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SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives - Quebec - Canada
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SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives

Support for Quebec cultural innovation projects
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Funding available
$ 500,000
Timeline
  • Open Date : December 15, 2025
  • Closing date : January 29, 2026
Location
Quebec, Canada

Overview

The Programme d’Aide aux Initiatives Innovantes by SODEC provides financial assistance for strategic innovation projects in technological, digital, or business process innovation, with a maximum funding of $150,000 per project or up to $500,000 for collaborative projects. Eligible activities include planning, research and development, production, and implementation of new or significantly improved products, processes, or services that benefit Quebec's cultural enterprises.

/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Develop a new product or service
  • Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 500,000 $
  • Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
  • Open Date : December 15, 2025
  • Closing date : January 29, 2026

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • Information and cultural industries
Location
  • Quebec
Legal structures
  • Non-profit
  • Public or Parapublic institution
  • For-profit business
  • Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
  • Culture and Arts
Target groups
  • Business owners / entrepreneurs
  • Artists / creatives
Revenue structures
  • All structures
Scope
  • Provincial
  • National
  • International

Next steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

This grant supports innovative projects that involve significant advancements in technological, digital, or business process innovation. These projects must align with cultural content production, distribution, and commercialization and distinguish themselves as unique initiatives beyond typical business operations.

  • Development of a new product, process, or service, or significant improvement of an existing one.
  • Projects that offer a decisive advantage to the company or sector involved.
  • Projects involving technological or business risks or uncertainties.
  • Initiatives requiring research and development efforts.
  • Planning activities such as intellectual property protection, detailed market, technical, and financial studies.
  • Research and development including development, design, prototyping, and testing phases.
  • Project production and implementation.
  • Project deployment and commercialization.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

This grant applies to legally constituted enterprises primarily operating within the cultural sectors managed by SODEC, with their head office and main establishment in Quebec and effectively controlled by Quebec residents.

  • Enterprises, whether for-profit or non-profit, that are primarily involved in the sectors of activity overseen by SODEC.
  • Businesses with their head office and main establishment located in Quebec, demonstrating effective control by individuals having their fiscal residence in Quebec.
  • Excludes individual businesses except those in the field of crafts.
  • Businesses engaging in collaborative innovation projects may meet additional specific admissibility requirements as outlined in Annex 1.
  • Projects must demonstrate significant advancement in the production, dissemination, promotion, or commercialization of Quebec cultural content or in business intelligence or operational business models.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain types of companies based on their status or main activity. The eligibility restrictions ensure that support is directed to strategic and innovative sectors within Quebec's cultural ecosystem.

  • Individual businesses, except those in the field of crafts.
  • Companies without their main establishment in Quebec.
  • Businesses not majority-controlled by Quebec residents for tax purposes.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the implementation and success of the project.

  • Fees for specialized services.
  • Production and implementation expenses.
  • Direct labor costs allocated to the project.
  • Material and equipment expenses specific to the project.
  • Costs related to the procurement of specialized, relevant, and necessary information for the project.
  • Prototyping expenses.
  • Any other pertinent and necessary expenses for the project realization.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies primarily situated in Quebec, aiming to support its cultural sector. The eligible geographical area ensures projects contribute positively to Quebec's economic and technological landscape.

  • Businesses with their headquarters and main establishment in Quebec, Canada.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

  • The program emphasizes the importance of respecting ethical codes, highlighting that projects should not contravene governmental policies related to issues like violence, sexism, or discrimination.
  • Beneficiaries must be prepared to submit documentation and information for SODEC's periodic evaluations and studies, as required for five years following financial aid receipt, though the data will be kept confidential and aggregated before publishing.
  • SODEC encourages sustainable development practices and green business models among its clientele.
  • The program allows cumulative funding from other public sources as long as it does not exceed 75% of the total project budget, including provincial and federal tax credits, mandating at least 25% contribution from the applicant, with a minimum of 10% being a financial investment.
  • The program structure includes two payment installments: 70% upon approval and 30% after final reporting and acceptance of outcomes, although changes in payment terms might occur depending on project complexity.
  • In case of collaborative projects involving foreign companies, economic and technological benefits must substantially favor Quebec, and foreign companies are ineligible to receive funds directly from the program.

Contacts

Frequently Asked Questions about the SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives. 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 SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives?

The Programme d’Aide aux Initiatives Innovantes by SODEC provides financial assistance for strategic innovation projects in technological, digital, or business process innovation, with a maximum funding of $150,000 per project or up to $500,000 for collaborative projects. Eligible activities include planning, research and development, production, and implementation of new or significantly improved products, processes, or services that benefit Quebec's cultural enterprises.

How much funding can be received?

SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $500,000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The application deadline for this grant program was January 29, 2026.

Who is eligible for the SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives program?

To be eligible for the SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives program, you must: The applicant must be a legally constituted, for-profit or non-profit (OBNL) organization primarily operating within SODEC's areas of activity. The company must have its head office and principal establishment in Quebec with effective control majority-held by individuals residing in Quebec for tax purposes. Individual enterprises are not eligible, except in the field of arts and crafts.

What expenses are eligible under SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives?

This grant supports innovative projects that involve significant advancements in technological, digital, or business process innovation. These projects must align with cultural content production, distribution, and commercialization and distinguish themselves as unique initiatives beyond typical business operations. Development of a new product, process, or service, or significant improvement of an existing one. Projects that offer a decisive advantage to the company or sector involved. Projects involving technological or business risks or uncertainties. Initiatives requiring research and development efforts. Planning activities such as intellectual property protection, detailed market, technical, and financial studies. Research and development including development, design, prototyping, and testing phases. Project production and implementation. Project deployment and commercialization.

Who can I contact for more information about the SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives?

You can contact Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) by email at innovation@sodec.gouv.qc.ca.

Where is the SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives available?

The SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives program is available the province of Quebec.