Cleantech Funding & Grants in Canada: 2026 Programs Guide
Example Cleantech Funding Programs in Canada
REGION: Canadawide
VALUE: Up to 75% to a max $75,000 in grants
DESCRIPTION: Supports global expansion projects including participation in trade shows and government-led trade missions
REGION:Canadawide
VALUE:Access up to 50% of costs to a maximum $500,000 per collaboration
DESCRIPTION:Supports commercialization of technology and/or productivity improvements of businesses
REGION:Canadawide
VALUE:Up to $25,000 in reimbursable funds
DESCRIPTION:CME’s Technology Assessment Program helps companies understand what technologies are best suited for their needs and provides greater certainty on their investments
REGION:Canadawide
VALUE:Access up to 60-80% of costs to a maximum $10M per application
DESCRIPTION:Designed to accelerate the research and development projects of Canadian innovators
REGION:Canadawide
VALUE:Up to $1,000,000 in grant funding per year
DESCRIPTION: Supporting collaborative R&D projects between Canadian businesses and universities
REGION:Canadawide
VALUE:The lesser of 50% of eligible project costs or $1 million
DESCRIPTION: In the Retrofit program you can receive incentives for a variety of energy efficient measures available under three streams: Lighting, HVAC, and Manufacturing and other equipment
REGION: Canadawide
VALUE: Submit a project budget of at least $20M and access up to 50% of eligible costs
DESCRIPTION: Supports projects that drive sustained productivity and economic benefits
REGION: Canadawide
VALUE:Access up to 40% of project costs for an average funding contribution of $3,000,000
DESCRIPTION: Supports cleantech projects that aim to improve water, soil and air quality to reduce the effects of climate change
REGION: Canadawide
VALUE:Up to $150k for proof-ofconcept projects, and up to $1M for prototype development, and may also be awarded a government contract
DESCRIPTION: Helps start-ups and small businesses overcome technology development hurdles so that they can produce globally demanded products and services
REGION: Canadawide
VALUE:Up to $1M for business expansion activities
DESCRIPTION: Supports business growth through business loans with competitive interest rates
REGION: Canadawide
VALUE: Provides up to $30,000 per graduate (up to two) for a period of 6 to 12 months
DESCRIPTION: Designed to assist funding of hiring young Canadian postsecondary graduates
REGION: Ontario
VALUE: Access repayable funding for up to 35% of project costs to a maximum $10M
DESCRIPTION: Helps to offset upfront project costs and helps southern Ontario businesses grow more quickly
REGION: Ontario
VALUE: Access up to 50% of costs to a maximum $500,000 per collaboration
DESCRIPTION: Supports commercialization of technology and/or productivity improvements of businesses
REGION: Ontario
VALUE: Access up to $250,000 in Ontario grants per application
DESCRIPTION: Supports academic spin-off companies, OCI accelerator (CLA/OCIA) graduates, and SmartStart Seed Fund awardees with Ontario government grants to further their early-stage commercialization and support scalable business growth
REGION: Ontario
VALUE: Access up to 25-50% of costs up to $100,000 per application
DESCRIPTION: Supports the adaptation of new technology, new processes or procedures or a change within the company to support innovation or retooling which would lead to the creation of new lines of production
REGION: Ontario
VALUE: Up to 15-50% of expenses to a maximum of $500k-$5M in grant or loan funding depending on stream
DESCRIPTION: Supports companies investing in new facilities and equipment to advance regional priorities
REGION: Canadawide
VALUE: Up to 40% of costs up to $62,500 per application
DESCRIPTION: Supports Canadian SMEs, start-up companies, and academic research institutes in business and commercialization plan development for natural products and technologies
FUNDING PROGRAM | REGION | VALUE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
CanExport SMEs | Canadawide | Up to 50% to a maximum of
$50,000 | Supports global expansion projects including travel to foreign markets, participation in
trade shows, and marketing material. |
Export Development Stream | Canadawide | Up to 75% to a maximum of $30,000 | Supports export development efforts of Canadian companies in creative industries |
Industrial Research
Assistance Program
(IRAP) | Canadawide | Up to 60-80% of
costs to a maximum
$10M per application | Designed to accelerate the research and development pre-commercial
projects of Canadian innovators |
NSERC Alliance | Canadawide | Up to $1,000,000 in
grant funding per year | Supporting collaborative research projects between Canadian
businesses and universities |
Save On Energy | Ontario | Up to 50% of
eligible project costs to a maximum of
$1,000,000 | In the Retrofit program you can receive incentives for a
variety of energy efficient measures available under three
streams: Lighting, HVAC, and Manufacturing and other
equipment |
Strategic Response Fund (SRF) | Canadawide | Up to 50% of costs starting at $10,000,000 | Supports projects that drive sustained productivity and
economic benefits |
Canada Small Business
Financing Program
(CSBFP) | Canadawide | Up to $1,000,000 for business
expansion activities | Supports business growth through business loans with
competitive interest rates |
Youth Employment
Program (IRAP) | Canadawide | Provides up to $30,000
per graduate (up to two)
for a period of 6 to 12
months | Designed to assist funding of hiring young Canadian postsecondary
graduates |
Funding for Businesses in Southern Ontario (formerly Business Scale-up and Productivity or BSP) | Ontario | Access repayable
funding for up to 35% of
project costs to a
maximum $10M | Helps to offset upfront project costs and helps southern
Ontario businesses grow more quickly |
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) | Ontario | Up to 15-50% of
expenses to a maximum
of $500k-$5M in grant or
loan funding depending
on stream | Supports companies investing in new facilities and
equipment to advance regional priorities |
Fast-Track to Financing | Canadawide | Up to 40% of costs to a maximum of $25,000 per application | Supports Canadian SMEs, start-up companies, and academic research institutes in business and commercialization plan development for natural products and innovative technologies |
Ontario Agri-food Research Initiative (OAFRI): Commercialization Stream | Ontario | Up to 100% to a maximum of $150,000 per application | Supports Ontarian SMEs with commercialization and innovation in the agri-food and agri-tech sectors |
Cleantech Funding Support for Canadian Companies
Clean Conduit helps private sector, for-profit cleantech businesses in Canada find public funding for important initiatives, particularly projects that develop innovative or new technologies.
This page provides a description of our Canada cleantech funding services for companies pursuing clean technology, clean energy, clean electricity, renewable energy, energy efficiency, storage, carbon capture and utilization, and other technologies that support innovation.
Clean technology funding helps create benefits for the economy, environmental sustainability, economic development, efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and broader action to address climate change.
Clean Conduit understands the importance of cost savings to Canadian companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, and we help determine the right funding mix across federal grants, provincial support, loans, refundable tax credits, tax credits, incentives, financing, investments, and other cleantech funding opportunities.
Our team works with you to define a project, develop strong project proposals, and then secure and fulfill grants from government programs and other funding sources.
This includes federal and provincial programs, incentives, financing, and investment tax credits that can cover a significant amount of costs, helping companies obtain maximum funding for eligible capital, demonstration, implementation, commercialization, adoption, and development activities.
Whether you have proven market traction or not, we can help cleantech companies and other eligible organizations navigate commercialization and adoption with a mix of grants, tax credits, loans, and venture capital tools available through current programs.
We are your project partners, working with you on market research, lead generation, proposed project coordination, outreach, supply chains, and, where appropriate, as authorized agent to ensure the project yields the best possible outcome while helping reduce project risk and improve access to capital by aligning applications with the right funding sources.
Our project coordination and administration, or fulfillment services fees, can be offset as part of funding awarded.
Some funding programs involve working with post-secondary institutions, rural organizations, and industry partners, and we can assist you in establishing and maintaining those engagements.
We work with all kinds of cleantech businesses, usually small and medium-sized enterprises, to power their revenue growth, expand opportunities, advance innovation, accelerate clean energy projects, and support the transition across industry segments and other sectors through a strong network, practical services, and a broader support ecosystem for clean technology companies.
Clean energy, renewable energy, wind, solar, hydro, clean electricity, storage, energy efficiency, and related investments can contribute to Canada’s energy transition while helping companies develop and deploy the world’s leading clean technologies.
We are open to serving companies, including but not limited to:
Cleantech innovation
GHG emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon capture and storage
Carbon capture and utilization
Low-carbon fuels
Clean air, water, and soil
Renewable energy and energy efficiency, including wind, solar, hydro, storage, and clean electricity.
Clean energy projects that support innovation, implementation, demonstration, commercialization, adoption, and broader sustainability benefits.
Other clean technology, clean tech, and cleantech innovation initiatives where public funding programs exist and can help the business advance, expand, and contribute to Canada’s economy.
Funding: An Insider's Guide Presentation
Contact us to schedule a discovery call:
Clean tech Canada FAQ
What are the different sources of clean tech funding available in Canada?
For the purposes of this question, we will focus on Canadawide funding. Common funding sources include:
- National Research Council of Canada (most commonly under the Industrial Research Assistance Program, or IRAP)
- Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada
- Natural Resources Canada
- Trade Commissioner Services Canada
Are there provincial or territorial-specific funding programs available for clean tech companies?
Yes! Federal funding is not the only form of government funding. Provincial governments also administer funding programs for cleantech companies.
Are there collaborative grants available for cleantech research and development between academia and industry?
Yes. NSERC grants are good examples of these types of funding programs.
Are there funding options available for small- to medium-sized cleantech businesses specifically?
Yes. In fact, nearly all of the funds we get our clients are specifically meant for SMEs.
How does repayment work for different types of clean tech funding (e.g., loans, grants, equity investments)?
Grants are non-repayable. Loans will come with details on how repayment works (interest rate, repayment period, etc.).
What are the reporting and compliance requirements for companies receiving cleantech funding?
Reporting is generally done on a time interval or milestone basis. It’s during reporting that companies can file expenditure claims for reimbursement.
How competitive is it to secure money from clean tech funding programs in Canada?
The level of competition can vary based on the specific type of funding and the stage of development of the project.
What are common reasons cleantech funding applications are rejected?
- Inadequate TRL level required by the agency, or inadequate proof of TRL
- Weak, improperly-constructed business plan
- The funding agency sees too much risk in the project.
- The application did not adequately convey why the project should be funded under the program.
- Financial viability concerns
Are there consulting or advisory services available to help navigate the clean tech funding application process?
Yes, we at Clean Conduit offer them. Contact us to learn more.
How long does the application process typically take, and when will funds be disbursed if successful?
We’ve come across programs that approve or deny applications almost instantly, and others that take months.
Funding disbursement is typically done at regular intervals, such as quarters, and usually after a claim for reimbursement is submitted to the agency.
Are there any upcoming changes to government policies that might affect clean tech funding opportunities?
Yes. Upcoming and recent Canadian policy changes could affect clean-tech funding by expanding refundable Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits, including the new Clean Electricity ITC, while also potentially adding domestic content requirements for some clean-tech and clean-electricity credits. The federal government is also reviewing industrial carbon pricing rules in 2026 to better drive decarbonization and clean-tech investment. Overall, funding is likely to favour projects with eligible capital spending, Canadian supply-chain benefits, strong emissions reductions, and solid compliance documentation.
Funding
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CM&E
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CanExport
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