Research and innovation: grants and funding in British Columbia

A federal tax credit for research and development done in Canada. Most Canadian-controlled private corporations earn a refundable 35% credit on up to $6 million of qualified spending a year (for tax years starting after December 15, 2024); other claimants earn 15%. You claim it with your income tax return.

Up to $37,500

Up to $37,500 per project (75% of costs) for Canadian businesses with fewer than 500 employees, academic institutions and research centres to negotiate R&D partnerships with foreign partners. The next intake opens December 1, 2026 at noon Eastern for 24 hours, first come, first served.

Up to $5,000,000

Repayable contributions of up to $5 million per project (normally up to 60% of costs) for agriculture and agri-food businesses commercializing or adopting innovative products and processes. AAFC lists it as closed to applications; the program ends March 31, 2028.

$200,000 – $5,000,000

Repayable contributions of $200,000 to $5 million per project for incorporated, high-growth B.C. businesses that are scaling up, commercializing technology, improving productivity or diversifying markets. PacifiCan is not accepting applications right now.

Research internships with graduate students and postdocs, co-funded by Mitacs. A partner organization (business, not-for-profit, hospital or municipality) contributes from $7,500 per 4- or 6-month internship and Mitacs matches it, for a $15,000 research award. Applications are taken on a rolling basis; talk to a Mitacs advisor first.

NRC IRAP funds research and development of new technology products and services at incorporated, for-profit Canadian businesses with up to 500 employees. It starts with advice from an industrial technology advisor; funding comes later, in some cases. There is no deadline: you start with a phone call.