Funding
The following is a non-exhaustive list of funding sources. We’ll add more links over time, so keep coming back! If you know if other funders or links, please contact us.
Government of Canada
NSERC
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada funds innovators who are searching for the scientific and technical breakthroughs that will benefit our country. We are Canada’s largest supporter of discovery and innovation.
- https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Index_eng.asp
- Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC)
- Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF)
NSERC College funding
- https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Institutions-Etablissements/index_eng.asp
- https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Institutions-Etablissements/InstCollProg-EtabCollProg_eng.asp
CIHR
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is Canada’s federal funding agency for health research. Composed of 13 Institutes, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.
SSHRC
The Social Sciences and Research Council supports post secondary-based research, research training and knowledge mobilization activities in the social sciences and humanities.
IRAP
The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) funds small and medium-sized businesses develop and commercialize technologies.
SSF
The Strategic Science Fund (SSF) is a new approach to improve the effectiveness of federal investments in supporting third-party science and research organizations (TPOs). Eligible recipients are not-for-profit organizations incorporated in Canada (federally or provincially) that cannot access other federal funding programs.
MITACS
Mitacs funds students from all Canadian post-secondary institutions to participate in research.
SDTC
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) funds Canadian companies to develop and deploy clean technology, to help solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges: climate change, clean air, clean water and clean soil.
Province of British Columbia
Columbia Basin Trust
To help residents and communities take action on issues that are important to them, The Trust offers a great selection of grants and programs. The Trust serves the region consisting of all the watersheds that flow into the Columbia River in Canada. The region encompasses nearly 80,000 square kilometers in southeastern British Columbia and has a population of 164,647 people
ICE Fund and SDTC Joint Call Funding Partnership
British Columbia and the Government of Canada are working together to spur the development and commercialization of new technologies that will reduce emissions and create jobs for Canadians and to advance B.C.’s clean energy sector.
Innovate BC
As a Crown Agency, Innovate BC represents the Government of British Columbia. Each year we select 6-8 research projects to receive up to $300,000, injecting over $1M into market-changing innovations.
NEW! Ignite program is accepting applications now until July 4, 2022!
ARC
The Advanced Research and Commercialization program in British Columbia is a fundamental part of the Province’s CleanBC Go Electric Program, designed to support the development of companies operating in the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sector, and to encourage international investment in the ZEV sector in B.C.
BC Hydro
ETSI-BC
The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) uses its $50 million endowment from the Province of BC work with the region’s local governments, economic development practitioners, non-profit business support organizations, post-secondary institutions, industry associations, and accelerators to grow and diversify our region’s economy by providing grant funding on an ‘intake’ basis throughout the year.
Project Zero
The Project Zero Incubator provides early-stage business ideas and organizations from across BC with access to coaching, workshops, and resources to help them get established.
- https://www.project-zero.ca/incubator
Economic Development Funding
Food Security
Daymark Foundation
The Daymark Foundation aims to transform the way we think about and address mental health in Canada in three priority areas: women’s mental health, bipolar disorder, food security. https://www.daymarkfoundation.ca/
United Way British Columbia Food Infrastructure Grant
United Way British Columbia and the Ministry of Health are looking to collaborate with community food-based organizations to address the unique food access and availability challenges of rural, remote and Indigenous communities. This one-time Food Infrastructure Grant will fund the development, implementation, or improvement of food infrastructure to support year-round, long-term procurement, storage and distribution of fresh, traditional, and other food and enhance community well-being. https://uwbc.ca/foodsecurity/