Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA)

Insider Tip

Three things most applicants miss: (1) MICA charges a 15% administration fee on the funding you receive — budget for this or your actual project funding will be lower than expected. (2) You do NOT need to be a MICA member to submit your Phase 1 application, but you must join before receiving funds — so don't let membership confusion stop you from applying. (3) MICA's six regional nodes (BRIMM in BC, InnoTech in AB, SaskPoly in SK, MaRS in ON, MISA in QC, CNA in NL) are not just administrative partners — they actively help connect applicants with mining company partners for pilot demonstrations. Contact your regional node BEFORE applying to get introductions to potential end-users who can host your pilot. Having a named mine site in your proposal dramatically strengthens your application.

Rejection Pitfalls 10

• Technology below TRL 6 — MICA funds commercialization/demonstration, not basic R&D
• No Canadian SME participation in the project team
• Insufficient co-funding (applicant cannot demonstrate 70%+ of project costs from non-MICA sources)

Success Profile

A Canadian mining technology SME (10-100 employees) with a commercially viable innovation at TRL 6+ (working prototype demonstrated in relevant environment). The ideal applicant has a named mining company partner committed to hosting a pilot demonstration at an operating mine site. Companies working on productivity optimization, energy reduction, autonomous systems, or environmental remediation technologies in mining are the strongest fit. Past cohorts show Ontario (29 projects), BC (19), and Quebec (11) dominate, reflecting where mining tech clusters exist. Academic spin-offs and cleantech startups with mining applications have also been funded. Revenue is not required, but the company must demonstrate commercial viability and a path to market within the project timeline.

Evaluation Criteria

Two-phase review: Phase 1 (screening) assesses relevance to mining innovation categories (Productivity, Energy, Smart, Environment), TRL 6+ readiness, and Canadian SME participation. Phase 2 (by invitation) — detailed assessment by industry experts and independent Project Selection Committee evaluating: technological innovation merit, project completion capacity, commercialization potential, mining industry partner involvement, and economic impact. Projects must fall into one or more key categories: Productivity, Energy, Smart, or Environment.

Application Steps

Required Documents 10

Eligible Expenses 7

• Technology pilot and demonstration costs at mine sites (TRL 6+ technologies)
• Equipment and materials for prototype testing and validation in mining environments
• Labour costs for technical personnel directly involved in project execution
• Travel costs for mine site visits, partner meetings, and field testing
• Subcontracting and consulting fees for specialized mining technology services
• Data acquisition, analysis, and testing software for mining applications
• Materials and supplies consumed during pilot demonstrations

Ineligible Expenses 8

• Basic research and development below TRL 6
• General business operating costs and overhead
• Costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed
• Full-scale production activities or production equipment not related to the pilot
• Costs already covered by funding from other government sources (SIF double-dipping)
• CEMI 15% administration fee is deducted from funding, not claimable as eligible cost
• Activities conducted outside Canada
• IP licensing fees for technologies not being piloted

Intake Periods

Discrete CFP rounds approximately annually. CFP-1 through CFP-3: 2022-2024. CFP-4: opened March 14, 2025, closed April 4, 2025 (3-week window). Recipients announced mid-2025. No CFP-5 announced as of March 2026 — future rounds depend on whether ISED provides additional SIF/SRF funding to CEMI. Monitor micanetwork.ca for announcements.

Deadline Notes

MICA does NOT operate on continuous/ongoing intake — the current record listing 'Ongoing' is inaccurate. The program runs discrete CFP rounds approximately annually. CFP-4 opened March 14, 2025 and closed April 4, 2025 (3-week window). Based on the pattern of CFP-1 through CFP-4, the next CFP (if funded) would likely open in Q1 2026. However, the current $5M top-up was the last announced federal allocation, so future rounds depend on whether ISED provides additional SIF/SRF funding to CEMI. Monitor micanetwork.ca for announcements.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

• Organizations without Canadian SME participation in the project team
• Companies with technology below TRL 6 (MICA funds commercialization, not basic R&D)
• Organizations without a substantive Canadian presence
• Companies unable to demonstrate co-funding for 70%+ of eligible project costs
• Organizations whose IP will not remain in Canada for the required 5-year minimum
• Projects outside the mining sector or without clear mining application

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk