Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Supports Canadian SMEs in R&D collaboration with foreign partners. Provides up to $15,000 for partnership development activities and up to $600,000 for co-innovation projects with partners in priority markets.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian SME with 500 or fewer employees
- Must have proprietary IP or innovative technology seeking international commercialization
- Must have an identified or existing international partner in a priority market
- Partnership Development Activities stream: up to $15,000 for delegation and partnership costs
- Co-Innovation Projects stream: up to $600,000 for collaborative R&D with foreign partners
- Must be incorporated in Canada
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $15,000 (Partnership Development Activities) or up to $600,000 (Co-Innovation Projects)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Varies by market (check for open streams)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipCIIP uses a two-stage pipeline: attend a Partnership Development Activity (PDA) delegation first to find and vet a foreign partner, then apply for a Co-Innovation CFP project with that partner. Companies that skip straight to a CFP without a prior TCS relationship or PDA participation are at a disadvantage. Your NRC IRAP ITA is your most important ally — establish that relationship early (even before a CFP is announced) since they guide your application and provide credibility to the TCS review committee. Sign up for TCS email alerts to get CFP and PDA announcements immediately — these calls close quickly (often within 4–8 weeks of opening).
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Rejection Pitfalls 9
- No IP ownership — technology is licensed from a third party or IP is not held by the Canadian SME
- Foreign partner in a non-CIIP target market (e.g., most European countries, US, Mexico)
- Project too early-stage — basic or applied research without a clear path to commercialization
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Success Profile
Export-ready Canadian SME (ideally export-active) with commercialized or near-commercialized technology, clear IP ownership, and a pre-identified foreign partner in Brazil, China, India, Israel, South Korea, or Taiwan. Sectors with highest activity: ICT/software, clean technology, advanced manufacturing, medtech, biotech, critical materials, semiconductors. Has previously engaged with TCS Trade Commissioners and/or attended a CIIP PDA. Has an NRC IRAP ITA relationship. Revenue typically $1M+ to demonstrate financial capacity to cover the 50% matching requirement on a $150K–$600K project.
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Evaluation Criteria
CFP applications are assessed on: (1) Innovation merit and technological advancement potential, (2) Quality and complementarity of the foreign partnership, (3) Commercialization plan — market opportunity, go-to-market timeline, revenue projections, (4) Benefits to Canada — jobs, supply chain impact, export potential, (5) Financial capacity to co-fund 50%+ of project costs, (6) NRC IRAP ITA endorsement. PDA applications are assessed on company readiness to engage in international R&D collaboration and alignment with the delegation's sector focus.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 9
Eligible Expenses 8
- Salaries and wages of Canadian project team members directly performing R&D collaboration activities
- Contractor and subcontractor fees for specialized technical work related to the project
- Travel costs for Canadian team members to the partner country (airfare, accommodation, meals, local transport)
- Hosting costs for foreign partner visits to Canada
- IP management costs (patent filing, freedom-to-operate assessments, IP agreements)
- Materials and supplies consumed in the R&D project
- Testing and certification costs for prototype validation
- PDA stream: delegation registration, travel, accommodation, and related networking event costs
Ineligible Expenses 7
- Capital equipment purchases
- Operating expenses not directly related to the collaborative R&D project
- Marketing, sales, and general administrative overhead
- Costs incurred before the project approval date (retroactive expenses)
- Costs exceeding 50% government share of total eligible project costs
- Work performed by or subcontracted to the foreign partner (funded by the foreign agency)
- Entertainment and hospitality expenses beyond approved delegation activities
Intake Periods
Not continuous — CIIP operates through periodic Calls for Proposals (CFPs) and Partnership Development Activities (PDAs) announced for specific target markets. Typically 3-6 CFP/PDA announcements per year across all markets. Each call has a specific deadline (usually 4-8 weeks open). Subscribe to TCS email alerts to receive announcements.
Deadline Notes
Monitor https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/en/our-solutions/support-programs/canadian-international-innovation-program.html and sign up for TCS email alerts. Recent active deadlines: Taiwan CFP closed Feb 19, 2026; India PDA closed Jan 11, 2026; France semiconductor PDA closed Jan 18, 2026.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Non-Canadian businesses or businesses not incorporated in Canada
- Large enterprises with more than 500 full-time equivalent employees
- Government organizations and Crown corporations
- Academic institutions applying as lead (may participate as subcontractors)
- Companies without IP ownership or co-ownership of the technology to be commercialized
- Companies seeking partnerships in non-CIIP target markets
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How CIIP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian International Innovation Pro... | Up to $15,000 | Hard | Reimbursement | Varies by market (check... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Annual intake window.... |
| CanExport Innovation | Up to $37,500 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Between intakes —... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
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