Grant funding for Innovation and International business development activities
CanExport is a funding program designed to promote and enhance Canada’s trade diversification efforts. It offers grants and contributions to Canadian companies to help them prepare for and establish a presence in international markets where they currently have little or no sales. The CanExport program is also designed to promote and enhance Canada’s international innovation efforts. The program offers grants and contributions to Canadian organizations to assist them in establishing and formalizing new collaborative research and development (R&D) partnerships with foreign partners.
Funding Categories
SME Stream
Small and medium sized companies may access up to $50,000 in funding to assist with international market development activities. Get coverage for up to 50% of costs for export marketing of your products and services in international markets where you have little or no sales.
Innovation Stream
Innovators from Canadian organizations may access up to $75,000 in funding to assist with research and development (R&D) for a single technology. Get coverage for up to 75% of costs to pursue and sign collaborative R&D agreements with international partners.
Eligibility Requirements
SME Stream
To be eligible, your organization must:
- be for-profit
- be an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP) or cooperative
- have a Canada Revenue Agency business number
- employ fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees
- have $100,000 to $100 million in declared revenue in Canada during its past fiscal year (or 12 months for quarterly filers)
Innovation Stream
To be eligible, your organization must:
- have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number
- own, co-own, or have decision-making authority over the intellectual property (IP) rights for the technology
- have a prototype (Technology Readiness Level 4 or higher)
- intend to commercially launch the technology within 5 years
Eligible Activities
SME Stream
- 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
Innovation Stream
- Applying for intellectual property protection in international markets
- Applying for certification in international markets
- Seeking expert legal and business advice
- Shipping technology to determine feasibility/compatibility with a partner’s technology
- Translating, adapting and creating promotional plans or materials
- Attending virtual networking functions, meetings or conferences
- Travel abroad or in Canada to meet with pre-identified foreign partners
- Attending an event or conference to meet with pre-identified foreign partners
Deadlines
CanExport SME and Innovation are a competitive programs with limited funding. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Once funds are fully allocated, the programs no longer accept applications for funding. Trends over the past 2 years have shown the program being fully committed by the fall.
SME Stream
- CanExport SMEs is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2023-24 for projects starting April 1, 2023.
- For projects in fiscal year 2023-24, project activities will begin on or after April 1, 2023.
Innovation Stream
CanExport Innovation is accepting new applications for projects starting in fiscal year 2023-2024, i.e. after April 1, 2023.