Manufacturing Grants in Ontario: 51 Funding Programs Currently Available

The Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF) takes a founder-aligned approach to nurturing breakthrough Canadian technology companies. IAF provides capital and equips portfolio companies with the necessary resources, skills, and networks to validate their ideas and market their products and services. Leveraging the team’s robust international experience, IAF enhances company profiles, explores market opportunities, and aids talent acquisition. It acts as a crucial conduit, connecting early-stage funding to the broader investment community via its extensive networks facilitating innovative venture growth.

The Technology Access Program provides Ontario SMEs with no cost access to the CIT Technology
Development Sites (TDSs) to support the development and commercialization of Ontario made products and services that integrate/adopt Critical Technologies (5G and advanced networks, AI, blockchain, robotics, quantum, cybersecurity) related to four key sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Food, Construction and Mining. At these sites SMEs can develop, test, validate and showcase their products and services, helping disruptive innovations hit the market faster.

FedNor is committed to supporting Northern Ontario’s economy by encouraging businesses to become more innovative, productive and competitive. Through its Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program, FedNor can help existing Northern Ontario manufacturers upgrade and improve capital equipment used in manufacturing processes, including information and communications technology, to improve their competitiveness and productivity.

FedNor is committed to supporting Northern Ontario’s economy by encouraging businesses to become more innovative, productive and competitive. Through its Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program, FedNor can help existing Northern Ontario manufacturers to better plan, prioritize and implement changes that will result in efficiencies, improved quality, productivity, profitability and overall competitiveness. The result is a stronger and more competitive economy in Northern Ontario.

The Talent Development – Internship Program (TDI) provides support for recent undergraduate or Master’s graduates, to work on industry- driven projects related to the six CIT Critical Technology areas: 5G and advanced networks, AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and Robotics, in any one of the four key sector areas: Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Food, Construction, Mining. Companies can tap into world-class talent coming out of Ontario’s publicly funded post-secondary institutions and strengthen their capacity to develop new products, services and processes, while interns receive hands-on industry experience in areas such as software and hardware development, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern Ontario. The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in southwestern Ontario make investments to:
1. Grow their businesses
2. Improve productivity
3. Invest in innovation and skills development
4. Pursue new markets
5. Generate broad positive regional economic impact
6. Create new good, sustainable jobs

A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations, that will result in benefits to the organization such as business growth or access to new markets.

The program intended to provide financial incentive to stimulate new investment in small businesses in the targeted sectors for the purposes of expanding and diversifying the local economy. Consists of a grant program, whereby new or existing businesses that are expanding will be eligible to receive a grant for a percentage of the tax increment generated from the investments made in the development or redevelopment of the building or property in conformity with this Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

As part of the broader Critical Industrial Technologies initiative, the Sector Adoption (SA) Program is a challenge based multi-partner program that drives significant impact and advancement of a whole sector.

The Save on Energy Retrofit program offers businesses in Ontario incentives to upgrade equipment, reduce energy bills, lower their carbon footprint and increase productivity. The incentives are designed to help businesses speed up their payback on energy-efficiency equipment upgrades. The program offers incentives in two streams:
– Custom stream for larger, more complex retrofit projects to capture greater energy savings;
– Prescriptive stream for targeted retrofit projects focusing on commonly used products and technologies.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream will provide financial support to advanced manufacturing companies with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises across Ontario. It will provide investments in:
1. Capital equipment
2. Technology adoption
3. Skills development

The fund supports projects that:
1. Create jobs and build talent
2. Attract and encourage private sector investment
3. Help companies to adopt technologies that improve their competitiveness
4. Lead to business growth and broad positive economic impacts
5. Encourage innovation, collaboration, and cluster development

Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs) are delivering $200 million through the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) to help bring new AI technologies to market and speed up AI adoption in sectors across the country. Through the RAII, RDAs will support projects that help businesses and organizations turn ideas into real-world solutions for Canadians and compete globally.

The Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit is a 10% refundable Corporate Income Tax credit for eligible corporations on qualifying investments in buildings, machinery and equipment for use in manufacturing or processing in the province. An eligible corporation could receive a tax credit of up to $2 million a year.

The Next Level program provides funding for Northwestern Ontario businesses with an innovative product or service and looking to expand. The support may be applicable to contracted expertise, services or direct costs in any of the following areas: equipment purchase, expansion to new markets, conference & tradeshows costs ($1,000 max), training & certification costs.

LiONʼS LAIR is an annual competition presented by Innovation Factory in partnership with the City of Hamilton Economic Development office, which brings together the entrepreneurship and innovation community in Hamilton. The competition gives up-and-coming entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business to a panel of Hamilton’s top business experts for a chance to win cash prizes.

We will invest up to $10,000 into your business as well as provide hands-on support, access to mentors, and potential access to investors. With help from us, you will have your new business launched or your current company vaulted into success.

Experience innovation in Ontario’s manufacturing sector. Join a vibrant community of industry leaders who are charting the future of production in Ontario. Here, you will find access to state-of-the-art technologies and tailored support, all designed to help your business thrive.

The HardTech Pitch Competition, held in partnership by ventureLAB and the Regional Municipality of York, is open to small and medium enterprises incorporated in Canada developing hardware innovations. Finalists will have the opportunity to pitch for their chance to take home a collective $50,000 in cash and showcase their breakthrough products and innovations in hardware technology to a broad audience including industry, investors, government, media, and more!

The Grow Ontario Market Initiative provides funding to primary producers, processors and industry organizations to find and develop domestic or export market opportunities.

You may use the funding to grow your business through:
1. Marketing analysis and planning
2. New product development
3. Marketing activities

The Future Ready (FR) program provides support for Ontario-based SMEs working in CIT’s four key sectors (Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Agri-food and Mining) to upskill/reskill current employees on Critical Technologies (5G and advanced networks, AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Quantum,
and Robotics) to support the company’s adoption of Critical Technologies and commercialization of new products and services. Under this program eligible SMEs receive support to hire an external third-party consultant to train their employees in the adoption and implementation of these Critical Technologies.

The ENCQOR 5G Demonstration Program supports standalone SME projects and SME collaborations with industry partners and/or public sector organizations such as municipalities, healthcare facilities, public utilities for testing and validation activities using the ENCQOR 5G Innovation Platform as a Service (iPaaS) testbed in order to develop or advance new technologies, products, processes and services.

The Economic Development and Growth in Employment (EDGE) Incentive Program supports new construction or major renovation of buildings in targeted employment sectors. The program provides tax increment equivalent grants, whereby the City refunds a portion of the increase in property taxes that results from new development or redevelopments.

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in eastern Ontario. The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in eastern Ontario make investments to:
1. Grow their businesses
2. Improve productivity
3. Invest in innovation and skills development
4. Pursue new markets
5. Generate broad positive regional economic impact
6. Create new good, sustainable jobs

A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations, that will result in benefits to the organization such as business growth or access to new markets.

The program intended to provide financial incentive to stimulate investment in targeted economic sectors for the purposes of expanding and diversifying the local economy. The program is aimed at attracting new businesses to the city and the expansion of existing businesses through the development, redevelopment, rehabilitation or adaptive reuse of buildings and properties in the Community Improvement Project Area.

The Development and Commercialization (DC) Program supports the development and commercialization of Ontario made products and services that integrate/adopt Critical Technologies (5G and advanced networks, AI, blockchain, robotics, quantum, cybersecurity) related to four key sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Food, Construction and Mining.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada launched the Global Innovation Clusters to support business-led innovation and large-scale collaboration among industry leaders, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and post‑secondary institutions, to develop and scale high-potential technologies in advanced manufacturing, agri‑food, clean technology, digital technology, health, bioscience and clean resources, infrastructure and transportation.
Cluster support programs:
1. Advanced manufacturing (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s Next Generation Manufacturing cluster. automation and robotics; machine vision; inspection and sensors; simulations and modelling; additive manufacturing; and advanced materials manufacturing);
2. Digital Health and Geospatial Analytics (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster in the areas of: Artificial intelligence and digital enablement for health – using artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery and connect it to real-world, evidence-based clinical research; and Geospatial Analytics – using digital geospatial technologies to solve compelling challenges in areas such as agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring, transportation, and clean energy);
3. Ocean (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster in the areas of: bio assets; intelligent ocean assets; coastal resilience; and pollution remediation);
4. Sustainable Protein Production (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s Protein Industries Supercluster in the areas of: genetics and genomics; pre‑breeding crop development and plant technologies; microalgal and macroalgal protein; microbial communities; processing and ingredients; food safety, traceability and sustainability);
5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Logistics (Funded collaborative R&D in support of Canada’s AI- Powered Supply Chains Supercluster (Scale AI) in the areas of: transportation and warehousing; condition of infrastructure and goods; cybersecurity for logistics; and Canadian logistics AI‑powered modelling.

The program intended to provide incentive to encourage existing businesses to make new capital investment in targeted economic sectors for the purposes of expanding and diversifying the local economy. The program will also apply to projects that demonstrate a significant investment resulting in the retention and/or expansion of high value industries and jobs. Consists of a grant program, whereby existing businesses will be eligible to receive a grant for a percentage of the tax increment generated from the investments made in the development or redevelopment of the building or property in conformity with this Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

The program intended to provide financial incentive to stimulate new investment in targeted economic sectors for the purposes of expanding and diversifying Windsor’s economy. The program will also apply to projects that demonstrate a major investment resulting in a significant positive impact on the local economy and workforce.

Consists of a grant program, whereby new businesses will be eligible to receive a grant for a percentage of the tax increment generated from the investments made in the development or redevelopment of the building or property in conformity with this Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

Industrial Innovation Venture Fund brings direct investment and strategic support to visionary management teams with the desire, ambition and courage to become Canada’s next generation of global leaders.

The $500 million Growth Venture envelope continues and expands on the mandate of the previous Funds I and II. It targets late-stage, innovation-based businesses that are at an inflection point and show strong potential for meaningful scale. Our team and network give entrepreneurs the structure and strategies to build markets worldwide.