Ottawa (ON) Research Centre | Funding Programs

Incentive Programs

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency — Atlantic Innovation Fund:
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Atlantic Innovation Fund is an initiative through which the Government of Canada is making strategic investments aimed at increasing Atlantic Canada’s innovation capacity.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency — Business Development Program:
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Business Development Program is designed to help you set up, expand or modernize your business. Focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises, the program offers access to capital in the form of interest-free, unsecured, repayable contributions.

Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement Corporation — West:
The Environmental Technology Advancement Corporation — WEST is a private sector, not-for-profit corporation committed to helping small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in the development and commercialization of new environmental technologies.

Canadian Foundation for Innovation:
The Canada Foundation for Innovation is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. Its mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians. Since its creation in 1997, it has committed more than $3.8 billion in support of 5,746 projects at 128 research institutions in 64 municipalities across Canada.

Centre of Excellence for Energy — Ontario Centres of Excellence:
The Centre of Excellence for Energy works within the Ontario Centres of Excellence’s (OCE) unique model of economic development. In that model, OCE moves laboratory discoveries quickly into the marketplace by acting as the province's primary bridge between Ontario's academic researchers and Ontario's private sector companies.

Directory of Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Programs:
Directory of Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Programs in Canada provides information on the efficiency and alternative energy programs of the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, major electric and gas utilities and companies and major municipalities in Canada.

ecoENERGY Technology Initiative:
The ecoENERGY Technology Initiative funds research, development and demonstration to support the development of the next-generation clean-energy technologies. These technologies include increasing clean energy supply, reducing energy waste, and reducing pollution from conventional energy sources. Examples include technologies for clean-coal, carbon sequestration, and for reducing oil sands' environmental impact, and new end-use technologies such as hydrogen and fuel cells, and energy efficient buildings and industry. The Initiative will also develop technologies for producing and using renewable energy from clean sources such as wind, solar, tidal, and biomass.

ecoENERGY for Renewable Power
ecoENERGY for Renewable Power will invest $1.48 billion to increase Canada's supply of clean electricity from renewable sources such as wind, biomass, low-impact hydro, geothermal, solar photovoltaic and ocean energy. It will encourage the production of 14.3 terrawatt hours of new electricity from renewable energy sources, enough electricity to power about one million homes.

ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat
The ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program runs from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011. Incentives are offered to the industrial/commercial/institutional sector to install active energy-efficient solar air and/or water heating systems. Eligible projects must be completed and commissioned within nine (9) months of the signing of a contribution agreement with NRCan. Preliminary estimates suggest that, by 2011, the program will have supported installations in about 700 buildings.

ecoENERGY Retrofit
Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) ecoENERGY Retrofit program provides financial support to homeowners, small and medium-sized businesses, public institutions and industrial facilities to help them implement energy saving projects that reduce energy-related greenhouse gases and air pollution, thereby contributing to a cleaner environment for all Canadians.

Environment Canada's - Incentives and Rebates
Get information on grants, rebates, discounts and other incentives available to help you use less energy, switch to renewable energy and produce less waste at home and on the road.

Green Municipal Fund:
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund provides loans and grants, builds capacity, and shares knowledge to support municipal governments and their partners in developing communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. It is the only national fund that specifically addresses the needs of municipal governments and their partners. Its range of financial solutions, resources, expertise and services supports infrastructure initiatives that improve the quality of our air, water and soil and reduce greenhouse gases. It supports projects from the early stages of project design unto and including the physical implementation of capital projects.

National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program:
The National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program is designed to help Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises meet the technological challenges they face in delivering new products, processes or services. Their goal is to enhance your innovation capacity, so that you may turn good ideas into profitable business lines as quickly as possible.

Ontario Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement:
The Ontario Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement is a private, not-for-profit corporation that supports the market acceptance of innovative technologies and environmentally sustainable solutions through stakeholders, consultations and the provisions of business and technical services.

Ontario Ministry of Revenue — Refunds and Rebate for Sales Tax:
The Ministry of Ontario provides incentives for various energy system installations including the Solar Energy Systems Rebate and the Wind, Micro Hydro-Electric and Geothermal Energy Systems Rebate for retail sales tax paid on installed energy systems into residential premises.

Ontario Research Commercialization Program:
The Ontario Research Commercialization Program (ORCP) is part of the Ontario government's comprehensive strategy to help business innovators take their products to market. ORCP helps Ontario's world-class researchers and entrepreneurs combine their skills, expertise and resources to help commercialize their innovations, creating high-value jobs and a better quality of life for Ontarians. A total of $31.4 million has been committed to public research institutions and not-for-profit organizations through this program to help them identify promising research and shape the ideas into innovative products or services. This includes funding for medical discoveries and devices, and environmental and energy-related technologies.

Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program:
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program is a federal tax incentive program, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency that encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. It is the largest single source of federal government support for industrial R&D. The SR&ED program gives claimants cash refunds and/or tax credits for their expenditures on eligible R&D work done in Canada.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada:
Sustainable Development Technology Canada is a not-for-profit foundation created by the Government of Canada that finances and supports the development and demonstration of clean technologies. These technologies address issues of clean air, greenhouse gases, clean water, and clean soil to deliver environmental, economic and health benefits to Canadians.

Other Financing Tools:

Canada Business — Services for Entrepreneurs:

Canada Business is a Government of Canada information service for businesses and start-up entrepreneurs in Canada. It reduces the complexity and burden of dealing with various levels of government by serving as a single point of access for federal/provincial and territorial government services, programs and regulatory requirements for business. The Website provides sections on starting a business, financing, taxes, human resources, exporting, importing, research and statistics, government contracts and tenders, innovation and regulations.

Clean Energy Portal:
The Clean Energy Portal actively promotes Canadian companies to foreign businesses, investors, and governments through the portal, at trade shows, and in brochures and presentations. The portal uses Internet services and information technology advancements to enhance communication links and activity between individuals, institutes, industry, and government stakeholders, which accelerates and promotes the commercialization and technology transfer of climate and clean energy-related technologies.

EcoAction Community Funding Program — National Green Source Funding Guide:
The Green Source is a resource guide prepared by Environment Canada that will help you locate numerous sources of funding for environmental projects. It includes information on public and private sector programs and organizations that provide financial assistance, labour costs or in-kind donations to community groups.

Industry Canada:
Industry Canada provides information for innovators and small and medium-sized enterprises on finding sources of funding and financial assistance, as well as helpful tools and guides to manage financing.

Provincial Government Programs

British Columbia Energy Plan
Get links to various energy efficiency incentives offered by the province of British Columbia.

Manitoba — Power Smart Savings
Rebates, loans and ways to save with energy efficient practices offered by Manitoba Hydro.

Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
Find out about various grants and incentives to improve energy efficiency.

New Brunswick — Energy Efficiency Programs
Efficiency NB’s energy efficiency programs offer up funding and advice on energy efficiency for businesses, households and communities.

Nova Scotia Department of Energy —Initiatives
Get information on the Nova Scotia provincial government's initiatives for the mitigation of climate change.

Prince Edward Island —Energy Efficiency
Get information on energy efficiency initiatives for the province of PEI.

Quebec Hydro — Energy Efficiency
Get information on various incentives for energy efficiency offered by Hydro Québec.