SDTC - Scale Up Funding
- Archived
Overview
The SDTC (Sustainable Development Technology Canada) grant program aims to fund promising sustainable technology development and demonstration projects that have significant environmental benefits, such as reducing GHG emissions, minimizing water consumption, and reducing contamination. Eligible activities include advancing technology development and/or demonstration required to secure the first paying customer, with a focus on economic viability and market validation.
At a glance
Funding available
- Develop a new product or service
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Access new markets
- Up to 33% of project cost
- Archived
Eligible candidates
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Canada
- For-profit business
- All revenue ranges
- All organization sizes
- Startups
Next Steps
Activities funded
This grant supports high-growth companies advancing sustainable technologies that deliver scalable environmental benefits. Eligible projects must focus on further development, risk mitigation, and validation of technology's economic viability.
- Continued development and demonstration of sustainable technologies that are pre-commercial and have been tested beyond proof-of-concept.
- Projects that demonstrate a potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions or minimize water and soil contamination.
- Initiatives that enhance the economic performance and market readiness of innovative technologies.
- Validation activities that address technology risk and confirm the economic viability for first market entry.
- Partnerships with consortium partners for market validation and technology uptake.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
Small to medium-sized Canadian-owned companies with innovative technologies that offer significant and scalable environmental benefits, and have a strong end-user value proposition, are eligible for funding under SDTC. These projects should involve further development towards commercialization, which includes working with a consortium partner to validate the market need.
Who is not eligible
This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their status or main activity. The restrictions aim to ensure that funds are directed toward strategic sectors aligned with the grant's objectives.
- Non-Canadian companies.
- Technologies that deliver economic benefits without substantial environmental benefits.
- Research projects.
- Deployment of commercialized technologies (e.g., solar/wind farms).
- Purchase of proven technology from another jurisdiction for use in Canada.
- Incremental modifications to existing technologies or processes.
- One-off projects to reduce emissions at a specific site.
- Majority-owned Canadian subsidiaries of foreign multinational enterprises.
Eligible expenses
The eligible expenses for the SDTC grant focus on costs directly connected to the project's development, technology advancement, and economic viability assessment.
- Development costs associated with advancing the technology towards commercialization.
- Expenses related to demonstrating economic viability and environmental benefits of the technology.
- Costs incurred within Canada for the project must account for at least 50% of eligible costs.
- Eligible project costs should include at least 25% private-sector contribution.
Eligible geographic areas
This funding is exclusively available to Canadian-owned companies, as per the eligibility criteria for SDTC Scale Up funding.
- Organizations must be based in Canada.
Additional information
SDTC funding typically includes non-repayable contributions for projects that meet specific eligibility criteria, with the goal of advancing the development and commercialization of sustainable technologies in Canada.
- Funding is on average 33% of eligible project costs, with contributions typically ranging from $2 million to $4 million, disbursed over up to five years.
- Projects must have a minimum of 25% private-sector funding and cannot have total government funding exceeding 75% of eligible project costs.
- Projects must incur at least 50% of eligible project costs within Canada.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and involve a multi-step process with checkpoints and coaching.
- The recipient is required to acknowledge SDTC funding in press releases and public statements about the project.
- Post-project completion, recipients must complete an annual questionnaire for five years to track the success of the technology in the market.