This program is currently paused. Open Call: continuous rolling intake with no fixed deadline. Targeted Calls: periodic — check the official ICE Fund website for active targeted call timelines.
Updated April 2026 · Verified against Government of British Columbia guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Milestone-Based Est. 2008
Grant Provincial Paused

Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund — Open Call

Government of British Columbia
Maximum Funding
Varies by project; fund has committed...
Ongoing (Open Call, rolling intake)
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
Varies
Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund — Open Call offers funding that varies by project. A rolling grant fund that supports pre-commercial clean energy innovation, technology demonstrations, and R&D projects anywhere in British Columbia. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. (As of April 2026, verified against Government of British Columbia program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

A rolling grant fund that supports pre-commercial clean energy innovation, technology demonstrations, and R&D projects anywhere in British Columbia. Funded through a levy on certain BC energy sales, the ICE Fund has committed over $124 million since 2008 to clean energy technology developers, emerging clean tech companies, universities, First Nations, and municipalities. The Open Call accepts applications year-round with no fixed deadline.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Any Canadian legal entity (for-profit and not-for-profit organizations are eligible)
  • Project must take place within British Columbia
  • Technology must be at a pre-commercial or early-commercial stage
  • Projects focused on clean energy innovation, technology demonstration, R&D, or energy efficiency
Provinces
British Columbia
Industries
Clean Technology Energy Technology
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
High
Est. Hours
30h
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Varies by project; fund has committed $124M+ since 2008 across hundreds of projects
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Deadline
Ongoing (Open Call, rolling intake)

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
High
Effort
~30 hours
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win ICE — $19

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

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Applying for ICE? 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

The mandatory first step is submitting an Inquiry Form — do not attempt to submit a full application without this. ICE Fund often co-funds projects alongside other programs (FedDev, NRCan, Innovate BC) — having other funding commitments in place significantly strengthens your application. The fund explicitly lists emerging clean tech companies among its successful partnership types, so early-stage companies are competitive. Download the Applicant Program Guide PDF from the BC government site before applying — it contains complete eligibility and evaluation criteria not published on the main webpage.

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Success Profile

BC-based clean energy technology developer (startup or SME) with a project at the pre-commercial or early demonstration stage. Technology addresses BC's energy priorities (emissions reduction, clean electricity, efficiency). Application is supported by other committed funding (e.g., NRCan, Innovate BC). Project creates BC-based economic and environmental benefits.

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Evaluation Criteria

Projects evaluated on: contribution to BC's clean energy priorities; technical merit and innovation potential; BC economic benefits (jobs, investment, IP); emissions reduction impact; strength of project team; and degree of additional leveraged funding. Projects with committed co-funding are preferred.

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Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Download and review the Applicant Program Guide Available as a PDF from the BC government website. Contains complete eligibility criteria, evaluation methodology, and application requirements.
2 Submit an Inquiry Form The mandatory first step. ICE Fund staff will contact the applicant within 1–2 weeks to discuss project eligibility and fit.
3 Receive feedback and invitation to apply ICE Fund staff provide guidance on whether the project aligns with program priorities and whether a full application is warranted.
4 Prepare and submit a full application Complete project proposal including technical description, budget, team qualifications, and evidence of other committed funding sources.
5 Project review and funding decision ICE Fund evaluates the full application. Timeline varies from several weeks to months depending on project size and complexity.
6 Execute contribution agreement If approved, sign a contribution agreement specifying milestone schedule, reporting obligations, and payment terms.

Required Documents 5

✓ Initial Inquiry Form (mandatory first step — submitted via ICE Fund website)
✓ Applicant Program Guide (downloaded from BC government website) for complete application requirements
✓ Project description and technical details
✓ Project budget and funding plan
✓ Evidence of other committed funding sources (preferred)

Eligible Expenses 6

  • Pre-commercial clean energy technology development and demonstration
  • Research and development activities for clean energy innovations
  • Equipment and infrastructure for technology demonstrations
  • Clean energy vehicle and transportation projects
  • Energy efficiency program implementation
  • Bioenergy, solar, ocean/tidal, geothermal, and other renewable technology projects

Ineligible Expenses 3

  • Fully commercial technology deployments with no innovation component
  • Projects outside British Columbia
  • Standard operating costs not tied to a specific innovation project

Intake Periods

Open Call: continuous rolling intake with no fixed deadline. Targeted Calls: periodic — check the official ICE Fund website for active targeted call timelines. 2025 Targeted Call closed.

Deadline Notes

The Open Call for Innovation and Partnerships has no fixed deadline and accepts applications on a rolling basis. The 2025 Targeted Call (a separate intake) closed. The ICE Fund also runs periodic targeted calls with specific themes and deadlines — check the official website for active targeted calls. [Apr 2026: Original URL 404. Program may be closed or restructured. Verify with BC government.]

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Organizations undertaking projects outside British Columbia
  • Projects limited to fully commercial technology deployments without an innovation or pre-commercial component
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

NRCan Clean Fuels Fund Innovate BC IRAP (NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program) Strategic Innovation Fund First Nations Clean Energy Programs
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

Contribution agreement includes milestone obligations. Failure to meet project milestones or reporting requirements may result in reduced payments or recovery of previously advanced funds.

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Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
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How ICE Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund — ... Varies by project Moderate Milestone-Based Ongoing (Open Call,...
NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program $100,000–$500,000 Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing
Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... Up to $50 million Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Next deadline: May 29,...
Innovative Solutions Canada up to $150,000 Hard Milestone-Based Challenge-specific — new...

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free
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Ocean Supercluster

Up to $5 million · Federal
 Program

Digital Technology Supercluster

Up to $5 million · Federal
 Tax Credit

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit

Up to 8% tax credit · Provincial

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about ICE

Free
Can sole proprietors apply for the ICE Fund?
No — only Canadian legal entities (corporations, not-for-profits, partnerships) are eligible. Sole proprietors must incorporate to apply. The fund explicitly requires legal entity status.
What's the typical project size for a successful application?
Most successful projects range from $250,000 to $2 million. Pre-commercial demonstration projects in this range are most common — larger infrastructure projects can exceed $2 million.
Do I need to have other funding committed before applying?
Yes — ICE Fund actively prefers projects with other committed funding sources (e.g., NRCan, Innovate BC). Applications without other funders are less competitive and often rejected.
How long does the application process take after submitting the Inquiry Form?
After submitting the mandatory Inquiry Form (required step), full applications typically take 30 hours to prepare. The review process takes 3-6 months from submission of a complete application.
Is matching funding required for the ICE Fund?
No — matching funding is not required. However, having other committed funding sources significantly strengthens your application and is preferred by the fund.

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