Canadian Export Grants 2026
35 export grants and 44 active programs, verified against source. Start here to see what pays, what is really financing, and which one fits your business.
Canada funds exporting through 52 programs GrantCompass tracks: 35 grants, 44 currently open. The core federal export grants are CanExport SMEs (up to $50,000 per project, 50% back), CanExport Innovation (up to $37,500 for R&D partnerships), CanExport Associations and GAC-Led Delegations, the AgriMarketing Program for agri-food, and Creative Export Canada. Provincial governments run 23 more.
The catch most guides miss: EDC and BDC show up on every "export grants" list, but they provide insurance, guarantees and loans, financing you repay rather than free money. This page separates the two so you know what you are actually applying for, then routes you into the deep guide for each program.
Grants vs financing: know what you are applying for
Not every program labelled an "export grant" gives you money to keep. Here is the honest split of the 52 export programs in the catalog.
Money you keep
Non-repayable contributions that reimburse a share of eligible costs, usually 50%. CanExport SMEs, CanExport Innovation, AgriMarketing, Creative Export Canada and the provincial export programs sit here. You still fund your half up front and claim the rest back.
Money you repay or insure
EDC credit insurance and guarantees, BDC loans, and provincial export financing. These manage risk and cash flow on large contracts, but they are repayable or fee-based. Useful, and often stacked with a grant, but they are not grants.
If you are a first-time or small exporter, start with the grant column. CanExport SMEs is the widest door: 50% back on travel, trade shows and market research, and it accepts businesses that have not exported yet. Bring in EDC or a loan only once you have a signed contract to finance.
The export-funding landscape, counted
How this is computed: of the 697 funding programs in the GrantCompass catalog, 52 carry the export-trade purpose. Of those, 44 have an active status, 6 are between intakes, and 2 are closed. By type: 35 grants, plus 15 financing, loan and in-kind programs, and 2 other. Federal 28, provincial and territorial 23. Counts refreshed against the live catalog on July 18, 2026.
Source: GrantCompass catalog (697 programs), export-trade purpose tag, July 18, 2026.The main federal export programs
Six programs cover most export funding demand. Amounts and statuses below are verified against each program's official page.
CanExport SMEs
Reimburses 50% of international market-development costs like travel, trade shows, market research and business development. Accepts first-time exporters. Median actual award is about $25,000.
CanExport SMEs details ›CanExport Innovation
Funds R&D collaboration and technology commercialization with a single foreign partner. Covers 75% of a budget up to $50,000. Repriced for 2026 to a $37,500 project maximum.
CanExport Innovation details ›EDC (financing, not a grant)
Export Development Canada provides credit insurance, loan guarantees and financing to manage buyer risk and fund large contracts. Repayable or fee-based: valuable, but not free money.
EDC financing details ›AgriMarketing Program
For agri-food and seafood exporters. The Core Stream funds industry associations up to $2,000,000 per year; the SME Stream funds individual businesses up to $100,000 per project at 70%.
AgriMarketing details ›Creative Export Canada
For film, music, publishing and other creative industries selling abroad. The Export-Ready stream funds up to $2,500,000; the Export Development stream covers 75% up to $90,000.
Creative Export details ›CanExport GAC-Led Delegations
Covers 50% of the cost of joining a Government of Canada trade mission, the Team Canada delegations to priority markets. Up to $100,000 per SME for eligible mission expenses.
GAC-Led Delegations details ›The Canadian Technology Accelerator and the Trade Commissioner Service round out the federal support, and both provide in-kind help (advice, connections, workspace) rather than a cash grant.
See which export programs you qualify for
Answer a few quick questions and watch the list narrow to the programs your business can actually get. Free, no account needed.
Export funding questions, answered directly
Short, self-contained answers to the questions exporters actually search for.
How much does CanExport SMEs actually pay?
The headline is "up to $99,999," but that is the annual cap per company. Each individual project is capped at $50,000, and CanExport reimburses 50% of eligible costs, so you spend at least the same amount you receive. In practice the median actual award is around $25,000. Treat CanExport SMEs as matching money for a defined market-entry push (a set of trade shows, market visits or a market-research study) rather than a lump sum. Eligible costs include international travel, trade-show fees, market research, adapting products and marketing for a foreign buyer, and getting regulatory or IP advice for the target market.Source: Global Affairs Canada, CanExport SMEs applicant guide.
Do I have to be exporting already to qualify?
No. CanExport SMEs is open to businesses that have not exported yet, as long as you can show export readiness: a product or service ready for foreign markets, the capacity to fulfil international orders, and a specific target market you are pursuing. What the program will not fund is activity in a market where you already have significant sales, or costs you incurred before your application was approved. This makes CanExport the natural first grant for a company taking its first serious step abroad, which is exactly why it is the widest door in the federal export toolkit.
Which export grant fits agri-food, tech or creative?
Match the program to your sector. Agri-food and seafood exporters use the AgriMarketing Program: the Core Stream funds industry associations up to $2,000,000 a year, and the SME Stream covers 70% of an individual business's costs up to $100,000. Technology companies doing R&D with a foreign partner use CanExport Innovation, and creative businesses in film, music or publishing use Creative Export Canada. Everyone else, meaning most manufacturers, service firms and product companies, starts with CanExport SMEs. If two programs fit, you can often run them for different activities, since they fund different things.
Can I stack export funding with a grant like SR&ED?
Often, yes, as long as no single dollar of cost is claimed twice. A common stack for an exporting technology firm is CanExport SMEs for the market-entry costs, CanExport Innovation for a foreign R&D partnership, and SR&ED for the qualifying research and development done in Canada. Each program funds a distinct expense, so they add up instead of cancelling out. Provincial export grants can layer on top for businesses headquartered in that province. The one rule that trips people up: the combined public funding cannot exceed the total eligible cost of the activity.
Compare the core export programs
The federal programs plus a sample of provincial export grants. Follow a program name for the full profile.
| Program | Type | Up to | Cost-share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanExport SMEs | Grant | $50K / project | 50% | Open |
| CanExport Innovation | Grant | $37.5K / project | 75% | Between intakes |
| CanExport Associations | Grant | $500K / year | 50% | Between intakes |
| GAC-Led Delegations | Grant | $100K / SME | 50% | Open |
| AgriMarketing (Core) | Grant | $2M / year | 50 to 70% | Open |
| Creative Export Canada | Grant | $2.5M | 75% | Open |
| EDC | Financing | Contract-sized | n/a | Financing |
| Alberta Export Expansion | Grant | Provincial | Varies | Open |
| Manitoba Export Development | Grant | Provincial | Varies | Open |
| NB Export Development | Grant | Provincial | Varies | Open |
Between-intakes programs are real and worth preparing for. CanExport Innovation and Associations run in application windows, so build your case now and apply the moment the next intake opens. Provincial amounts vary by program and are confirmed on each profile page.
The export readiness scale
Every export program targets a specific stage of going international. Sequence matters more than which program you pick: apply to the right one at the right stage.
Trade Commissioner Service (free advisory), CanExport SMEs for market research, CIIP Partnership Development Activities (up to $15K).
CanExport SMEs (up to $50K), Canadian Technology Accelerator in-kind support, EDC credit insurance on first receivables.
EDC Export Guarantee (up to US$25M to your lender), CanExport Innovation (up to $37.5K), provincial trade funds.
CIIP co-innovation (up to $600K), EDC direct lending ($1M+), Creative Export Canada (up to $2.5M).
A Stage 1 company should start with the free Trade Commissioner Service and a modest CanExport market-research project, not jump to CIIP co-innovation. Each stage builds the track record and in-market presence the next stage's programs expect. Register with TCS first: trade commissioners connect you to every other program in the ecosystem.
Which programs fit which market
The U.S., the EU and Asia-Pacific line up with different programs, trade agreements and funding pools. Your target market changes your odds.
- CanExport SMEs — only $3.1M of the $31M budget targets U.S. projects (high competition per dollar)
- RTRI — up to $1M for tariff-affected businesses diversifying markets
- Ontario Together Trade Fund — up to $5M per project for Ontario exporters
- BDC Pivot to Grow — $100K–$5M loans for market pivots
- EDC Trade Impact Program — expanded capacity for trade disruption
- CanExport SMEs — the ~$27.9M non-U.S. pool, far less competition
- CIIP — co-innovation with EU partners up to $600K
- Creative Export Canada — up to $2.5M for creative industries
- Canadian Technology Accelerator (London) — mentorship + UK market access
- Trade Commissioner Service — 40+ commissioners across EU capitals
- CanExport SMEs — non-U.S. budget pool, lower competition
- CIIP — dedicated India, Israel, South Korea and Japan streams
- AgriMarketing — 70% cost-share for Indo-Pacific agri-food
- Canadian Technology Accelerator — Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong hubs
- Trade Commissioner Service — 25+ commissioners across the region
Budget split (US$3.1M of $31M to U.S. projects) reflects Global Affairs Canada's CanExport SMEs 2026-27 allocation. Program amounts verified against the GrantCompass catalog, July 2026.
Go deeper on the program you need
This page orients you across the whole export landscape. When you have picked a direction, these guides take you the rest of the way.
The CanExport guide
All four CanExport streams compared, a decision framework, a worked $87K stacking example, and the real rejection reasons. Read this once you know CanExport is your route.
Not export-ready yet?R&D funding first
If your product still needs development, start with IRAP and SR&ED, then return to CanExport once you have something to sell abroad. CanExport Innovation is the exception: it funds foreign R&D partnerships now.
Adjacent moveBusiness expansion funding
Exporting is one growth move. If you are also opening a location, buying equipment or scaling headcount, this covers grants, contributions and honest debt.
How to apply for export grants
Five steps that apply to almost every federal export program
Confirm export readiness
You need a product or service ready for foreign markets and the capacity to fulfil international orders. Most programs want to see that you can execute, not just that you have an idea.
Pick a specific target market
Name the country or region and show why there is demand. Strong applications point to a real market opportunity, not a general wish to "go international."
Match the program to your activity
CanExport SMEs for general market entry, CanExport Innovation for a foreign R&D partnership, AgriMarketing for food, Creative Export for media. Use the map above if you are unsure.
Budget for your half
Most grants reimburse 50% of eligible costs, so plan to fund the other half up front and claim it back. Line up the cash before you commit to trade shows or travel.
Apply through the right portal
CanExport programs run through Global Affairs Canada. Your regional Trade Commissioner Service office can review your plan first: free advice that improves your odds. Apply, then claim expenses as you go.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about export grants in Canada
What export grants are available in Canada?
GrantCompass tracks 52 export-focused funding programs, of which 35 are grants and 44 are currently accepting applications. The core federal export grants are CanExport SMEs (up to $50,000 per project), CanExport Innovation (up to $37,500 per project for R&D partnerships), CanExport Associations and GAC-Led Delegations, the AgriMarketing Program for agri-food, and Creative Export Canada. Provincial export grants add another 23 programs. EDC and BDC provide financing, which is repayable and not a grant.
How much does CanExport SMEs actually pay?
CanExport SMEs reimburses 50% of eligible international market-development costs, up to $50,000 per project and $99,999 per company per fiscal year. The median actual award is around $25,000, so most businesses receive far less than the headline cap. Eligible costs include travel, trade shows, market research and adapting products for foreign markets.
Is EDC financing a grant?
No. Export Development Canada provides credit insurance, loan guarantees and financing, all of which are repayable or fee-based rather than free money. EDC is valuable for managing buyer risk and financing large contracts, but it belongs in the financing column, not the grants column. Of the 52 export programs GrantCompass tracks, 15 are financing, loans or in-kind support rather than grants.
Who qualifies for export grants?
Most federal export grants require a Canadian-incorporated business with export-ready products or services, a target market, and the ability to cover the other 50% of costs. CanExport SMEs accepts first-time exporters if they show export readiness and market potential. Agri-food and creative programs have their own sector rules. Provincial programs usually require your head office in that province.
What expenses do export grants cover?
Export grants typically cover international travel, trade-show participation, market research, product and packaging adaptation, marketing materials, website localization, business-development missions, and partnership development. They generally do not cover domestic operating costs, capital equipment, or activities already underway before approval.
Sources and references
- Global Affairs Canada, CanExport SMEs: funding levels, eligible costs and applicant guide.
- Global Affairs Canada, CanExport Innovation and CanExport Associations program pages: 2026 funding levels and intake status.
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, AgriMarketing Program: Core and SME stream funding.
- Canadian Heritage, Creative Export Canada: Export-Ready and Export Development streams.
- Export Development Canada: export credit insurance, guarantees and financing products (repayable or fee-based).
- GrantCompass catalog: 697 funding programs, export-trade purpose subset, verified July 18, 2026.
Program amounts and statuses reflect official sources as of the update date below. Always confirm current intake dates on the program's own page before applying.
Updated July 19, 2026. Program counts computed from the live GrantCompass catalog.
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