Grant
Provincial
Active
ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility Study Grant
Investissement Québec
Maximum Funding
Up to $50,000
Rolling intake until March 31, 2027
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
- Must carry on — or commit to carry on — an activity in Quebec no later than 12 months after project authorization
- Social economy enterprises within the meaning of the Loi sur l'économie sociale (no autonomous-revenue percentage is published as a condition)
- No minimum annual revenue (unlike Components 1B/1C)
- Not listed on RENA
- Francization compliance required
- Must cover 50% of project costs
- Ineligible if: in default on a prior Québec government financial-aid obligation within the past two years after formal notice; a Crown corporation or government-controlled entity; under CCAA or BIA insolvency protection; or principally in weapons, fossil-fuel exploration/extraction/refining (except low-carbon transition activities), gambling, violent games/combat sports, sexual exploitation, or tobacco and drugs
- Applications filed on or after 13 March 2026 from SCIAN 54 (professional, scientific and technical services) or SCIAN 561 (administrative and support services) are still eligible but not prioritized — they rank behind other sectors within the budget envelope
- The applicant's website must have a French version (stated as the opening line of the program's selection criteria)
- A private contribution of at least 20% of TOTAL project cost is required, since public financial assistance cannot cover 100% of eligible costs
- This aid cannot be combined with aid from another Ministry program (including Fonds du développement économique programs) on the same project — a Component 2 application must follow as a SEPARATE, sequential application, not simultaneous stacking
- The project must start no later than three months after its authorization, and the realization period may not exceed twelve continuous months
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
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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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipComponent 1A is the least-known ESSOR entry point — NO minimum revenue (unlike 1B/1C at $2.5M+).
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Success Profile
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The pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility ...
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
9 docs
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).
Required Documents 9
✓ IQ online application (French, via clicSÉQUR)
✓ Signed 'Identification du représentant du CA et Consentement' form
Eligible Expenses 5
Ineligible Expenses 7
Deadline Notes
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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4 partners
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?
The governing framework requires the for-profit applicant to be a legally constituted enterprise ('entreprises à but lucratif légalement constituées'), registered in Québec, or a social-economy enterprise under the Loi sur l'économie sociale. No published document addresses whether an unincorporated sole proprietorship (entreprise individuelle) qualifies — call Investissement Québec (1 844 474-6367) to confirm before filing rather than assuming either way.
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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Full Playbook: ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility ...
7 steps · 9 docs · reviewer insights