Research and development programs for small businesses

Ranked programs

20 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive

   Canada Revenue Agency

   Tax deduction plus investment tax credit for businesses conducting eligible R&D in Canada. Most CCPCs earn an enhanced, refundable 35% ITC up to an expenditure limit...

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $6M
   56

   Top pick

2. Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)

   Ontario Ministry of Finance / Canada Revenue Agency

   Refundable credit on qualifying scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) expenditures performed in Ontario by eligible corporations. Helps smaller...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesLimit $240K
   45

   Strong

3. Mitacs Accelerate

   Mitacs

   Matches partner contributions to fund research internships connecting businesses and organizations with university researchers and trainees.

   OngoingFederalGrants
   41

   Strong

4. Mitacs AI Advantage (ADOPT and AI+X)

   Mitacs

   Non-competitive Mitacs offerings supporting organizations to adopt and innovate with AI through trainee-led projects: ADOPT (AI readiness to implementation) and AI+X...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $25K
   39

   Strong

5. Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI)

   Mitacs

   Matches partner funds to place students, postdocs and recent graduates in business-strategy and innovation projects at Canadian organizations.

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $15K
   37

   Worth a look

6. Mitacs Elevate

   Mitacs

   A one- to two-year program that places postdoctoral fellows with partner organizations to solve R&D challenges, with an academic supervisor and professional development...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $60K
   32

   Worth a look

7. NSERC Alliance grants and Ontario Centre of Innovation Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C)

   NSERC and Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)

   A joint streamlined funding stream that matches an Ontario company with an Ontario university researcher for a short research collaboration, combining NSERC Alliance...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $50K
   31

   Worth a look

8. Innovative Solutions Canada (Challenge and Testing streams)

   ISED / federal departments

   Innovative Solutions Canada funds Canadian small businesses to develop and test prototypes that solve problems set by federal departments (Challenge stream), and buys...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $1.5M
   29

   Worth a look

9. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) - Financial support for technology innovation

   National Research Council Canada (NRC IRAP)

   NRC IRAP provides advice, connections and funding to help Canadian SMEs develop and commercialize technology-driven products, services and processes. Funding follows...

   OngoingFederalGrants
   29

   Worth a look

10. NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD) grants

    NSERC (College and Community Innovation program)

    Supports college-led applied research and development projects with industry partners that contribute cash, helping Ontario colleges solve business problems.

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $150K
    29

    Worth a look

11. Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)

    Department of National Defence

    DND's IDEaS program funds innovators, from individuals to large firms, to solve defence and security challenges through five elements: Competitive Projects, Innovation...

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $6.8M
    27

    Worth a look

12. Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur

    Mitacs

    Funds internships for college, undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral entrepreneurs to grow their startup, with Mitacs and the startup each contributing equally.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    26

    Worth a look

13. NRC IRAP Clean Technology support

    National Research Council Canada (NRC IRAP)

    Support for Canadian SMEs to develop and advance clean technologies from proof of concept through larger multi-year projects to commercialization. Delivered by NRC IRAP...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    23

    Long shot

14. OVIN R&D Partnership Fund

    Ontario Centre of Innovation (OVIN)

    Co-investment for SMEs developing and demonstrating automotive and mobility technologies (connected/autonomous vehicles, EVs, charging, semiconductors).

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $1M
    20

    Long shot

15. CanExport Innovation

    Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

    Covers costs of pursuing and signing collaborative R&D agreements with international partners.

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $38K
    19

    Long shot

16. Innovation Partnership Program (Trade Commissioner Service)

    Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

    Support and funding for Canadian innovators to join international innovation missions and build co-innovation partnerships.

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    19

    Long shot

17. Protein Industries Canada - Artificial Intelligence program

    Protein Industries Canada (Global Innovation Cluster)

    Co-invests in collaborative consortia using AI in the plant-based food, feed and ingredients value chain, with $30 million to be invested through March 31, 2028.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    13

    Long shot

18. Protein Industries Canada - Technology Leadership program

    Protein Industries Canada (Global Innovation Cluster)

    Co-invests in collaborative consortia developing plant-based food, feed and ingredient technologies, including Ontario companies and processors.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    13

    Long shot

19. Canada's Ocean Supercluster - Technology Leadership and Innovation Ecosystem projects

    Canada's Ocean Supercluster (Global Innovation Cluster)

    Co-invests in industry-led ocean technology consortium projects and ecosystem-building activities. Open to Ontario firms that join consortia.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    12

    Long shot

20. DIGITAL Supercluster - Calls for Projects

    Digital Technology Supercluster (DIGITAL)

    Co-investment in industry-led digital technology projects through member consortia.

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    6

    Long shot

Questions

How many research and development programs for small businesses are open right now?

Of the 33 research and development programs for small businesses in our database, 15 are open or ongoing and 5 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Nov 4, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Limit $6M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which research and development programs for small businesses rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive (56, Top pick), Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (45, Strong), Mitacs Accelerate (41, Strong). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 15 open or ongoing programs here, 13 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 2 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

14 of the 15 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 1 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.