Updated July 2026 · Verified against BioTalent Canada guidelines
Grant Federal Active

BioTalent Canada — Career Starter Program

BioTalent Canada
Maximum Funding
60% of eligible costs
Program timeline: September 9, 2024 – March 31, 2028
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Varies
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Co-Funding
Varies
BioTalent Canada — Career Starter Program provides up to 60% of a youth's salary up to a maximum of $20,000, including wrap-around services. Wage subsidy providing bio-economy employers with 60% of a barriered youth's salary up to a maximum of $20,000 (inclusive of wrap-around services), for youth aged 15-30 facing barriers to employment. Program timeline: September 9, 2024 – March 31, 2028.
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Program Description

Wage subsidy providing bio-economy employers with 60% of a barriered youth's salary up to a maximum of $20,000 (inclusive of wrap-around services), for youth aged 15-30 facing barriers to employment. Funded in part by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Bio-economy employers
  • Hiring youth aged 15–30
  • Youth must face barriers to employment
  • Prioritizes underrepresented groups including Indigenous youth, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants or refugees, racialized Canadians, and 2SLGBTQI+ youth
  • Also prioritizes youth at risk of homelessness, low-income youth, and youth in rural or remote areas
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
60% of a youth's salary up to a maximum of $20,000, including wrap-around services
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Deadline
Program timeline: September 9, 2024 – March 31, 2028

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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Insider Tip

The program targets 60% representation from underrepresented groups, so recruiting from those groups strengthens your application. BioTalent supplies the case manager and IDEA resources, but the $20,000 cap is inclusive of wrap-around services — budget accordingly.

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Required Documents 4

Proof of bio-economy employer status
Youth employment offer
Documentation of barriers or underrepresented group status
Wrap-around service plan

Deadline Notes

Program timeline: September 9, 2024 – March 31, 2028

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Funding Stack Strategy

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How BioTalent Canada — Career Starter Program Compares

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