Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
CSA's flagship program positioning Canadian companies in the commercial lunar economy. Technology Development stream funds up to $2 million per project (extensible to $4M) for space technologies with lunar applications. Targets for-profit companies at TRL 2–3 advancing to TRL 6. $159M over five years. LEAP Lunar Rover was cancelled in 2026 budget cuts but the broader program continues.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit or non-profit organizations established and operating in Canada
- Academic institutions are eligible at the LEAP program level, but the Technology Development stream is explicitly closed to them — check the specific Announcement of Opportunity
- Technology at TRL 2–3 at project start, must advance to TRL 6
- Must have relevance to lunar orbit, lunar surface, or cis-lunar missions
- Multiple organizations may partner; lead must be Canadian
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $2,000,000 (extensible to $4,000,000)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Periodic — monitor CSA funding portal for new Announcements of Opportunity
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win LEAP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 7-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipLEAP evaluates 50% on 'Outcomes and Benefits to Canada' — write a business case, not a science paper.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 7
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for LEAP? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow LEAP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program... | Up to $2,000,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Periodic — monitor CSA... |
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| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about LEAP