Supporting programs

If the Innovative Solutions Canada program ends up not being the right fit for you, there are still many other programs out there that support innovation across Canada. See below for other challenge-based and business innovation supporting programs:

Federal challenge-based programs

Innovation Canada
Match your businesses with the best fitting programs and services from across federal, provincial and territorial governments — in about 2 minutes.

Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)
IDEaS was announced in Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, and commits to $1.6 billion of investment in innovations for defence and security over the next 20 years. The program is looking for your solutions to support the development of defence and security capabilities.

Impact Canada Initiative (ICI)
Announced in Budget 2017, the Impact Canada Initiative (ICI) is a whole-of-government effort that will help departments accelerate the adoption of outcomes-based funding approaches to deliver meaningful results to Canadians. Outcomes-based funding approaches represent a new way of managing grant and contribution funding that shifts the traditional emphasis on process and outputs, towards one where payments are tied to the achievement of measurable economic, environmental, and/or social outcomes.

Provincial and territorial programs

BC Startup in Residence (STIR)
STIR is a pilot experiment to bring the ideas and expertise of, startup tech companies together with government business areas to co-develop technology solutions that will improve the services delivered to British Columbians.

BC Innovation Council (BCIC)
BCIC encourages the development and application of advanced or innovative technologies to meet the needs of industry in British Columbia.

Alberta's Small Business Innovation and Research Initiative (ASBIRI)
ASBIRI develops relationships with industry partners to identify challenges in their operations and invite small and medium-sized enterprises to develop a technology-based solution.

Innovation Saskatchewan
Located at beautiful Innovation Place in Saskatoon, Innovation Saskatchewan is the central agency of the Government of Saskatchewan with responsibility for implementing Saskatchewan's innovation priorities.

Supporting resources

Glossary

How to start a business

Selling to the Government of Canada

Resources for businesses selling to the Government of Canada

Buyandsell.gc.ca related links

How to start a business

CyberSecure Canada
CyberSecure Canada is a federal cyber certification program that aims to raise the cyber security baseline among Canadian SMEs, increase consumer confidence in the digital economy, promote international standardization and better position SMEs to compete globally.

Explore IP: Canada's IP Marketplace
Welcome to ExploreIP: Canada's IP Marketplace: a new, online resource for businesses to explore possible licensing and collaboration opportunities with public sector patent holders.

Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is a part of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. CIPO is a Special Operating Agency (SOA) and is responsible for the administration and processing of the greater part of intellectual property (IP) in Canada. CIPO's areas of activity include trademarks, patents, copyright, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies. CIPO's mandate is to deliver high quality and timely IP services to customers, and to increase awareness, knowledge and effective use of IP by Canadians.

The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) - The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program is a federal tax incentive program designed to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development in Canada.