How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $500000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the Support for innovation projects?

Support for innovation projects is funded by Investissement Québec (IQ)

What are Support for innovation projects's eligibility criterias?

The company must be legally incorporated under the laws of Quebec or Canada and have an establishment operating in Quebec. Social economy enterprises as defined by the Law on Social Economy (RLRQ, Chapter E-1.1.1) are eligible.

Support for innovation projects

grant_single|update April 19, 2025

QC, Canada

Funding for product and process innovations in Quebec

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grant_single|openingDate March 16, 2022
grant_single|closingDate March 31, 2024

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Grant and Funding

grant_single|eligibleIndustries

Manufacturing
Professional, scientific and technical services
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

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Investissement Québec (IQ)

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Get up to $350,000 to cover 75% of the costs of project planning, R&D, technology validation and technological showcase activities relating to the development of innovative products or processes.

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The maximum financial assistance rate varies between 30% and 50% of eligible project expenses, depending on project type.
The maximum funding per project ranges from $100,000 to $350,000; a single company cannot receive more than $500,000 for the entire program period (March 16, 2022 to March 31, 2024).
Private cash contributions must be at least 25% of eligible costs (20% for social economy enterprises).

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Conducting preliminary studies and activities essential for project planning and execution, such as project planning with partners, realization plans, international specialist support, detailed market, technical, and financial studies.
Concept validation.
Development or significant improvement of a product or process, including design, engineering, and prototyping.
Testing and validation of a product or process, including prototype testing, pilot production trials, and controlled environment demonstrations (e.g., laboratory).
Preparation of a commercialization plan and planning of steps for certification or homologation (including intellectual property protection fees).
Real-world demonstration or operational use of the product or process to scale or complete development/improvement, outside of laboratory settings.
Technology showcasing (vitrine technologique), consisting of real-world demonstration or use of the product or process at a partner’s facility (public or private, in Canada or internationally), under specific conditions to support commercialization.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$ 300,000

Innovative waste recycling system to reduce landfill use

$ 262,500

Technological showcase for a renewable energy storage system

$ 337,500

Development of a smart irrigation system to improve water efficiency in urban gardens

$ 350,000

Creating a new vaccine production process to improve public health

$ 337,500

Developing a prototype for a smart home energy management system

$ 225,000

Testing and validation of new biodegradable packaging materials

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The applicant must be a legally constituted enterprise or a group of enterprises under the laws of Quebec or Canada, with an active establishment in Quebec.
All sectors of activity are eligible.
Enterprises in the social economy, as defined by the Loi sur l’économie sociale (RLRQ, chapitre E-1.1.1), are eligible but must validate status with the Direction de l’entrepreneuriat collectif prior to application.
The enterprise must have an operating establishment in Quebec dedicated to the production of goods and services or internal research and development activities.
The project must focus on the development of a new product or process, or the significant improvement of an existing product or process.
The project must demonstrate a necessary level of innovation, with clear advantages over existing solutions at the national or international level.
The project must entail technological or business risk or uncertainty.
The project must require research and development efforts.
If the product or process is intended for sale, the project must demonstrate commercial potential.
Collaborative projects may be carried out by a group of non-affiliated enterprises or jointly with a public research center, provided there are substantial economic and technological benefits for Quebec.

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Legally constituted companies of all sectors of activity with an establishment operating in Quebec
Groups of companies from all sectors of activity with an establishment operating in Quebec
Social economy enterprises as defined by the Loi sur l’économie sociale (RLRQ, chapitre E-1.1.1)

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Enterprises registered in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts (RENA), including subcontractors listed in the RENA expected to carry out project work.
Companies that have failed to meet their contractual obligations to the Ministry of Economy and Innovation or Investissement Québec in the two years preceding the application, following formal notice for previous financial assistance.
Crown corporations or companies directly or indirectly controlled by a government (municipal, provincial, or federal), a municipal entity, or companies majority-owned by a Crown corporation.
Enterprises under the protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
Holding companies (portfolio companies).
Companies with ethical conduct issues likely to tarnish the image of integrity of the Quebec government, even by association.
Companies or projects in the following fields:Production or distribution of weapons;
Exploration, extraction, drilling, production, and refining of fossil fuels such as oil and thermal coal (except activities supporting transition to a low-carbon economy);
Gambling, violent games, or combat sports involving living creatures, races, or similar activities;
Sexual exploitation (e.g., erotic bars, escort agencies, erotic massage parlors, swinger clubs);
Production, sale, and services related to tobacco or drugs (except interventions related to cannabis and industrial hemp under specific conditions);
Any activity whose primary subject is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (religion, politics, rights advocacy, etc.).

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Professional fees for specialized services, including those detailed in the offer of service from an eligible public research center.
Subcontracting services.
Direct labor costs assigned to the project, including employee benefits and mandatory contributions, as well as project management fees.
Travel and accommodation expenses related to the project, including costs for potential clients attending real-life demonstrations or visiting a technology showcase, in accordance with government policies.
Direct costs of materials and inventory.
Direct costs of equipment, calculated proportionately to the project's duration and the usable life of the equipment.
Equipment rental fees.
Costs for acquiring studies or other documentation.
Animal and platform fees (e.g., for laboratory or testing environments).
Expenses for developing a strategy to protect intellectual property, obtaining intellectual property protection, and acquiring intellectual property rights or licenses (including fees linked to patent filings and patent agent fees).
Fees for obtaining regulatory approval or certification required for commercialization.
Costs for participating in exhibitions and trade shows to present the product or process and attract potential clients to the technology showcase.
For projects submitted by a non-profit organization managing a group of companies: project setup and management fees (capped at 7% of eligible project expenses).
Eligible in-kind expenses, limited to 10% of total eligible project costs, provided they are auditable and essential to the project (e.g., direct labor, materials, equipment usage prorated to project duration).

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

Businesses must have an establishment in operation in Quebec, Canada.
The following Quebec regions are explicitly referenced for regional offices: Bas-St-Laurent, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, Capitale-Nationale, Mauricie, Estrie, Centre-du-Québec, Montréal, Outaouais, Laval, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Nord-du-Québec, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Chaudière-Appalaches, Montérégie.

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Innovative character of the project, including the presence of a significant advantage of the product or process compared to existing solutions in the market and sector at a national or international level.
Market potential for the product or process.
Strength of intellectual property rights (existing or planned) and the strategy for maintaining a competitive advantage.
Relevance of the project to the company's business model.
Company's capacity to successfully execute the project in terms of financial and human resources.
Quality of partners involved in the project.
Quality and realism of the project implementation plan.
Level of risk and uncertainty associated with the project.
Project financing structure and partner support.
Potential benefits for the company or its sector.
Potential socioeconomic impacts.
Quality of the service offer from a private consultant or eligible public research center, if applicable.
Alignment with the expertise and mission of the eligible public research center, if applicable, as well as with the business strategy of the company and ministerial or sectoral priorities established by Investissement Québec.
Sustainable development elements integrated into the project plan.

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Reading the guide

Carry out a complete reading of the Application Submission Guide available on the program's website.

Fill out the form

Complete the financial assistance application form related to the Innovation Program.
Ensure that the form is duly completed and signed by the authorized persons.

Prepare the supporting documents

Gather all required documents, such as financial statements, the Gantt chart, and letters of support.
Include a designation statement if the application is made by an organization representing a group of businesses.

Submit the application electronically

Send the form and supporting documents electronically to the address aidefinanciere@invest-quebec.com.
All applications must be submitted in French.

Treatment and follow-up

Wait for the confirmation of receipt and validation of the request by Investissement Québec.
Monitor the application in case additional documents or information are needed.

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Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The grant cannot be combined with financial support from another program within the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (MEI) or Investissement Québec (IQ).
Private cash contributions must represent at least 25% of eligible expenditures, or 20% for social economy enterprises.
Selected projects must start within a preferred timeline of less than three years, and overall project duration cannot exceed five years.
All governmental financial aid, including loans and grants, must be accounted for at 100% of its value in the cumulative funding calculations.
The grant entails regular assessment of funding availability and adherence to program standards for ongoing project evaluations.