Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund — Open Call
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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
Quick Assessment
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
See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time. Try Free for 7 Days →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe 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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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
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
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskContribution 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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How ICE Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund — ... | Varies by project | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Ongoing (Open Call,... |
| 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... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
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