support the development, implementation, or evaluation of regulatory experiments or sandboxes, including new regulations, regulatory guidance, and compliance processes.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Strengthen organizational capacity
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- New regulatory approaches or frameworks.
- Regulatory guidance or service delivery models.
- Compliance and enforcement processes.
- Interdepartmental regulatory coordination mechanisms.
- New approaches to regulatory development or review.
Documents Needed
- Expression of Interest (EOI) form
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- departments and agencies
Eligible expenses
- Eligible expenditures are assessed on a case-by-case basis and must support the development, implementation, or evaluation of a regulatory experiment or sandbox.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Testing the technical performance or capabilities of a technology.
- Determining whether a technology should be authorized or mandated through regulation.
Selection criteria
- When the number of eligible projects exceeds the funding available, the CRI uses a competitive process to determine which projects advance to proposal development.
- EOIs are generally assessed based only on the information submitted.
- The most important consideration is whether experimentation is justified.
- Strong EOIs clearly explain why experimentation is the appropriate next step for the project and how the evidence generated will inform future implementation decisions.
- Projects receive greater consideration based on the degree of benefit expected from the investment towards reducing red tape or enabling innovation, and whether they directly advance formal government red tape reduction or innovation commitments for which the department is accountable.
How to apply
- Discuss your project with the CRI team before submitting your Expression of Interest.
- Develop your Expression of Interest using the EOI form.
- Get feedback on your draft EOI from the CRI AI Advisor before submission.
- Submit your EOI to cri-cir@tbs-sct.gc.ca by November 6, 2026.
Processing and Agreement
- REEF uses a two-stage application process.
- Projects selected through the EOI stage are invited to work with the CRI to develop a more detailed proposal, and only applicants invited to the proposal step will continue the application process.
- The CRI will meet with you to plan the proposal development process and will support you throughout the process.
- The proposal will be used to allow the CRI Steering Committee to make a funding decision on your project based on the project's eligibility, viability and whether the benefits justify the investment.
- Projects approved for funding will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the CRI to support the transfer of funds, and funded project proponents must submit progress reports and a final report.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) Program
What is the Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF)?
The Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) supports federal regulators in operationalizing and testing novel regulatory solutions through experiments and sandboxes, with a total funding envelope of 1.2 million per fiscal year. It can support the development, implementation, or evaluation of regulatory experiments or sandboxes, including new regulations, regulatory guidance, and compliance processes.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is November 6, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) program?
To be eligible for the Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) program, you must:
The project must seek to achieve one of the following outcomes: reduce or minimize red tape while protecting the public interest, or remove regulatory barrier(s) to market for safe and effective innovation.
The project must propose a novel regulatory approach.
The project must develop or run a regulatory experiment or sandbox that tests the novel regulatory approach in a real-life setting and generates evidence of its effectiveness.
What expenses are eligible under Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF)?
New regulatory approaches or frameworks.
Regulatory guidance or service delivery models.
Compliance and enforcement processes.
Interdepartmental regulatory coordination mechanisms.
New approaches to regulatory development or review.
Who can I contact for more information about the Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF)?
You can contact Centre for Regulatory Innovation (CRI) by email at cri-cir@tbs-sct.gc.ca.
Where is the Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) available?
The Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) program is available across Canada.
Is the Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Regulatory Experimentation Expense Fund (REEF) is a Grant and Funding