Updated June 2026 · Verified against Investissement Québec guidelines
Grant Provincial Active

ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility Study Grant

Investissement Québec
Maximum Funding
Up to $50,000
Rolling intake until March 31, 2027
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Varies
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility Study Grant provides Up to $50,000 (50% of eligible expenses). Non-repayable grant covering 50% of eligible costs for feasibility studies analyzing investment projects — market analyses, site selection, technology evaluations. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Non-repayable grant covering 50% of eligible costs for feasibility studies analyzing investment projects — market analyses, site selection, technology evaluations. Unlike ESSOR Components 1B/1C, Component 1A has NO minimum revenue threshold, making it accessible to earlier-stage Quebec businesses. Maximum $50,000 per project.

Eligibility Requirements

  • For-profit business registered in Quebec
  • Social economy enterprises with 40%+ autonomous revenue
  • No minimum annual revenue (unlike Components 1B/1C)
  • Not listed on RENA
  • Francization compliance required
  • Must cover 50% of project costs
Provinces
Quebec
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $50,000 (50% of eligible expenses)
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Rolling intake until March 31, 2027

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Mar 31, 2027
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility ...

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How to Win

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

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Insider Tip

Component 1A is the least-known ESSOR entry point — NO minimum revenue (unlike 1B/1C at $2.5M+). The feasibility study report directly supports a Component 2 loan application. Pair with NRC-IRAP for R&D diagnostics. ALL documentation must be in French.

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Success Profile

Quebec business at any revenue stage planning a significant investment. Companies in manufacturing, tech, food processing, logistics. Startups below $2.5M revenue threshold that can't access 1B/1C.

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Complete online pre-qualification form Fill out the 5–15 minute online pre-qualification form on the Investissement Québec portal to confirm preliminary eligibility (for-profit enterprise, Quebec-based, relevant investment project planned).
2 Register with ClicSÉQUR Entreprises Create or log into your ClicSÉQUR Entreprises account, which is required to access the application portal. Download the program guide and application checklist from Investissement Québec.
3 Prepare mandatory documents Gather required French-language documents: signed identification form, detailed project description, financial statements, consultant service offer or quote, and French language compliance certificate.
4 Submit application and receive confirmation Complete and submit the full application (30 min–2 hrs). You will receive an automated confirmation of receipt. Program staff conduct a compliance review within approximately 6 weeks.
5 Advisor assignment and analysis An Investissement Québec advisor is assigned within 15 days of acceptance. The advisor may request additional information or clarifications about the proposed feasibility study.
6 Receive decision and execute project A funding decision and offer letter are issued within approximately 20 days of the analysis phase. Once accepted, the feasibility study must be executed according to the approved scope.
7 Submit final disbursement request Submit a final disbursement request within 90 days of project completion, including all receipts and a copy of the completed feasibility study report.

Required Documents 5

✓ IQ online application (French, via clicSÉQUR)
✓ Project description in French
✓ Third-party consultant quotes
✓ Financial statements
✓ Budget breakdown

Eligible Expenses 5

  • External consulting firm professional fees (engineering, management, market research)
  • Purchase of specialized information and proprietary data resources
  • Travel and accommodation expenses for study activities (within Quebec government standards)
  • Fees for technical feasibility analysis (production or technology viability)
  • Market analysis costs (demand estimation, competitive landscape)

Ineligible Expenses 6

  • Internal staff salaries or overhead of the applicant company
  • Equipment purchases or capital expenditures
  • Costs incurred before the signed grant agreement
  • Taxes (GST/QST)
  • Legal or notarial fees unrelated to the study
  • Activities beyond the feasibility study scope (e.g., implementation costs)

Deadline Notes

Rolling intake under 2025-2027 framework until March 31, 2027 or budget exhaustion. Apply via clicSÉQUR Entreprises portal. ALL documentation must be in French.

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

NRC-IRAP Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) ESSOR Component 2 (Investment Project Grant) Quebec SR&ED Provincial Tax Credit (CRIQ)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Unknown Risk
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How ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility ... Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibi... Up to $50,000 Moderate Varies Rolling intake until...
Canada Economic Development for Quebe... Varies Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Researc... 20-30% tax credit (CRIC) Hard Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Investissement Québec — Project Finan... Varies Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing
PME MTL - Fonds Jeunes Entreprises Up to $25,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility ...

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Can sole proprietors apply for ESSOR Component 1A?
No — must be a for-profit business registered in Quebec or a social economy enterprise with 40%+ autonomous revenue. Sole proprietors must incorporate or partner with an eligible entity first.
Does Component 1A require a minimum revenue?
No — unlike Components 1B and 1C ($2.5M+ revenue required), Component 1A has NO revenue minimum, making it the only ESSOR entry point for earlier-stage Quebec businesses.
What's the realistic feasibility-study payout?
Most studies receive $15,000–$40,000 (50% of $30K–$80K eligible costs). The $50,000 maximum requires $100,000+ in eligible study costs.
Can I stack ESSOR 1A with NRC-IRAP?
Yes — IRAP funds R&D and technical activities while ESSOR 1A funds the feasibility study. Combined, they often cover 70%+ of project-preparation costs non-repayably. ALL ESSOR documentation must be in French.

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