Updated September 2026 · Verified against Natural Resources Canada guidelines
Reimbursement
Grant Federal Active

Energy Innovation Program

Natural Resources Canada
Maximum Funding
$3M-$7M per project (CCUS FEED call); $1M-$10M per project...
Continuous intake on the two open calls (CCUS FEED, and Innovation Ecosystem ...
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
75%
Energy Innovation Program provides up to $3M-$7M per project (CCUS FEED call); $1M-$10M per project (Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call). Other calls set their own ranges. Supports research, development and demonstration of clean energy technologies (including renewable, smart grid, energy efficiency, and other clean energy solutions). The program covers up to 75% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Approval odds: ~10% (GrantCompass analysis)
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

159 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 466 awards since 2018. Typical award: $1.54M. Half of all awards fall between $750K and $3.62M. The advertised maximum is $10M — most awards land closer to $1.54M. 47% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top provinces: Ontario 32% · Alberta 26% · British Columbia 14%. Covers: NRCan Energy Innovation Program contributions (all recipients: for-profit firms, universities, Indigenous govts, non-profits). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical Energy Innovation Program award is $1.54M — the median of 466 awards since 2018, even though the program advertises up to $10M. In 2025, 159 businesses were funded.

159funded in 2025
$1.54Mtypical award
466awards since 2018
47%for-profit

Most awards fall between $750K and $3.62M, with a typical (median) award of $1.54M. The program funds up to $10M for the largest projects — about 6.5 times the typical award.

Where awards land
typical $1.54M $750K $3.62M
up to $10M

Most awards land between $750K and $3.62M, with a typical award of $1.54M — and this program funds up to $10M for the largest projects.

Top provinces ON 32%AB 26%BC 14%
159 companies received this grant in 2025. See the 40 most recent — and how much each received. Included in Premium ↓

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

Supports research, development and demonstration of clean energy technologies (including renewable, smart grid, energy efficiency, and other clean energy solutions).

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a legal entity incorporated or registered in Canada: for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, utilities, governments and Indigenous organizations can apply, and Canadian academic institutions can apply to the Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call (not the CCUS FEED call)
  • Project must involve research, development, or demonstration of clean energy technologies
  • Eligible technology areas include renewable energy, smart grid, energy efficiency, carbon capture, utilization and storage (the open CCUS FEED call) and other clean energy solutions
  • Industry-led projects preferred; academic applicants typically must partner with industry
  • Must contribute cost-share alongside the federal contribution. On the CCUS FEED call, the applicant's cash contribution must be at least equal to the amount requested from the Program
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Clean Technology Renewable Energy Innovation
Business Stage
Startup Growth

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
$3M-$7M per project (CCUS FEED call); $1M-$10M per project (Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call). Other calls set their own ranges.
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 75% of eligible costs
Deadline
Continuous intake on the two open calls (CCUS FEED, and Innovation Ecosystem Enablers: testing facilities) until funding is allocated. No fixed closing date.

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
High
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Approval Rate
~10%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
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How to Win

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

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Insider Tip

EIP is an umbrella of calls, not a single program — monitor the main page and subscribe to NRCan notifications to catch new calls early.

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Rejection Pitfalls 10

  • Project does not align with the specific call's technology focus areas or TRL requirements
+9 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Energy Innovation Program

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Monitor NRCan for open calls and register for updates Subscribe to the NRCan EIP email list at natural-resources.canada.ca/funding-partnerships/energy-innovation-program to receive notification when a new call for proposals opens. Application processes vary by call — each call has specific technology focus areas, timelines, and eligibility criteria.

Required Documents 15

✓ Integro Client Profile (NRCan applicant portal account)
✓ Expression of Interest (EOI) with applicant and project details

Eligible Expenses 9

Ineligible Expenses 7

Deadline Notes

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

SR&ED Tax Credit SREPs (Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways) IRAP (NRC-IRAP) SDTC / Canada Growth Fund Provincial Clean Energy Programs NSERC Discovery/Alliance Grants
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

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How Energy Innovation Program Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Energy Innovation Program $3M-$7M Hard Reimbursement Continuous intake on the...
SREPs Indigenous-Led Clean Energy Stream Up to $25 million Hard Varies Between intakes -...
NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program $100,000–$500,000 Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing
Canada Growth Fund $25,000,000 to $200,000,000+ Hard Equity Ongoing
Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... Minimum $10 million contribution Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Energy Innovation Program

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Can sole proprietors apply?
No. Applicants must be a legal entity (a company, not-for-profit, utility, government body, Indigenous organization or, on some calls, an academic institution). Sole proprietors must register as a business first. NRCan requires formal legal structure for all applicants.
What's the typical award amount?
It depends on the call. The open CCUS FEED call funds $3M to $7M per project and the open Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call funds $1M to $10M, each up to 50% of eligible project cost (more for Indigenous applicants). Past calls were smaller, for example AI for Energy at $500K to $1.5M.
When are decisions made?
The two open calls take applications on a rolling basis with no fixed closing date, and the time your submission arrives can affect the order of review. Each call runs two phases: an Expression of Interest, then a Full Project Proposal by invitation. Dated calls set strict EOI deadlines.
Is matching funding required?
Yes — most calls require 25-50%+ cost share from industry partners. Strongest applications have 2.5:1 leverage (e.g., $1M federal + $2.5M industry).
Why do applications fail?
Most fail due to misalignment with call-specific tech focus areas, insufficient co-funding, or weak GHG reduction quantification. TRL mismatch (too early/late for call) is also common.

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