Grant – Funds that do not need to be repaid!
Repayable Contribution – Project funding to be repaid at later date
Loan – Project funding to be repaid at later date
Wage Subsidy – Funding to cover employee salaries
Loan Guarantee – Third party taking obligation of debt in the situation that loan cannot be repaid
Travel Grant – Funding to cover travel expenses
Bridge Loan – A short term loan taken while awaiting further financing
Voucher – Funds given as incentives, usually to adopt a technology
Tax Credit – Incentive allowing investments to be deducted from taxes
Grants
Accelerate
Focus: Ocean, software, health, agri-tech, clean tech
Eligible Projects: R&D, prototype development, eligible expenses
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://investnovascotia.ca/start-up/acceleration-initiatives/invest-nova-scotia-accelerate
ACOA-REGI Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation
Focus: Tech
Eligible Projects: R&D, technology upgrades, market expansions
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
BBI - Business Consulting Advisory Services Grant Program
Focus: SMB, Black and African Nova Scotian businesses
Eligible Projects: Marketing, tech upgrades, ecommerce, digital support
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.bbi.ca/business-consulting-advisory-services-grant-program/
CAS - Consultant Advisory Services (SMBs)
Focus: SMBs
Eligible Projects: Consultant fees, contractor’s fees
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.cbdc.ca/en/programs/consulting-advisory-services
CAS - Consultant Advisory Services (Female-led Tech)
Focus: Female founders
Eligible Projects: Consultant fees, contractor’s fees
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.centreforwomeninbusiness.ca/
CIRA Community Investment Program
Focus: Non-profit, academic research, communities, cybersecurity, youth
Eligible Projects: Digital support, tech upgrades
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.cira.ca/community-investment-program/grants
Divert NS R&D Grant
Focus: Solid waste resource management
Eligible Projects: Employee salary, market expansion, materials, R&D, consultant fees, contractor’s fees
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: http://divertns.ca/funding
Early Stage Commercialization Fund - New Brunswick
Focus: Research commercialization
Eligible Projects: R&D, prototype development, intellectual property, market expansion, tech upgrades, consultant fees
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
More Info: https://nbif.ca/early-stage-commercialization-fund/
Early Stage Commercialization Fund - Nova Scotia
Focus: Research commercialization, academic research
Eligible Projects: R&D, intellectual property, clinical testing, leveraging other funds, materials, market expansion, employee salary, prototype development, consultant fees
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://investnovascotia.ca/start-up/acceleration-initiatives/early-stage-commercialization-fund
Elevate IP
Focus: Startups
Eligible Projects: Intellectual properties
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
Export Development Program
Focus: Export, startups
Eligible Projects: Consultant fees, contractor’s fees, travel, ecommerce, website developmentConsultant fees, contractor’s fees, travel, ecommerce, website development
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://investnovascotia.ca/export/programs-services/export-development-program
Fast Track to Financing Program
Focus: Health, solid waste management, agri-tech, environment, clean-tech, climate, ocean
Eligible Projects: Consultant fees, contractor’s fees, market research, intellectual property
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.naturalproductscanada.com/en/programs/fast-track-to-financing/
Growth Incentive Funding Solution (GIFS)
Focus: Female founders
Eligible Projects: Employee salary, consultant fees, contractor’s fees, equipment, marketing, training, tech upgrades, purchase assets, licenses, insurance, registration, inventory
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info:
IdeaBuild (Emera IdeaHub)
Focus: Tough tech
Eligible Projects: Prototype development, materials, consultant fees, contractor’s fees
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.dalideahub.ca/build
IEF Micro Grants
Focus:
Eligible Projects: Employee salary, consultant fees, contractor’s fees, eligible expenses, marketing, website development, digital support, market expansion, market research
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info:
Invest Nova Scotia GreenShoots
Focus: Agri-tech
Eligible Projects: R&D
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://investnovascotia.ca/start-up/acceleration-initiatives/greenshoots
Investment Readiness Program
Focus: Women
Eligible Projects: Prototype development, market research, training, contractor’s fees, consultant fees
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://canadianwomen.org/irp-ppi/
Lab2Market
Focus: Research commercialization, cybersecurity, health, academic research
Eligible Projects: R&D, prototype development
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://dalinnovates.ca/programs/nnce/lab2market/
Mitacs Elevate
Focus: AI, clean-tech, agri-tech, health, quantum technology, social impact, media
Eligible Projects: R&D, employee salary, market research
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/elevate
Mitacs Entrepreneur International
Focus: Startups
Eligible Projects: Travel
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/entrepreneur-international
NRC- IRAP
Focus: SMB, startups
Eligible Projects: R&D, employee salary, consultant fees, contractor’s fees, tech upgrades, intellectual property
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://nrc.canada.ca/en/support-technology-innovation
NSERC Alliance
Focus:
Eligible Projects: R&D, employee salary, materials
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Innovate-Innover/alliance-alliance/index_eng.asp
Ocean Startup Challenge
Focus: Ocean
Eligible Projects: Consultant fees, materials, equipment
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://oceanstartupproject.ca/challenge/
Ready2Launch
SDTC Scaleup Fund
Focus: Environment, clean-tech, climate
Eligible Projects: Tech upgrades
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.sdtc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SDTC-Scale-Up.pdf
SDTC Seed Fund
Focus: Environment, clean-tech, climate
Eligible Projects: Tech upgrades
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.sdtc.ca/en/seed/
SDTC Startup Fund
Focus: Environment, clean-tech, climate
Eligible Projects: Tech upgrades
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.sdtc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SDTC-Start-Up.pdf
Start-Up Yard at COVE - OceanTech Demo
Focus: Immigrant entrepreneurs, ocean
Eligible Projects: R&D, market expansion
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
Strategic Innovation Fund
Focus: Tech
Eligible Projects: R&D, tech upgrades, employee salary, consultant fees
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/strategic-innovation-fund/en
The Amber Grant
Focus: Women, female founders
Eligible Projects: Employee salary, consultant fees, contractor’s fees, eligible expenses, equipment, tech upgrades, R&D, marketing, website development, market expansion, ecommerce, digital support
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/all-grants/
Workplace Innovation Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI)
Focus: SMB
Eligible Projects: Training
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
Repayable Contributions
ACOA-REGI Regional Economic Growth through Innovation
Focus: Tech
Eligible Projects: R&D, tech upgrades, market expansions
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
Divert NS R&D Grant
Focus: Solid Waste Resource Management
Eligible Projects: Employee Salary, market expansion, materials, R&D, consultant fees, contractor’s fees
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: http://divertns.ca/funding
Loans
BDC Start-up Financing
Focus: SMB, startups
Eligible Projects: Marketing, buy a franchise, purchase assets, web development, consultant fees, contractor’s fees, equipment
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.bdc.ca/en/financing/starting-business-loan
Export Development Canada
Focus: Export
Eligible Projects: Market expansion, technology upgrades, equipment
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.edc.ca/
Futurpreneur Financing + Mentoring
Focus: Youth
Eligible Projects: Financing
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/get-started/financing-and-mentoring/
Small Business Loan Guarantee Program
Focus: SMB
Eligible Projects:
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: http://www.novascotia.coop/programs/small-business-loan-guarantee-program/
Wage Subsidy
BioTalent Student Work Placement Program
Focus: Students, STEM, health, tech, startups
Eligible Projects: Employee salary
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://www.biotalent.ca/programs/student-work-placement-program/
Career Launcher - Clean Tech Internships
Focus: SMB, indigenous business, recent graduates, STEM
Eligible Projects: Employee Salary
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.careerlauncher.ca/employers/our-internship-programs/clean-tech/
Co-op Education Incentive
Focus: Students, SMB
Eligible Projects: Employee Salary
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://novascotia.ca/programs/co-op-education-incentive/
ECO Canada Youth Placement Program
Focus: Youth, students, recent graduates
Eligible Projects: Employee salary
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://eco.ca/environmental-professionals/employment-funding-and-job-board/apply-for-job-funding/
Energy Nova Scotia Training Program
Focus: Students, recent graduates
Eligible Projects: Employee salary
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://energy.novascotia.ca/industry-development/energy-training-program
Graduate to Opportunity
Focus: Recent graduates
Eligible Projects: Employee salary, R&D, market expansion, marketing, prototype development
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://novascotia.ca/programs/graduate-to-opportunity/
Innovate to Opportunity
Focus: Recent graduates, SMB
Eligible Projects: Employee salary, R&D, market expansion
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://novascotia.ca/programs/innovate-to-opportunity/
LearnSphere Commercialization Consulting & Mentoring Program
Focus:
Eligible Projects: Consultant fees, contractor’s fees, market research, marketing, web development, R&D, ecommerce, training
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://learnsphere.ca/commercialization/
Mitacs Accelerate
Focus: Academic research, students
Eligible Projects: Employee research, internships
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/accelerate
Mitacs Elevate
Focus: AI, clean-tech, agri-tech, health, quantum technology, social impact, media
Eligible Projects: R&D, employee salary, market research
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/elevate
START
Focus: SMB, startups
Eligible Projects: Employee salary, training, equipment
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://novascotia.ca/employmentnovascotia/programs/start.asp
Student Summer Skills Incentive (SKILL)
Focus: Non-profit
Eligible Projects: Employee salary
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://novascotia.ca/programs/student-summer-skills-incentive/
Work Integrated Learning
Focus: Tech
Eligible Projects: Employee salary
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.wil-ait.digital/en/
Loan Guarantee
Export Development Canada
Focus: Export
Eligible Projects: Market expansion, technology upgrades, equipment
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.edc.ca/
Travel Grants
Export Development Program
Focus: Export, startup
Eligible Projects: Consultant fees, contractor’s fees, travel, ecommerce, web development
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://investnovascotia.ca/export/programs-services/export-development-program
Mitacs Entrepreneur International
Focus: Startups
Eligible Projects: Travel
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/entrepreneur-international
Bridge Loans
FundEasly
Focus: Startups
Eligible Projects: Financing
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://fundeasly.com/
OKR FInancial - Bridge Finance
Focus: Startups
Eligible Projects: R&D
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada
More Info: https://okrfinancial.com/
Vouchers
Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program
Focus: SMB, startups
Eligible Projects: R&D, prototype development, market research, equipment
Eligible Provinces: Nova Scotia
More Info: https://investnovascotia.ca/export/programs-services/productivity-and-innovation-voucher-program
Tax Credits
SR&D|ED - Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive
Focus: Startups, tech, SMB
Eligible Projects: Employee salary, consultant fees, tech upgrades, R&D, prototype development, clinical testing
Eligible Provinces: Atlantic Canada