R&D > Market Readiness | Investments | Adoption

Updated January 2012
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT > Investments
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CEAA | FCM-GMF | IRAP | SDTC | SR&ED | ISTPP

The following funding programs, assistance and tax credits are available for Research & Development of remedial approaches in Canada. Please note that this list is not inclusive.


CEAA Research and Development (R&D) Program

The CAA Research and Development (R&D) Program has helped fund research projects that further the practice of environmental assessment and/or improve the level of understanding of environmental assessment issues in support of sustainable development. Program is administered by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA).

  • Funding: available up to $75,000 over two years, per project.
  • Timeline: Pre-approval required, projects must meet the program’s priority areas and be completed in two years.
  • Status: The R&D Program has recently undergone an evaluation and is currently on hold.

http://www.ceaa.gc.ca

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Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Green Municipal Fund (FCM-GMF)

FCM's Green Municipal Fund offers grants for plans, feasibility studies and field tests, and low interest loans for capital projects that seek to demonstrate the potential of a project to improve the environmental effectiveness of municipal operations related to brownfields, energy, transportation, waste or water. Municipal governments and their partners are eligible for grants for feasibility studies and field tests. The majority of funding available from GMF is loan funding for capital projects.

  • Funding: Grants are available for up 50% of eligible costs for plans, feasibility studies and field tests to a maximum of $175,000.
  • Funding: Below-market loans, usually in combination with grants, to cover up to 80% of eligible costs for capital projects. The loan maximum is $10 million, and the grant amount is set at up to 20% of the loan to a maximum of $1 million*.
    *Grants are typically around 10% of the loan amount approved. High-scoring projects may be awarded the maximum 20% grant, without exceeding the $1 million grant limit per project.
  • Timeline: FCM aim is to provide a funding decision within four months from the time your complete application is received, including all required documents.
  • Assessment criteria: Environmental, social and economic benefit; Knowledge value; and Project management.
  • Status: Program is currently accepting proposals.

http://fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund.htm

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Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

NRC-IRAP is the Government of Canada's premiere innovation and technology assistance program, supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (i.e. under 500 employees) in communities across Canada by providing financial, technological and networking assistance. NRC-IRAP focuses on early stage development of technologies.

NRC-IRAP provides non-repayable contributions to Canadian SMEs interested in growing by using technology to commercialize services, products and processes in Canadian and international markets. NRC-IRAP also provides mentoring support and invests on a cost-shared basis for research and pre-competitive development technical projects, upon assessment of a project and firm by a team of Industrial Technology Advisors. NRC-IRAP's partner organizations also receive contributions to provide technical and research assistance to Canadian SMEs.

http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irap.html

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Sustainable Development Technology Fund (SD Tech Fund™)

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) began operations in November of 2001, is registered as a not-for-profit, non-share capital corporation and operates as an arms-length independent organization. SDTC is accountable to Parliament through the Ontario Minister of Natural Resources (MNR) and has funding allocation of $1.05B from Government of Canada.

The SD Tech Fund supports the late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technology solutions that address: Climate Change; Clean Air; Clean Soil; and Clean Water. It encourages the formation of new partnerships that form the basis of sustainable clean tech supply chains and increase number and rate of uptake of clean technologies into relevant market sectors.

SDTC has two calls for proposals each year (spring and fall). The SD Tech Fund™ is structured to increase the success rate of pre-commercial, unproven technologies.

  • Provides pre-Venture Capital investment into the development and demonstration phases (supports ~ 1/3rd of project costs)
  • Contributions typically range from several hundred thousand to several million
  • Cash contributions are non-repayable and requires no equity
  • Allows a business to allocate existing resources to run their core business
  • Defers or avoids equity dilution financing while building up value
  • Business often becomes venture grade or technology bankable at the end of the project

http://www.sdtc.ca

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Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program - Investment Tax Credits (ITCs)

The SR&ED program is a federal tax incentive program, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), that encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. It is the largest single source of federal government support for industrial R&D.

Eligible expenditures for SR&ED Incentives include: Experimental Development, Applied Research, Basic Research, and Support Work. All project-related expenditures can be submitted. These typically include: salaries and wages, materials destroyed or used to build prototypes, work subcontracted to other Canadian taxpayers, and capital equipment. Canadian taxpayers can recover up to 82% of their expenditures, depending on their location (within Canada), ownership (Canadian vs. Foreign, Private vs. Public), taxable income (in the prior fiscal year), and size (amount of capital employed).

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/sred/

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International Science and Technology Partnerships Program (ISTPP)

ISTPP was announced by the Government of Canada in June 2005, to promote international collaborative research and development activities. The five-year, $20-million program will increase the international competitiveness and prosperity of Canada by building stronger science and technology relationships with Israel, India, China and Brazil. Funding is available up to 50% of eligible project costs. Maximum depends on the partner country. Program is administered by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT). www.international.gc.ca

The ISTPP will foster and support bilateral research projects which have the potential for commercialization between Canada and identified partner countries. It will also stimulate bilateral science and technology networking and matchmaking activities to further new partnerships and accelerate the commercialization of research and development. The ISTPP is a "seed fund", meaning that various other public and private sector participants are also encouraged to bring science & technology (S&T) expertise and funds of their own to the bilateral relationship.

http://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/eng/science/istpp.jsp

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