Invest Nova Scotia — Innovation Rebate Program (IRP)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
25% rebate on eligible project costs for manufacturing and processing companies investing in new or improved production processes. Minimum project size of $350,000, with up to $15M in maximum eligible costs. Supports capital investments in innovation, automation, and process improvement for Nova Scotia manufacturers.
Eligibility Requirements
- Taxable Canadian corporation with permanent establishment in Nova Scotia
- Operating for 12+ months
- Manufacturing or processing company investing in new or improved production processes
- Minimum project size of $350,000
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- 25% rebate on eligible costs (min $350K project, up to $15M eligible)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 25% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipFocus your application on how the investment introduces genuinely new processes or technologies — incremental upgrades to existing equipment may not qualify. Projects with clear productivity or environmental improvement metrics tend to score higher.
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Success Profile
Established NS manufacturers with clear innovation projects — typically automation upgrades, new production lines, or process technology adoption that demonstrably improves productivity or reduces environmental impact.
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Evaluation Criteria
Projects are evaluated on innovation and process improvement merit (degree of novelty vs. routine replacement), productivity and competitiveness impact, environmental improvement potential, economic contribution to Nova Scotia (jobs, investment), and financial viability of the applicant. Regional Business Development Advisors assess applications and confirm eligibility before formal submission.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 12
- Direct costs of advanced machinery, equipment, technology, software, and hardware
- Associated transportation and commissioning costs for eligible equipment
- New building construction directly related to commissioning of equipment or process improvements
- Building alterations required for the implementation of process improvements
- Consulting, engineering, and subcontracting expenses directly related to the eligible project
- Implementation of new or significantly improved production processes
- Energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy integration
- Waste reduction and circular economy equipment
- GHG emissions reduction initiatives
- Production capacity scaling for sustainable or clean products
- New market entry or new product production infrastructure
- Value-added processing equipment for forestry, seafood, and agriculture
Ineligible Expenses 7
- Routine equipment replacement without process improvement component
- Working capital and operating expenses
- Land purchase
- Financing costs
- Taxes (HST, etc.)
- Costs incurred before project approval
- Projects that are incremental upgrades to existing operations without genuine innovation
Intake Periods
Ongoing — applications accepted year-round through regional advisors.
Deadline Notes
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis. Projects are assessed as received.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Non-taxable organizations (non-profits, charities, Crown corporations)
- Companies without a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia
- Businesses operating for less than 12 months
- Companies in non-manufacturing or non-processing sectors (retail, services, etc.)
- Projects below $350,000 minimum investment threshold
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskMedium. Any rebate amount found to be based on ineligible costs or an ineligible project is a Crown debt recoverable in court. Projects that fail to complete within 3 years may forfeit unclaimed rebate portions. Prorating of the rebate for partially completed projects is possible.
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How IRP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invest Nova Scotia — Innovation Rebat... | up to $15M | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Atlantic Investment Tax Credit (AITC) | 10% of cost of | Easy | Tax Credit Offset | 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.) | Annual intake window.... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
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