Updated May 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 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 Rolling intake until March 31, 2027. (As of May 2026, verified against Investissement Québec program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

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

Hybrid
Competition
Low
Effort
Varies
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time.
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Approval likelihood, realistic amounts, competition level, and what winners look like
Consultants charge $500–$2,000 per program. This Playbook is $19.
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility ... — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

Consultants charge $2,000–$5,000 per program. This Playbook is $19. Yours forever.
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Applying for ESSOR Program? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

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.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

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.

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.
Don’t waste your hours on a preventable rejection
Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Start with the $19 Playbook first.
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Application Playbook

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

Premium 5 docs

Application steps not yet documented.

Required Documents 5

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

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.

Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 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
Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
See your total funding potential across 4 programs
Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
One avoided clawback typically outweighs the $19 Playbook cost by 50–100×.
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How ESSOR Program — Component 1A: Feasibility ... Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
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 $15,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free
Forgivable Loan

Strategic Response Fund (formerly Strategic Innovation Fund)

Up to $50 million · Federal
 Loan

Black Entrepreneurship Program

Up to $250,000 · Federal
 Grant

Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

Up to $1 million · Federal

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Free
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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