Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport SMEs
Fund your growth in global markets
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- From 10,000$ to 500,000$
- 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : March 02, 2023
- Closing date : June 19, 2023
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Grant Providers
- Trade Commissioner Service
- Global Affairs Canada
- Government of Canada
Status
Closed
Overview
Your SME can get a contribution of up to $50,000 to help them break into international markets where they have little to no sales
Eligibility criteria
The eligibility criteria for the CanExport SMEs grant are as follows:
1. The applicant must be a Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise.
2. The applicant must be for-profit.
3. The applicant must be an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP), or cooperative.
4. The applicant must have an active Canada Revenue Agency business number.
5. The applicant must employ fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees.
6. The applicant must have declared revenue in Canada ranging from $100,000 to $100 million during its past fiscal year (or 12 months for quarterly filers).
Who is eligible
- For-profit companies
- Incorporated legal entities
- Limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
- Cooperatives
Eligible expenses
Gathering market intelligence, Applying for intellectual property protection in international markets, Applying for certification in international markets, Seeking expert legal and business advice, Search Engine Optimization, Translating, adapting or creating marketing materials, Attending virtual trade shows, networking functions, meetings or conferences
Eligible projects & activities
- Gathering market intelligence (custom research, reports and studies)
- Applying for intellectual property protection in international markets
- Applying for certification in international markets
- Seeking expert legal and business advice
- Search Engine Optimization
- Translating, adapting or creating marketing materials
- Attending virtual trade shows, networking functions, meetings or conferences
- Visits to foreign markets
- In-person participation at trade shows, networking functions, meetings or conferences
- Participating in a trade mission
How to apply
To apply for the CanExport SMEs grant, follow these steps:
1. Review the Applicant's Guide, updated for 2024-25.
2. Prepare your project proposal and budget according to the program guidelines.
3. Submit your application online during the application intake period from February 29, 2024, at 9 am EST, to May 31, 2024, at 5 pm EDT.
4. Ensure your project start date is on or after April 1, 2024.
5. Await the evaluation process and notification of funding decisions.
These steps will guide you through the application process for the CanExport SMEs grant.
Additional information
- Applicants should carefully review the Applicant's Guide before submitting their application.
- The program accepts applications from February 29, 2024, at 9am EST, to May 31, 2024, at 5pm EDT for projects starting on or after April 1, 2024.
- Eligible Canadian SMEs must be for-profit, have an active Canada Revenue Agency business number, employ fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees, and have declared revenue between $100,000 and $100 million in Canada during the past fiscal year.
- Funding supports non-travel activities such as market intelligence gathering, IP protection, certification applications, legal and business advice, SEO, marketing materials translation, virtual trade shows, and more.
- In-person travel activities are also supported based on Government of Canada Travel Advisories, including visits to foreign markets, participation at trade shows, networking events, meetings, or trade missions.
Apply to this program
