Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Reimburses Alberta SMEs up to $15,000 per year for travel costs to attend international trade shows and missions, covering per diems of $400/day (first traveler) and event registration up to $1,000. Targets export diversification into new markets where the company has minimal existing sales.
Eligibility Requirements
- Incorporated legal entity with permanent physical presence in Alberta for at least 1 year
- For-profit SMEs: annual gross sales CAD $250,000–$25,000,000
- Fewer than 500 FTE employees
- Traveling to a formal international outbound trade event
- Entering a new market (country or US state with <$150K sales or <15% of total sales)
- Application submitted within 2 months of event start date
- Cannot seek more than 75% government funding for total trip
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $15,000 per organization per fiscal year
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Continuous intake (until $2M annual budget exhausted)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win AEEP — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for AEEP? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipApply within 2 months of the trade event — late applications are rejected. Multiple applications per year are allowed up to the $15K cap. The per diem structure ($400/day first traveler, $200/day second) means longer events yield higher reimbursements. Combine with federal CanExport SME ($50K/year) to cover different export activities. The program explicitly requires 'new markets' — you must demonstrate the target country/US state is not an existing major market.
Success Profile
Alberta manufacturers, agri-food exporters, technology companies, and energy services firms attending international trade shows for the first time in new markets. Companies in the $1M-$15M annual sales range diversifying beyond the US.
Evaluation Criteria
Non-competitive — applications assessed against eligibility criteria only. Must demonstrate formal trade event attendance and new market entry objective.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 5
- Per diem travel allowances ($400/day first traveler, $200/day second)
- Event registration fees (up to $1,000 per event)
- Economy or premium economy airfare
- Ground transportation to event
- Accommodation (reasonable rates)
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Meals and entertainment
- Marketing materials development
- Booth construction or design
- Domestic (Canadian) events
- Virtual events
Intake Periods
Year-round continuous intake until $2M budget exhausted. Fiscal year: April 1 – March 31.
Deadline Notes
Applications accepted year-round on a first-come, first-served basis until the $2M annual budget is exhausted. Fiscal year runs April 1 – March 31. Submit within 2 months of the trade event. As of early 2026, approximately $920K remained for FY 2025-26.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Companies with annual sales below $250,000 or above $25,000,000
- Companies with 500+ FTE employees
- Companies not incorporated in Alberta
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
None RiskReimbursement model — funds only flow after verified expenses. No clawback risk.
How AEEP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP) | Up to $15,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | Continuous intake (until... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next deadline: May 29,... |
| Trade Commissioner Service – Export S... | Advisory services (non-financial) | Easy | Not Applicable | Ongoing |
| Alberta Innovates Voucher Program | Up to $100,000 | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Continuous intake |
| Alberta Innovation Employment Grant | up to $4M | Hard | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
Related Programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about AEEP