Updated August 2026 · Verified against Global Affairs Canada guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement Est. 2016
Grant Federal Upcoming

CanExport Innovation

Global Affairs Canada
Maximum Funding
Up to $37,500
Upcoming — the application portal opens at 12 PM EST on September 1, 2026 and...
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
75%
CanExport Innovation provides Up to $37,500 per project (75% of a $50,000 maximum budget; up to $100,000 per organization within any 12-month period). Helps Canadian innovators (early-stage R&D collaborations) explore international partnerships by funding travel and meeting costs to secure foreign partnerships for technology commercialization. The program covers up to 75% of eligible costs. Upcoming — the application portal opens at 12 PM EST on September 1, 2026 and remains open for 24 hours..
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

131 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 669 awards since 2019. Typical award: $11.8K. Half of all awards fall between $6.1K and $19.8K. The advertised maximum is $37.5K — most awards land closer to $11.8K. 89% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top sectors among classified recipients: Custom computer programming, R&D in natural sciences, R&D services. Top provinces: Ontario 41% · British Columbia 23% · Quebec 16%. Covers: CanExport Innovation contributions — direct-to-recipient R&D export grants; recipients are for-profit businesses and some non-profits. Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical CanExport Innovation award is $11.8K — the median of 669 awards since 2019, even though the program advertises up to $37.5K. In 2025, 131 businesses were funded; 89% were for-profit companies.

131funded in 2025
$11.8Ktypical award
669awards since 2019
89%for-profit

Most awards fall between $6.1K and $19.8K, with a typical (median) award of $11.8K. The program funds up to $37.5K for the largest projects — about 3.2 times the typical award.

Where awards land
typical $11.8K $6.1K $19.8K
up to $37.5K

Most awards land between $6.1K and $19.8K, with a typical award of $11.8K — and this program funds up to $37.5K for the largest projects.

Top sectors Custom computer programmingR&D in natural sciencesR&D services(of classified recipients)
Top provinces ON 41%BC 23%QC 16%
131 companies received this grant in 2025. See the 40 most recent — and how much each received. Get Premium — $39/mo
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Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Helps Canadian innovators (early-stage R&D collaborations) explore international partnerships by funding travel and meeting costs to secure foreign partnerships for technology commercialization.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Canadian SME or Canadian researcher/research organization pursuing international R&D partnerships
  • Has a working prototype or technology at TRL 4 or above that applicant owns or co-owns
  • Targeting a specific foreign partner or collaboration opportunity for technology commercialization
  • Not an accelerator, incubator, charity, not-for-profit, or government department
  • Project activities involve travel and meetings to secure an international R&D or commercialization partnership
  • Technology is in an eligible sector (innovation, technology, engineering, or clean technology)
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Innovation Technology Engineering Clean Technology
Business Stage
Growth Expansion Startup

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $37,500 per project (75% of a $50,000 maximum budget; up to $100,000 per organization within any 12-month period)
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 75% of eligible costs
Deadline
Upcoming — the application portal opens at 12 PM EST on September 1, 2026 and remains open for 24 hours.

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Upcoming
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win CanExport Innovation

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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

CanExport Innovation's biggest advantage over CanExport SMEs is the 75% cost-share (vs.

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Rejection Pitfalls 13

  • No written proof of foreign partner interest (letter/email required confirming willingness to meet)
+12 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Consult the Trade Commissioner Service Contact your local Trade Commissioner in the target country for introductions and market intelligence. TCS engagement is valued by assessors.

Required Documents 10

✓ CRA business number
✓ Organization registration or incorporation documents

Eligible Expenses 10

Ineligible Expenses 6

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

NRC IRAP (domestic R&D funding SR&ED tax credit (R&D tax credits on domestic R&D expenditures CanExport SMEs (up to $50K for export market development Canadian Technology Accelerators (CTA Export Development Canada (EDC Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC Provincial innovation programs
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk
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How CanExport Innovation Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
CanExport Innovation Up to $37,500 Moderate Reimbursement Upcoming — the...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Applications accepted...
Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) Varies (in-kind support) Moderate In Kind Ongoing
Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... Minimum $10 million contribution Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...
Innovative Solutions Canada up to $150,000 Hard Milestone-Based Challenge-specific — new...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CanExport Innovation

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Can sole proprietors apply?
No — applicants must be incorporated Canadian SMEs or research organizations. Sole proprietors, charities, or government entities are ineligible.
What's the typical award amount?
$25,000-$37,500 per project. First-time applicants with one partner and trip typically receive $11,250-$22,500 (75% of $15K-$30K budget).
How long does approval take?
Applications are processed within 60 business days if submitted before intake closes. Intakes can close within hours if demand is high — monitor TCS page closely.
Why do applications fail?
No written proof of foreign partner interest (must be a named person at a foreign org confirming willingness to meet), or R&D work already started with partner.
Can I stack with other programs?
Yes — CanExport Innovation can stack with IRAP, SR&ED, CanExport SMEs, and CTA. Provincial programs count toward the 75% limit.

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