TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Resources
3. Funding Support

1. Introduction

There are a number of support options available for Ontario entrepreneurs. For grants or subsidies available for specific situations or industries please see the Grants, Subsidies and Contributions - Science and Technology guide for a useful overview of these financing options. For information on non-financial support for the innovation and technology sector please see the Non-Financial Support - Science and Technology guide.

Excluding government grants, tax-based allowances, and employment subsidies, other forms of financial support for business in the technology and innovation sector are still available both for general and specific purpose. The aim of this document is to provide an overview of some of these other financial options presently available for businesses in Ontario.

CBO has created documents, which provide an overview of some of the main financing options for individuals starting and operating a business in Ontario, including programs offered or supported by the government. Please see the Financing for Starting a Business Info-Guide and the Financing for Established Businesses Info-Guide

2. Resources

Canadian International Development Agency's Contracts and Agreements

CIDA's Contracts and Agreements is a guide for individuals, small and medium size businesses, and other organizations to help identify opportunities for subcontracting to organizations that implement projects funded by CIDA.

For further information:
visit the website: CIDA's Contracts and Agreements
see the documents: Investment Cooperation Program

Funding Technologies for the Environment

If you are an environmental business, you can use this website to find financing programs to help you develop and roll-out technologies to protect the environment.

For further information:
visit the web site: Funding Technologies for the Environment

Funding and incentive programs

Find financial assistance programs and hiring incentives for businesses wanting to become energy and environmentally efficient.

For further information:
see the document: Funding and incentive programs

Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA)

TRRA aims at making a very large area, centred on Toronto a leading research and investment hub by growing the number and size of companies locating to the region, building research capacity and improving commercialization in the technology and innovation sector.

For further information:
visit the website: Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA)

3. Funding Support

Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI)

MRI works towards, among other things, targeting resources and government investments strategically, listening to the experts in research and innovation, helping investors find ideas to invest in and helping innovators get the support they need, supporting innovators early on, through schools, cultural institutions and businesses, bringing research from the lab to the marketplace, and supporting Ontario's research and innovation activities through their programs and funding.

For more information:
visit the websites:
Ministry of Research and Innovation
Research and Innovation Programs and Funding

Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF)

The Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF), one-half of the Market Readiness Program provides early stage investment of up to $500,000 in the form of a loan in return for a small share in the business. The program targets Ontario based, start up and early stage technology companies.

For further information:
visit the website:
Ontario Centres of Excellence - Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF)

Automotive Innovation Fund (AIF)

The Automotive Innovation Fund (AIF) will provide automotive firms $250 million over five years to support strategic, large-scale research and development (R&D) projects to build innovative, greener, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

For further information:
visit the website: Automotive Innovation Fund (AIF)

Industry Canada's Small Business Internship Program (SBIP)

The SBIP provides small and medium-sized businesses financial support to hire a post secondary student intern to assist them in their adoption of information and communications technologies to increase their productivity and competitiveness. The program aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises take full advantage of the possibilities offered by e-business.

For further information:
visit the websites:
Industry Canada's Small Business Internship Program (SBIP)
Where to apply
see the document: Small Business Internship Program

FedNor's Youth Internships - Private Sector Program

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ontario can qualify for financial assistance for the hiring of post-secondary graduates to work on projects in the areas of innovation, connectedness and trade.

For further information:
visit the websites:
FedNor's Youth Internships - Private Sector Program
Request for Funding & Supporting Documentation Package

Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program

The program provides funding for networks and clusters of researchers to develop new economic opportunities for agriculture in the areas of bioproducts and bioprocesses.

For further information:
visit the website: Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program

Agri-Opportunities Program

The Agri-Opportunities Program provides funds to accelerate the commercialization of new agricultural products, processes or services. Projects should increase market opportunities for the Canadian agricultural industry.

For further information:
visit the website: Agri-Opportunities Program

Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance

The Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance, which targets farmers and agri-food businesses, will cover up to a maximum of $35,000 of the eligible costs of a feasibility study, and up to a maximum of $400,000 of the total feasibility and construction cost for an anaerobic digester system. These systems produce electricity and heat or replace conventional fuels like natural gas. Overall, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' program will produce clean energy, reduce electricity costs and contribute to local economies.

For further information:
visit the website: Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

The ACRDP is an industry-driven program that teams industry with Department of Fisheries and Oceans researchers.

For further information:
visit the website: Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital Initiative (ecoABC)

Repayable contributions for the construction or expansion of transportation biofuel production facilities.

For further information:
visit the websites: ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital Initiative (ecoABC)
see the document: ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital Initiative (ecoABC)

BDC Venture Capital

BDC Venture Capital is active at every stage of the company's development cycle, from seed through expansion, with a focus on technology-based businesses.

For further information:
visit the website: BDC Venture Capital - Sector Focus
see the document: BDC Venture Capital

Innovation Demonstration Fund (IDF)

IDF provides financial assistance from $100,000 up to $300,000 in the form of a secured non-interest bearing forgivable loan to companies seeking to commercialize innovative technologies in Ontario for the global market.

For further information:
visit the website: Innovation Demonstration Fund (IDF) Program Guidelines

Canada Foundation for Innovation

The goal is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other not-for-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development.

For further information:
visit the website: Canada Foundation for Innovation

CANARIE

CANARIE Inc. is a joint government and private-sector initiative which links researchers and educational communities across Canada, and around the world, via a high-speed broadband network.

For further information:
visit the website: CANARIE

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) funding program for Productivity Improvement Projects SMART

The program aims to support productivity improving projects such as lean design and lean manufacturing, quality improvement, energy efficiency, IT best practices, and environmental impact reduction.

This funding is open to all Ontario manufacturing companies that meet the following criteria, among others:

• have manufacturing operations in Ontario
• must also have at least two years operating history
• have at least 10 and no more than 500 employees at the manufacturing facility where the project will be implemented

For further information:
visit the websites:
SMART Funding Update
Projects Eligible for SMART Funding

CanmetENERGY Technology Centre - Devon (CETC-Devon) and National Centre for Upgrading Technology (NCUT)

CETC - Devon is the federal government's primary research group for the development of hydrocarbon supply technologies and related environmental technologies, with an emphasis on oil sands and heavy oil.

For further information:
visit the websites:
CanmetENERGY Technology Centre - Devon
National Centre for Upgrading Technology (NCUT)

CanmetENERGY Technology Centre - Ottawa (CETC-O)

CETC develops and deploys leading-edge technologies in the areas of residential, commercial and industrial energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and transportation energy technologies.

For further information:
visit the website: CanmetENERGY Technology Ottawa

CanmetENERGY Transportation

CanmetENERGY Transportation supports efforts by Canadian industry to develop and deploy technologies and fuels that provide a cleaner, more sustainable energy mix for our roadways.

For further information:
visit the website: CanmetENERGY Technology Centre

Community Energy Systems Program

The program identifies and develops opportunities for the use of district heating and cooling, combined heat and power (co-generation), waste heat recovery, thermal storage, and local sources of renewable energy, particularly biomass.

For further information:
visit the website: Community Energy Systems Program

Clean Energy Fund

The Clean Energy Fund provides $850 million over five years for the demonstration of promising technologies, including large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, and renewable energy and clean energy systems demonstrations.

For further information:
visit the website: Clean Energy Fund

CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL)

MTL focuses on developing and deploying technologies to improve all aspects of producing and using value-added products from metals and materials.

For further information:
visit the website: CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL)

CANMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories (MMSL)

The labs provide research and development services, technical information, and sound scientific advice to Canada's mining and minerals industry and to provincial and federal government departments involved in promoting or regulating this and related industries.

For further information:
visit the website: Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories

Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) / CANMET

The CERL is Canada's national centre for the advancement of technology related to the manufacture, storage, transport and use of explosives.

For further information:
visit the website: Explosives Regulatory Division

Clean Electric Power Generation Program

This program supports the development of novel combustion technologies aimed at reducing emissions of acid-rain precursors, greenhouse gases, particulates and hazardous substances.

For further information:
visit the website: Clean Electric Power Generation Program

Northern Ontario Development Program

FedNor's Northern Ontario Development Program provides funding and assistance to projects that will bolster and improve the long term economic and social well-being of Northern Ontario.

For further information:
visit the website: Northern Ontario Development Program
see the document: Northern Ontario Development Program

Eastern Ontario Development Program

Was established to promote socio-economic development in Eastern Ontario by creating, building and developing the necessary conditions to increase business and employment opportunities in the area.

For further information:
visit the website:
Eastern Ontario Development Program
Eastern Ontario CFDC Network Inc
Community Futures Development Corporations in Eastern Ontario
see the document: Southern Ontario Development Program

Emerging Technology

The Emerging Technology Program is designed to encourage both the private and public sectors to develop exciting and viable new technologies that will contribute to future northern prosperity.

For further information:
visit the website: Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation - Emerging Technology
see the document: Emerging Technology Program (Northern Ontario)

Freight Technology Demonstration Fund

The Freight Technology Demonstration Fund provides cost-shared funding for real-world testing of freight transportation technologies that have the potential to reduce the amount of fuel consumed and the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

For further information:
visit the websites:
Freight Technology Demonstration Fund
ecoFREIGHT Program - Transport Canada

Freight Technology Incentive Program

The Freight Technology Incentive Program provides funding to support the purchase and installation of proven technologies that can reduce the amount of fuel consumed and the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, throughout the freight transportation system.

For further information:
visit the websites:
Freight Technology Incentive Program
ecoFREIGHT Program - Transport Canada

GeoConnections Program

From 2005 to 2010, the renewed GeoConnections program will pursue partnerships with particular end-user groups to apply the infrastructure in support of decision making in four key areas (environment and sustainable development, matters of importance to Aboriginal peoples, public health, and public safety and security).

For further information:
visit the websites:
GeoConnections
GeoConnections - Funding Opportunities
see the document: GeoConnections Program

Sustainable Development Technology Canada

The organization provides funding and support for the development and demonstration of clean technologies.

For further information:
visit the website: Sustainable Development Technology Canada
see the document: Sustainable Development Technology Fund

Going Global Science and Technology Fund

The Going Global Fund, administered by DFAIT, provides financial assistance to Canadian researchers in the identification and the establishment of new international collaborative R&D initiatives.

For further information:
visit the website: Going Global Science and Technology Fund
see the document: Global Commerce Support Program - Going Global Innovation

Industrial Technologies Office (ITO)

ITO will help advance leading-edge R&D by Canadian industries through the new Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) program, as well as through projects already contracted. The agency also acts as the administrator for Industry Canada's Program for Strategic Industrial Projects.

For further information:
please call 1-800-266-7531
visit the website: Industrial Technologies Office (ITO)
see the document: Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative

Moving on Sustainable Transportation Program - MOST

Supports projects that produce the kinds of education, awareness and analytical tools we need if we are to make sustainable transportation a reality.

For further information:
call 613-998-6607
visit the website: Moving On Sustainable Transportation

Networks of Centres of Excellence Program

Funds networks involved in leading-edge, multidisciplinary, university-based research and training.

For further information:
please call 613-995-6010
visit the website: Networks of Centres for Excellence

Related Reading

• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions - Science and Technology
• Non-Financial Support - Science and Technology
• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions Info-Guide
• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions - Arts and Media
• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions - Agriculture
• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions - Employers
• Business Guides

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DISCLAIMERS

Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Some of the organizations listed above are not subject to the federal Official Languages Act or the French Language Services Act of Ontario. Their services may not be available in both official languages.