The Business Innovation and Growth category of the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) fosters the development of for-profit businesses so that they can invest, grow and create jobs for the prosperity of Canadians.
To apply under SIF's Business Innovation and Growth category, your company must be one of the following:
- a for-profit business or cooperative incorporated in Canada
- a partnership proposing to carry out business in Canada
If you succeed in receiving SIF funding, you will be responsible for:
- managing the project
- carrying out agreed-on terms and benefits of the Contribution Agreement
- submitting project claims for reimbursement
- receiving and repaying the government contribution and reporting on results
- owning or holding sufficient background intellectual property (IP) rights to allow your project's activities to be carried out
- This includes holding enough rights to allow you to make full use of the benefits from any IP resulting from your project's activities
Additional requirements
Types of Business Innovation and Growth projects
R&D and commercialization
These projects must involve activities related to the research and development (R&D) and commercialization of innovative products, processes or services.
These activities support products, processes or services that:
- fall under Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 1 to 9
- will increase the project's TRL
- have the potential to be implemented or commercialized
Examples of projects of this type include:
- R&D to test the commercial potential of early TRL concepts or findings
- adaptation of research findings for commercial applications that have the potential to disrupt the market
- development and improvement of current products by implementing new technology that will enhance the company's competitive capability
- process improvements reducing the environmental footprint of current production by using new technologies
Firm expansion and growth
These projects must support the expansion or material improvement of existing industrial or technological facilities.
Activities for these projects should fall under Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 8 to 9, where the new product or technology has either:
- qualified through tests and demonstrations
- been proven successful
These projects should result in the company's improved viability through company growth or increased efficiency or output capacity.
Examples of projects of this type include:
- increasing manufacturing capacity to meet demonstrated market demand
- improving production efficiency through plant and equipment improvements
Investment attraction and reinvestment
These projects must support new investments in R&D mandates including the hiring of full-time-equivalent employees in Canada.
Activities for these projects should be a minimum of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2, where the technology concept or application has been formulated. These projects should support the establishment of new facilities or bring new ventures to Canada.
Examples of projects of this type include:
- a Canadian company establishing a new production facility that did not previously exist in Canada
- getting a production mandate for a product previously produced outside Canada or being produced for the first time
- getting a research and development mandate previously held outside Canada or being established for the first time