Grant
Federal
Active
Clean Agri-Tech Accelerator (CATA) Program
Bioenterprise Canada (delivered under AAFC Agricultural Clean Technology Program Research and Innovation Stream – Accelerator)
Maximum Funding
Up to $200,000
Letters of Intent due August 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT; intake opened June 25,...
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
Clean Agri-Tech Accelerator (CATA) Program provides Up to $200,000 in matching contributions per eligible project (applicant must provide a 50% match of project costs); non-repayable. The Clean Agri-Tech Accelerator provides non-repayable, project-based funding of up to $200,000 per project to Canadian agri-food and agri-tech SMEs advancing pre-market clean technologies from TRL 6–8 toward TRL 7–9. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Letters of Intent due August 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT; intake opened June 25, 2026; award notifications by October 30, 2026.
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Eligibility & Details
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Program Description
The Clean Agri-Tech Accelerator provides non-repayable, project-based funding of up to $200,000 per project to Canadian agri-food and agri-tech SMEs advancing pre-market clean technologies from TRL 6–8 toward TRL 7–9. Applicants must be incorporated in Canada, provide a 50% cost match, secure an eligible project partner agreement, and complete a screening life cycle assessment.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian for-profit or not-for-profit SME
- Operating in agri-food or agri-tech
- Advancing pre-market clean technologies from TRL 6-8 toward TRL 7-9
- Incorporated and located in Canada
- Generally $200,000-$5,000,000 in annual revenue unless not-for-profit — Bioenterprise invites applicants outside this band to email for consideration
- Must provide 50% project-cost match
- Must secure a Project Partner Agreement
- Must complete a screening Life Cycle Assessment
- The clean technology must be owned by the applicant, pre-commercialization and not currently available on the market
- The clean technology must align with at least one priority area: methane-reducing technologies, low-carbon energy/fuel systems, emissions quantification, technologies that reduce emissions from fertilizer use, or agriculture waste reduction or reuse
- The Eligible Project Partner must be a for-profit private-sector enterprise or not-for-profit corporation, incorporated and located in Canada, operating in agri-food or agri-tech, and able to report on project performance and outcomes
- The Project Milestone Plan must achieve technology validation, demonstration and advancement within 18 months, beginning no earlier than July 15, 2026 and ending no later than January 14, 2028
- All project activities must be carried out in Canada, and the project must be auditable with complete documentation
- Applicants must declare other government sources of funds received within the 12 months prior to the LOI submission deadline
- Stacking of government funding programs for the same eligible project is not permitted
- In-kind contributions are not eligible and cannot count toward the 50% match
- An applicant may submit up to two Letters of Intent if multiple unique technologies exist, but only one project per applicant will be approved; a project partner may appear in up to two LOIs with only one approved
- Approved applicants must pay a Program Service Fee of $8,000 for portal access and program services, which is itself an ineligible project cost
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $200,000 in matching contributions per eligible project (applicant must provide a 50% match of project costs); non-repayable
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Letters of Intent due August 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT; intake opened June 25, 2026; award notifications by October 30, 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
High
Deadline
Aug 19, 2026
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win CATA
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipSubmit your Letter of Intent before the August 19, 2026 deadline and line up your eligible project partner and screening life cycle assessment early, since both are required to advance.
Evaluation Criteria
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
6 docs
Application Steps
1
Check the technology stage and priority area The clean technology must be owned by you, pre-commercialization at TRL 6-8 and aiming for TRL 7-9 — technologies currently available on the market are ineligible. It must also align with at least one priority area: technologies that reduce methane emissions, low-carbon energy/fuel systems, emissions quantification, technologies that reduce emissions from fertilizer use, or agriculture waste reduction or reuse.
Required Documents 6
✓ Letter of Intent
✓ Proof of Canadian incorporation
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 17
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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Combined Funding Potential
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Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How CATA Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Agri-Tech Accelerator (CATA) Pr... | Up to $200,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Letters of Intent due... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CATA
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How much can I actually get, and is there a minimum?
CATA covers up to 50% of eligible project costs. The maximum contribution of $200,000 applies to projects with eligible project costs of $400,000 or greater; the minimum contribution is $100,000, on projects with minimum eligible project costs of $200,000. The other 50% must be your matched cash — in-kind contributions are not eligible.
Are there costs the funding won't cover that I should budget for?
Yes. Applicants with approved projects enter a Contribution Agreement and must pay a Program Service Fee of $8,000 for portal access and program services, and that fee is itself listed as an ineligible project cost. Commercialization costs, patents and patent fees, basic R&D, and government regulatory or certification fees are also ineligible.
Do I need a partner to apply?
Yes. Funding is only available for projects involving an Eligible Applicant and an Eligible Project Partner, and only projects with a partner can submit a Letter of Intent. You must develop and submit a legally binding Project Partner Agreement, signed by both parties with an effective date, as part of the LOI package.
Can I combine CATA with another government program?
No. Bioenterprise states that stacking of government funding programs for the same eligible project is not permitted. You must declare other government sources of funds received in the 12 months before the LOI deadline, and costs already reimbursed under an existing federal, provincial or territorial program are ineligible.
Is my technology at the right stage?
It must be pre-commercialization at a Technology Readiness Level of 6 to 8, looking to advance to TRL 7 to 9, and owned by you. Technologies currently available on the market are ineligible. It must also align with at least one priority area: methane reduction, low-carbon energy or fuel systems, emissions quantification, reducing emissions from fertilizer use, or agriculture waste reduction or reuse.
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Full Playbook: CATA
7 steps · 6 docs · reviewer insights