Updated June 2026 · Verified against Invest Nova Scotia guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement Est. 2022
Grant Provincial Active

Invest Nova Scotia — Innovation Rebate Program (IRP)

Invest Nova Scotia
Maximum Funding
25% of eligible costs
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
25%
Invest Nova Scotia — Innovation Rebate Program (IRP) provides up to 25% rebate on eligible costs (min $350K project, up to $15M eligible). 25% rebate on eligible project costs for manufacturing and processing companies investing in new or improved production processes. The program covers up to 25% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Approval odds: ~40–60% (GrantCompass analysis)
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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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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
  • Minimum eligible project costs of $350,000
Provinces
Nova Scotia
Industries
Manufacturing Industrial Clean Technology Renewable Energy
Business Stage
Growth Established Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly

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

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Approval Rate
~40–60%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Focus your application on how the investment introduces genuinely new processes or technologies — incremental upgrades to existing equipment may not qualify.

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

Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win IRP

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

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Contact a Regional Business Development Advisor Contact one of Invest Nova Scotia's seven regional advisors to discuss your project. Advisors confirm eligibility, advise on what qualifies as an innovation component, and initiate the application process. This step is required before submitting an application form.

Required Documents 6

✓ Detailed project plan with innovation description
✓ Cost breakdown of eligible expenditures

Eligible Expenses 12

Ineligible Expenses 7

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

NRC-IRAP ACOA — Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) SR&ED Tax Credits Atlantic Investment Tax Credit (AITC)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

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How IRP Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
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... Minimum $10 million contribution Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Between intakes — the...
Ocean Supercluster Up to $5 million Hard Reimbursement Continuous intake (Core...

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

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~$13.8M federal-provincial envelope (2025–2028);... · Provincial
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NSERC Idea to Innovation (I2I) Grants

Phase I up to $125,000 (100%); Phase IIa up to $125,000/yr... · Federal
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Ocean Supercluster — Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity Program

Up to 75% of eligible project costs; project values range... · Federal

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about IRP

Free
Can sole proprietors apply?
No — must be a taxable Canadian corporation with a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia. Sole proprietors cannot apply directly.
What's the realistic grant size?
Typical awards range from $200,000 to $500,000 for projects between $350,000 and $15M in eligible costs.
Is matching funding required?
Yes — applicants must contribute 75% of project costs (minimum $350,000 total project value).
Why do applications fail?
Common rejections: projects below $350K threshold, routine equipment replacement (not innovation), or insufficient innovation documentation.
Can I stack with AITC?
Yes — IRP and federal Atlantic Investment Tax Credit (AITC) are stackable for manufacturing capital investments in Nova Scotia.

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