Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy (ATIGS)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Federal-provincial partnership delivering subsidized export development services to Atlantic businesses. Launch Export: 8-month cohort ($15K value for $250 fee, 8 spots/province). MEDP: tailored European/Indo-Pacific market entry via consultants ($1,250-$2,500 fee). Businesses access expert coaching at a fraction of market cost.
Eligibility Requirements
- Registered business in Atlantic Canada
- SME (<500 employees)
- Exportable product or service
- For MEDP: demonstrated revenue growth; senior management commitment
- For Launch Export: desire to expand sales outside Atlantic Canada
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- ~$15,000 in subsidized services (Launch Export); tailored market entry (MEDP)
- Type
- Program
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing — Launch Export annual cohorts (fall); MEDP continuous
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win ATIGS — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 4-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 8-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for ATIGS? 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 TipLaunch Export is one of Atlantic Canada's best-value programs — 8 months of training, coaching, and a trade mission for $250. Apply in the first 2-3 weeks of intake. For MEDP, a warm introduction from ACOA or GAC significantly improves acceptance.
Success Profile
Product-based Atlantic SME with 5-100 employees and domestic sales track record, targeting international markets. Launch Export: export-curious but not yet active. MEDP: already exporting, scaling into Europe/Indo-Pacific.
Evaluation Criteria
Launch Export: export readiness (product/service developed), market opportunity alignment, commitment to full 7-month virtual participation. MEDP: exportable product in an ATIGS strategic sector (Aerospace, Biosciences, Energy, Food & Beverage, ICT, Mining, Ocean Technologies, Seafood), proven revenue growth, financial capacity to act on market intelligence, senior management commitment.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 4
Eligible Expenses 7
- Export readiness training and coaching sessions (Launch Export — fully subsidized)
- Digital marketing asset creation up to $1,000 + HST per company (Launch Export)
- Trade mission travel reimbursement up to $2,100 CAD for air and accommodations (Launch Export)
- In-market OCO consultant fees — fully subsidized above the participation fee (MEDP)
- Market intelligence and sector analysis in European/Indo-Pacific markets (MEDP)
- Buyer introductions and business matching (MEDP)
- Trade mission and business delegation coordination (MEDP)
Ineligible Expenses 4
- Domestic market development activities
- Products or services not ready for export
- Staff time that cannot be committed to full program participation
- General marketing not tied to export objectives
Intake Periods
Launch Export: annual cohort, intake typically opens September-October. 2025-26 cohort closed. MEDP: continuous intake until annual capacity reached; April-June recommended.
Deadline Notes
Launch Export: 8 spots/province, apply in fall. MEDP: continuous until capacity reached — contact provincial trade office early (April-June). $20M program over 2022-2027.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Businesses with 500+ employees
- Businesses without a developed product/service ready for export
- Businesses not registered and headquartered in Atlantic Canada (NS, NB, PE, NL)
- Real estate developers (MEDP)
- Retailers, franchises, distributors, and agents (MEDP)
- Creative industries companies (MEDP)
- Publicly funded organizations — universities, hospitals, crown corporations (MEDP)
- Games of chance operations, bingo halls, and small-scale gaming operators (MEDP)
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskVery low. ATIGS delivers subsidized services, not cash grants. Travel reimbursement (up to $2,100) is the only cash equivalent and is paid against receipts post-activity. No repayment provisions in standard terms. Non-participation after acceptance may result in ineligibility for future cohorts.
How ATIGS Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth ... | ~$15,000 in subsidized services | Easy | In Kind | Ongoing — Launch Export... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next deadline: May 29,... |
| Export Development Canada (EDC) Finan... | Varies | Easy | Equity | Ongoing |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about ATIGS