Program landscape · Last reviewed July 2026
Funding programs open, close, and change eligibility throughout the year; every engagement starts with a fresh check against current program rules. Reference sources: SR&ED (CRA) and NRC IRAP. CanBizVisa prepares funding applications and documentation only; we do not provide financial investment advice.
The unclaimed opportunity
Billions in capital. Mostly unclaimed
Canadian governments, federal, provincial, and municipal, fund private business through more channels than any single founder can track. The reason most companies don't access this capital isn't ineligibility. It's bandwidth.
You don't know what exists
Federal SR&ED is famous. The 100+ provincial and regional programs aren't, and many have higher reimbursement rates for the same work.
Applications are non-trivial
IRAP, SIF, and most provincial grants require business plans, project narratives, financial models, and KPI commitments. Bad applications get rejected, not coached.
Deadlines are rolling
Some programs are open year-round; many run quarterly intake windows. Missing the window means waiting 90+ days.
Stacking has rules
You can combine certain programs (e.g. IRAP + SR&ED + provincial R&D credits) but not others. Mistakes can trigger clawbacks.
Loans are not grants
BDC and EDC offer favourable lending; provincial development agencies offer working capital and trade financing. Different products, different files.
Reporting is mandatory
Most programs require milestone reports, audited spend tracking, and outcome documentation. Pre-disbursement readiness predicts repeat success.
Four funding layers
Grants. Tax credits. Subsidies. Loans
We screen every client across all four layers, federal and provincial, and stack what's stackable to maximize total recoverable capital without triggering clawback risk.
Grants
Federal & provincial grants
Non-repayable funding for R&D, market expansion, hiring, training, and capital projects. The highest-value layer, with the most rigorous application process.
Examples
NRC IRAP
Strategic Innovation Fund
CanExport SMEs
AB Innovation Employment
BC Tech Co-op
Tax credits
R&D and investment tax credits
Refundable and non-refundable credits claimed against corporate tax. Stack federal + provincial layers for the same eligible expenditure.
Examples
SR&ED (federal)
OITC (Ontario)
BC SR&ED
Quebec R&D credits
Ontario Made MITC
Subsidies
Wage & training subsidies
Reimbursement against specific eligible activities, hiring, training, apprenticeships, internships. Lower per-program ceiling, but cumulative across hires.
Examples
Canada Job Grant
Mitacs Accelerate
Student Work Placement
Apprenticeship Job Creation TC
Loans
Government & development bank lending
Below-market loans, working-capital lines, trade-financing facilities, and co-investment with private lenders, through federal and regional development banks.
Examples
BDC growth loans
EDC trade financing
FedDev Ontario
PrairiesCan
CanNor / ACOA / PacifiCan
Programs we work with
24+ headline programs.
Plus the long tail
These are the programs we apply for most often. The full landscape is much wider, including sector-specific funds (agritech, clean energy, AI, advanced manufacturing) and municipal-level incentives. We screen against all of them at intake.
Federal innovation & R&D
6
SR&ED
Refundable / non-refundable R&D credit
NRC IRAP
Up to $1M for industrial research
Strategic Innovation Fund
Large-scale projects, $10M+
Global Innovation Clusters
Sector-specific co-investment
Innovation Solutions Canada
Government-as-first-customer
CDAP, Boost Your Business
Digital adoption advisory + loan
Federal trade & growth
6
CanExport SMEs
Up to $50K export development
CanExport Innovation
IP & R&D collaboration abroad
BDC growth & co-investment
Below-market loans, $100K–$5M+
EDC trade financing
Insurance, guarantees, loans
FedDev / PrairiesCan / ACOA / PacifiCan / CanNor
Regional development agencies
Trade Commissioner Service
Market access, intros, advisory
Provincial highlights
6
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit
Refundable R&D credit, up to 8%
Ontario Made MITC
Mfg investment credit, up to 10%
BC SR&ED Tax Credit
10% refundable for CCPCs
Alberta Innovation Employment Grant
Up to 20% on eligible R&D
Quebec R&D Tax Credits
Federal + provincial stack
Investissement Québec
Equity, debt, advisory
People & training
6
Canada Job Grant
2/3 of eligible training costs
Mitacs Accelerate
Research interns 50% cost-shared
Student Work Placement Program
Up to 70% wage subsidy
Apprenticeship Job Creation TC
10% on apprentice salary
CSJ, Canada Summer Jobs
Up to 100% min-wage subsidy
Provincial wage subsidies
Vary by province; we map locally
Engagement workflow
From initial funding fit screen to funded, five phases
01
Day 0–5
Funding assessment
Initial funding fit screen against the current federal and provincial program landscape. Written shortlist within 5 business days.
02
Day 5–10
Engagement & scoping
You pick the programs. We sign an engagement letter, lock the success-fee schedule per tier.
03
Day 10–45
Application build
Business case, narrative, financials, KPIs. Drafts reviewed with your team before submission.
04
Day 45+
Submission & defence
Filed within program windows. We handle reviewer questions, site visits, and clarification requests.
05
On disbursement
Disbursement & reporting
Funds released. We invoice the success fee. Where required, we maintain milestone and outcome reporting.
FAQ
What partners ask before signing the engagement letter
What's the success-fee percentage?+
It varies by program tier and complexity. Refundable tax credits like SR&ED carry a different fee than discretionary grants like SIF. The exact rate is locked in the engagement letter before any application work begins, no surprises, no scope creep.
What if a program denies the application?+
You owe nothing for that file. Our model only earns when funding is disbursed. We carry the application cost as part of the engagement.
Can my company stack programs?+
Often yes. SR&ED stacks with most provincial R&D credits. IRAP can pair with grants from other federal programs. Some combinations trigger reductions or eligibility limits, we map the stacking rules at assessment so we don't over-promise.
Do you work with pre-revenue startups?+
Yes. Early-stage R&D-heavy companies are often the best fit for SR&ED, IRAP, and provincial innovation grants. The threshold is whether the company has eligible activity, not revenue.
Does my client need to be Canadian-owned?+
Most federal programs require the company to be a Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) or a permanent establishment in Canada. Some programs accept foreign-owned subsidiaries; others don't. We confirm eligibility per program at assessment.
Is this financial investment advice?+
No. CanBizVisa is a business consulting company. We help companies access government funding programs through business consulting and application services. We do not provide financial investment advice. Investment-related counsel must be obtained from licensed professionals.
Important disclaimer
CanBizVisa is a Canadian business consulting company. We offer services strictly related to business development, strategic planning, and commercial support, including the identification, application, and management of Canadian government funding programs (grants, tax credits, subsidies, and government-backed loans). We do not provide immigration advice or financial investment advice. These services must be handled by licensed professionals authorized and regulated by Canadian authorities. Funding program names, ceilings, and rates referenced on this page reflect publicly available information as of 2026 and are subject to change without notice. Eligibility and approval are at the sole discretion of the granting authority.© 2026 CanBizVisa Inc.
Toronto · Ontario · Canada