Grants, contributions and financial assistance
Explore opportunities to receive public funds to help springboard your business venture. There are programs that apply to businesses in all provinces and territories, and others that apply only to businesses in your region.
- Aboriginal Business Canada
Apply for financing to start or grow your Aboriginal business.
- AgriInnovation Program
If your business is agricultural, you can apply for an R&D grant or a loan to get your new agricultural product or technology ready for the market.
- AgriInvest
If you are an agricultural producer, and you put aside savings to use when your profits are down, the government may match your contributions.
- AgriMarketing Program
Do you have an agricultural business? You could get money to advertise and market your agricultural products and adapt appropriate assurance systems.
- Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program
By collaborating with government researchers, you could increase your business' scientific capacity for projects relating to fish health and environmental performance.
- Atlantic Innovation Fund
If your business is in the Atlantic provinces, you could get money to develop new technology.
- Automotive Innovation Fund
If you have an incorporated automotive business, you could get funding to build greener, more fuel-efficient vehicles through innovation and R&D.
- Automotive Partnerships Canada
If you are working on next-generation automotive technologies, you could receive financial assistance to support collaborative R&D activities.
- Bonavista Institute for Cultural Tourism — Courses
If you have a cultural tourism business in the Atlantic Provinces, you could get a subsidy to help pay for management training.
- Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence
If you create a network of skilled partners in industry and academia to address real-world challenges, you could receive funding for research costs.
- CEED — SEED Capital Loan Program
You get financing of up to $20,000 to start, expand or modernize your urban business.
- Canada Book Fund
You could receive financial assistance for your Canadian book publishing business.
- Canada Feature Film Fund
If you are an incorporated Canadian film producer, you could receive money to develop, produce and market your movies in English or French.
- Canada Periodical Fund
You could get money to help you publish your Canadian magazine or non-daily newspaper.
- Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program
As a Canadian farmer or processor, you could receive funding for projects that solve problems other farmers face or that help them grow or market their products.
- Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation
Access financial assistance, workshops, and other services that can help your industrial facility save energy.
- Collaborative Health Research Projects
If you are in natural sciences or engineering and have a partner from the health science community, you could get funding for your collaborative research project.
- Collaborative Research and Development Grants
You could get a university to help you with your research project in natural sciences or engineering if you contribute half the costs of the project.
- Defence Industrial Research Program
You could be eligible for up to 50% of the costs of an R&D project that introduces new and innovative technologies into the Canadian Forces.
- Development Innovation Fund
Learn how your health business could get funding to partner with innovators in low- and middle-income countries to help solve global health issues.
- Early Childhood Enhancement Grant
You can apply for a grant to improve employee salaries and benefits at your daycare.
- Emerging Music Business Program
You could be eligible for funding for your emerging music business in Nova Scotia.
- Engage Grants
You could access a grant for your science and engineering business to help solve a company-specific problem by collaborating with researchers from a Canadian university.
- Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
If you live in the Cape Breton or Mulgrave areas, you could get money to help you start or grow your business or to upgrade your website.
- Export Development Program for Music
You could get financing to expand your music business outside of Nova Scotia.
- Export Prospector Program
Benefit from the core advantages of a trade mission designed specifically for your business.
- ExportAbility Program
Apply for funding to increase your competitive know-how in the global marketplace.
- Film Market/Festival Assistance Program
Apply to receive financial assistance to attend film markets and festivals as a producer.
- Financing Support for Inbound Foreign Direct Investment
Selling your business to a foreign investor? Consider pointing them to this financing solution.
- Global Business Accelerator Program
Are you involved in international commercial activities? You could get funding to hire an international business expert.
- Go-Ahead Program for exporters
You could get help covering the costs of follow-up visits to prospective markets found through provincial government trade missions, shows or conferences.
- Going Global Innovation
Apply for funding to help you solidify an international R&D partnership.
- Grant Programs for Writers and Publishers
As a professional writer, collective or publisher, you can apply for various grants through the Canada Council for the Arts.
- Grant programs for artists
As a professional artist, you can apply for a grant to help cover the cost of creative productions, professional development, residency and travel expenses.
- Housing Internship Initiative for First Nations and Inuit Youth
Your housing-related Aboriginal business may qualify for wage subsidies to hire and train First Nations or Inuit youths.
- Industrial Research Assistance Program
Your small or medium-sized business may qualify for financial assistance to develop, adopt, adapt and/or commercialize new or improved technologies.
- Industrial Research Assistance Program — Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program
Find out how you can add digital technologies to your business operations to increase productivity.
- Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards
If you are a university student, you could gain research work experience in the natural sciences and engineering to complement your studies.
- Industry Growth Program
Find out how your creative arts business or consortium may be eligible for financial support for export development.
- Industry Partnership Programs
You could get help with your Canadian research and development projects in natural sciences or engineering from colleges and universities in Canada.
- Industry-Partnered Collaborative Research Program
If you are an academic researcher, you can apply for a grant for a collaborative research project you undertake with a Canadian industry partner who shares an interest in health R&D.
- Interaction Grants
Your R&D company could access grants of up to $5,000 to meet with established academic researchers to identify potential research projects.
- International Science and Technology Partnerships Program
If you own a small or medium-sized business with R&D projects in science and technology, you could get money to partner with foreign researchers.
- Job Creation Partnerships
You may be eligible for funding to hire unemployed workers.
- Knowledge Mobilization Initiative
If you can create a network dedicated to transferring knowledge to those who can put it into practice, you may be able to get financial assistance.
- MUSICACTION
If you are a French-language recording business, songwriter, composer or artist, you may be eligible for financing.
- Matching Investment Fund
If you produce milk products or manufacture processed goods made with milk, you could get funding to create new or improved products.
- Mitacs Elevate
You could receive funding toward a fellowship program with a recent PhD graduate to work on a research project for two years.
- Nova Scotia Business Development Program
You could qualify for a government rebate to help vitalize your start-up or existing business.
- Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
If you are a person with disabilities who wants to start a business or if you are an employer who would like to hire someone with a disability, you could qualify for funds.
- Partnership Workshops Program
If you are an academic wanting to work on collaborative research activities with end-users from the business community, you can apply for a grant to develop a workshop.
- Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program
Get free help from a Nova Scotia university or college to make your business more productive and innovative.
- Research and Development Program (waste diversion)
You could receive research funding of up to $50,000 for your solid waste diversion idea.
- Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program
If you are a landlord, you could obtain financing to repair or convert your property to create affordable housing for low-income tenants.
- Service Export Program
You could get reimbursed for up to 50% of costs related to finalizing a service export deal.
- Space Technology Development Program
Your organization (Industry or Academia) could receive financial and technical support to perform R&D on space technologies.
- Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative
If you are an aerospace and defence company that is incorporated in Canada, you could receive money for R&D projects in Canada.
- Strategic Network Grants
If you are a researcher, you could get funding from one of two grants for large-scale, multi-disciplinary science and engineering projects.
- Strategic Project Grants
If you are an academic researcher, you can apply for a grant for a collaborative research project you undertake with a Canadian industry partner.
- Supported Child Care Grant
Apply for a grant to create or sustain an inclusive child care program for children with special needs.
- Sustainable Development Technology Fund
Do you need money to develop and test a new energy technology? You could qualify for funding to create clean technology products that fight climate change.
- TEAM Work Opportunity Fund
If you have a self-identified disability, you could access funding to help you become an entrepreneur.
- Technology Demonstration Program
If you have a defence-related R&D project that shows the military utility of emerging concepts and technologies, you may be able to receive financial assistance.
- The LEAN + Energy Efficiency and Environment Program
Apply for funding to hire a qualified productivity and energy efficiency consultant for your manufacturing or export business.
- Tour Operator Partnership Program
You could receive funding to market your Nova Scotia tour package product.
- Translation Assistance Program
You could get up to $8,000 to translate your promotional material into French or English.
- Value-Added Manufacturing Program
You could receive funding of up to 50% of eligible start-up costs related to your diverted-waste innovation.
- Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive
You can apply for funding to train your employees and help boost productivity.
- Youth Employment Program
You could obtain financial assistance to hire a skilled post-secondary graduate to work on your innovative project.
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