How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)?

Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

What are Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)'s eligibility criterias?

Open to for-profit businesses or cooperatives incorporated in Canada. Eligibility also extends to not-for-profit organizations incorporated in Canada. Applicants must align their projects with Canada’s innovation goals and priorities.

Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)

grant_single|update April 23, 2025

Canada

Strategic Innovation Fund supports transformative Canadian economic investments

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grant_single|openingDate January 1, 2017

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Partnering and Collaboration

Grant and Funding

grant_single|eligibleIndustries

Manufacturing
Transportation and warehousing
Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services

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Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

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grant_card_status|open

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The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) provides significant investments in innovative projects to stimulate Canada's economy and create jobs. Managed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, SIF supports projects in all sectors, including research and development, commercialization, and the expansion of industrial or technological facilities. Eligible activities encompass R&D efforts from early-stage technology readiness levels to commercial applications, thereby encouraging technology transfer and advancements across various industries.

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Minimum contribution from the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is $10 million for projects with at least $20 million in eligible supported costs.
Contribution amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on project needs and overall government assistance received.
Funding is generally repayable, with specific repayment schedules and conditions set out in the Contribution Agreement; non-repayable contributions may be considered only for activities with significant benefits aligned with government investment priorities.
Contribution funding is typically proportional to eligible project costs (sharing ratio), calculated as the SIF contribution divided by the total eligible supported costs.
For Collaborations and Networks projects, contributions are generally non-repayable and operational activities (e.g., salaries, office expenses) may be fully funded for not-for-profits or academic organizations.

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Research and development (R&D) activities and commercialization of innovative products, processes, or services.
Testing the commercial potential of early-stage technology readiness level (TRL) concepts or research findings.
Adapting research findings for commercial applications that could disrupt the market.
Developing and improving current products by implementing new technologies to enhance competitive capability.
Process improvements to reduce the environmental footprint of current production through new technologies.
Expansion or material improvement of existing industrial or technological facilities.
Increasing manufacturing capacity to meet market demand.
Improving production efficiency through upgrades to plants and equipment.
Supporting new investments in R&D mandates in Canada, including hiring full-time-equivalent employees.
Establishing new production facilities in Canada.
Securing new production or research and development mandates previously held or produced outside Canada.
Development of national innovation networks supporting multiple collaborative R&D projects.
Industrial research to discover new knowledge aimed at developing new technology-driven products.
Advancing and developing new technologies into product-specific applications (technology demonstration projects).
Collaborative research and development projects in partnership with Canadian R&D community members such as industry researchers, research institutes, academic institutions, and businesses.
Providing financial support to collaborative technology development and demonstration projects.
Supporting the development and demonstration of pre-commercial technologies by fostering collaboration among SMEs, supply chain partners, and research councils.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$ 1,800,000

Commercializing a breakthrough medical imaging technology

$ 2,600,000

Development of an advanced robotics system for manufacturing automation

$ 2,200,000

Expansion of a biotech laboratory to increase research capacity

$ 900,000

Developing a new AI-driven financial tool for small businesses

$ 1,500,000

Creating a network of tech startups focusing on IoT advancements

$ 3,400,000

Establishment of a clean energy R&D facility focusing on hydrogen fuel cells

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The applicant must be a for-profit or not-for-profit organization incorporated in Canada, or a partnership proposing to carry out business in Canada (for Business Innovation and Growth projects).
For Collaborations and Networks projects, the lead applicant must be a not-for-profit or for-profit organization incorporated in Canada.
The project must support Canadian innovation and align with the program’s investment priorities.
The applicant must own or hold sufficient intellectual property (IP) rights necessary for the proposed project activities.
The project must involve eligible activities, such as research and development (R&D), commercialization, firm expansion/growth, or collaborative network projects, within the specified Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) dependent on the project stream.
The minimum total eligible project costs must be at least $20 million, and the minimum SIF contribution requested must be $10 million.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

For-profit organizations incorporated as legal entities in Canada.
Partnerships planning to do business in Canada.
Non-profit organizations incorporated in Canada.
Projects supporting collaborations with universities, colleges, research institutes, and for-profit or non-profit businesses in Canada.

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Direct labour costs.
Direct materials and equipment costs.
Other direct costs.
Overhead costs (program limits apply).
Subcontracts and consultants costs.
Land and building costs necessary and reasonable to carry out project activities (and, for Collaborations and Networks projects, those that benefit all network members).
Expenditures related to network operations and activities (Collaborations and Networks projects), including organization of networking events, operation of regional offices, and participation in collaborative research and technology.
Conferences and workshops in support of collaborative research and development activities (Collaborations and Networks projects).
Operational costs for network operations, including travel, salaries, overhead, office equipment, professional services, and other appropriate operational expenses (Collaborations and Networks projects).

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Canada

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Project alignment with Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) priorities.
Technical feasibility of the project.
Capacity and experience of the organization (including the lead applicant and network members for network projects) to implement the project and fulfill obligations.
Managerial, technical, and workforce capability.
Financial and market risk, including analysis of eligible project costs.
Equity, diversity, and inclusion practices of the applicant.
Expected economic benefits to Canada (including job creation and revenue growth).
Public benefits, such as environmental best practices, skills investment, and inclusivity.
Innovation benefits, including potential for intellectual property creation and impact on productivity.
Additional benefits to Canada, such as reduction of greenhouse gases, supply chain enhancements, and community impact.

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Consultations

Review SIF's project requirements.
Check your eligibility online.
Contact SIF to organize a consultation and pitch your project to the officials.

Statement of Interest (SOI) Application

Submit an SOI application after receiving guidance from consultations.
Describe your project and its benefits to Canada.
Demonstrate the financial and management capacity of your organization.
Receive feedback on your SOI, possibly leading to a Letter of Intent (LOI).

Full Application

If invited, submit a complete application with detailed project information.
Provide additional information for a due diligence and benefits assessment.
Participate in further assessments of technical feasibility and project impacts.

Negotiation of Terms

If successful, negotiate the terms of funding with SIF.
Develop a Term Sheet outlining project benefits and obligations.
Prepare a Contribution Agreement based on the approved Term Sheet.

Implementation and Monitoring

Implement the project following the signing of the Contribution Agreement.
Submit regular claims for incurred project costs.
Provide regular reports on project progress and benefits achieved.

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Applicants must ensure compliance with all relevant legal frameworks, such as the Lobbying Act and the Conflict of Interest Act, as part of the funding process.
An intellectual property (IP) strategy must be included in the application, demonstrating ownership or sufficient rights to carry out project activities.
Recipients may be required to participate in audits of project costs and revenues during and after the project, as outlined in the Contribution Agreement.
All confidential or commercially sensitive information should be clearly marked in submissions to ensure proper handling under Canadian privacy laws.