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SME in action
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Quebec, Canada
Supports Quebec SMEs in productivity, growth, and competitiveness
Grant and Funding
Overview
The "SME in Action" program provides up to $17.5 million in financial support to businesses, aiming to boost productivity and competitiveness among Quebec SMEs. Eligible activities include investment project feasibility studies, implementation of productivity-enhancing business practices, and support for business recovery and retention initiatives.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Improve employee retention
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open Date : April 1, 2015
- Closing date : March 31, 2019
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Startups
Activities funded
- Conducting preliminary studies for investment projects, including assessments of processes or technologies and market analyses.
- Implementing targeted business practices or actions aimed at productivity gains, such as introducing integrated management systems and optimizing supply chains.
- Undertaking analyses to support business recovery or retention, including financial or operational assessments and the development of turnaround plans.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a Quebec-based small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
- The project should aim to increase productivity, particularly in the business or manufacturing sector.
- The initiative must align with objectives of business growth, competitiveness, or productivity improvement.
Who is eligible?
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Quebec
- Companies in the manufacturing sector in Quebec
Eligible expenses
- Costs related to preliminary studies such as process or technology evaluations and market analyses.
- Expenses for implementing integrated management systems or customer relationship management systems.
- Costs for optimizing supply chains and implementing cost accounting systems.
- Expenses associated with preserving major industrial assets.
- Financial or operational situation assessments of the company.
- Development and monitoring costs for business recovery plans.
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec
Selection criteria
- Relevance of the project in addressing persistent productivity challenges among Quebec SMEs, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
- Potential effectiveness of the project in contributing to business development and achieving targeted outcomes for productivity and competitiveness.
- Coherence and complementarity of the proposed project with other government support programs aimed at SME growth.
- Reasonableness of project costs relative to expected results (cost-efficiency).
- Proper alignment of project management and reporting practices with the program’s normative framework.
Additional information
- The program's evaluation emphasizes maintaining complementarities with other government support programs targeting business growth.
- There are proposed improvements related to digitalizing project result data collection and ensuring completion of all result forms for finished projects.
- High satisfaction rates were recorded among program beneficiaries, with levels exceeding 94% across surveyed elements.
- The evaluation recommends considering the addition of quantified targets in the program's normative framework during future renewals.
Contacts
evaluation@economie.gouv.qc.ca
