SIF — Business Innovation and Growth projects
Last Update: July 22, 2025
Canada
Funding for business innovation and growth projects
SIF — Business Innovation and Growth projects at a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Continuous Intakes
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Grant Providers
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
- Government of Canada
- Innovation Canada
Program status
Open
Overview of the SIF — Business Innovation and Growth projects program
Receive contributions for activities related to the research and development (R&D) and commercialization of innovative products, the expansion or material improvement of existing industrial or technological facilities, and for new investments in R&D manda
Financing terms and conditions
- The minimum SIF contribution amount is $10 million for a project with at least $20 million in total eligible supported costs.
- The contribution amount is determined on a case-by-case basis based on overall project cost and total government assistance received for the project.
- Contribution funding is typically expressed as a percentage (the "sharing ratio"), equal to the SIF contribution divided by total eligible supported costs.
Eligible projects & activities
- R&D activities to explore commercial potential and develop market-disrupting applications.
- Adapting research findings for commercial viability and market presence.
- Enhancing existing products through new technologies to boost competitive advantage.
- Implementing process improvements to reduce environmental impact using new technologies.
- Expanding manufacturing capacity to satisfy market demand.
- Elevating production efficiency with facility and equipment upgrades.
- Establishing new production or research facilities in Canada.
- Securing production mandates for newly or previously foreign-produced products.
- Acquiring R&D mandates formerly held outside of Canada.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 1,500,000
Expansion of green energy production facilities
$ 1,500,000
Creation of an AI-driven medical diagnostic tool
$ 800,000
Development of biodegradable packaging to reduce environmental footprint
$ 900,000
Development of an automated textile manufacturing system
$ 300,000
Improvement of organic farming processes with new irrigation technology
$ 3,000,000
Establishment of a new nanotechnology research facility
Eligibility criteria of the SIF — Business Innovation and Growth projects program
- The applicant must be a for-profit business or cooperative incorporated in Canada.
- The applicant can also be a partnership proposing to carry out business in Canada.
- The applicant must own or hold sufficient background intellectual property (IP) rights to allow the project's activities to be carried out.
- The project must fall under one of the designated types: R&D and commercialization, firm expansion and growth, or investment attraction and reinvestment.
- Projects must adhere to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) specified for each project type, ranging from TRL 1 to 9.
Who is eligible?
- For-profit businesses incorporated in Canada
- For-profit cooperatives incorporated in Canada
- Partnerships proposing to carry out business in Canada
Eligible expenses
- Research and development to test the commercial potential of early-stage innovative concepts.
- Adaptation of research findings for commercial applications that have market-disruptive potential.
- Development and improvement of current products by implementing new technology for competitive enhancement.
- Process improvements to reduce the environmental footprint of current production using new technologies.
- Increasing manufacturing capacity to meet demonstrated market demand.
- Improvement of production efficiency through plant and equipment enhancements.
- Establishing new R&D mandates and hiring full-time-equivalent employees in Canada.
- Creating new production facilities or acquiring production mandates for products not previously made in Canada.
- Acquiring R&D mandates previously controlled outside Canada or establishing them for the first time in the country.
Eligible geographic areas
- Businesses or cooperatives incorporated in Canada
- Partnerships proposing to carry out business in Canada
Eligibility criteria of the SIF — Business Innovation and Growth projects program
- Project costs and financial structure.
- Benefits for Canada, including economic and employment impacts.
- Alignment with required Funding amounts and conditions.
How to apply to the SIF — Business Innovation and Growth projects program
1
Preliminary Assessment
- Ensure your business is eligible, i.e., for-profit business or cooperative incorporated in Canada or a partnership proposing to carry out business in Canada.
- Review the types of projects eligible under the R&D and commercialization, firm expansion and growth, or investment attraction and reinvestment categories.
2
Gather Required Information
- Prepare a detailed project proposal outlining objectives, activities, and expected outcomes.
- Collect necessary documentation, such as proof of incorporation, project budgets, and timelines.
- Clarify the benefits your project will bring to Canada, including job creation and economic impact.
3
Develop Intellectual Property Strategy
- Ensure you own or hold sufficient background IP rights to carry out the project.
- Plan how you will manage and utilize any IP resulting from the project.
4
Application Submission
- Visit the Strategic Innovation Fund's official application portal.
- Complete the online application form, following the provided guidelines and instructions.
- Upload all required documents and check for completeness and accuracy.
- Submit the application before the deadline to ensure consideration.
5
Receive Confirmation
- Receive an acknowledgment email confirming the receipt of your application.
- Save this confirmation as it will contain your application number and important details for tracking.
Additional information
The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) supports transformative and collaborative projects across all sectors of the Canadian economy. Focus areas for Budget 2023 include clean technologies, critical minerals, biomanufacturing, and life sciences.
- Net Zero Accelerator: Decarbonize large emitters, transform industry for the net-zero economy, develop a Canadian battery ecosystem.
- Critical minerals: Align investments with clean technologies, expand production capacity, enhance mineral circularity, support global supply chains.
- Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences: Build resilience, improve pandemic preparedness, support innovative firms in the life sciences sector.
- Other areas of interest: Promote innovation in aerospace, semiconductors, agri-food, automotive, and natural resources.
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