Updated March 2026 · Verified against New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement Est. 2023
Grant Provincial Active

NBIF Emerging Concepts and Technologies (ECT) Program

New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)
Maximum Funding
Up to $150,000
Open
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
100%
NBIF Emerging Concepts and Technologies (ECT) Program provides Up to $150,000. Up to $150,000 for New Brunswick researchers and companies working on emissions reduction technologies. Open. (As of March 2026, verified against New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Up to $150,000 for New Brunswick researchers and companies working on emissions reduction technologies. Supports early-stage R&D in clean technology, energy innovation, and environmental solutions to help NB meet climate targets.

Eligibility Requirements

  • New Brunswick-based researcher or company
  • Project focused on emissions reduction technologies
  • Working in clean technology, energy, or environmental innovation
  • Must demonstrate potential for commercial application
Provinces
New Brunswick
Industries
Clean Technology Renewable Energy Environmental Manufacturing
Business Stage
Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
Est. Hours
30h
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $150,000
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Co-Funding
Up to 100% of eligible costs
Deadline
Open

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
Moderate
Effort
~30 hours
Approval
Competitive
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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Approval likelihood, realistic amounts, competition level, and what winners look like
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win ECT — $19

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

Consultants charge $2,000–$5,000 per program. This Playbook is $19. Yours forever.
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Applying for ECT? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

How to Win

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

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Insider Tip

Quantify your emissions reduction potential in tonnes of CO2 equivalent — reviewers want concrete numbers, not vague environmental benefits. Projects that align with New Brunswick's specific climate priorities (energy efficiency in buildings, clean electricity, industrial decarbonization) tend to score higher.

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

Success Profile

Researchers or companies with novel approaches to emissions reduction — carbon capture innovations, industrial process efficiency improvements, renewable energy technologies, or waste-to-energy solutions with clear NB application potential.

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Panel of Net Zero Atlantic staff, NBIF representatives, and subject matter experts assess: alignment with active thematic priorities (agricultural emissions, biomass, carbon capture, hydrogen, long-term storage, nature-based solutions, post-2030 power challenges); quantified GHG emissions reduction potential in tonnes CO2 equivalent; technical feasibility; team qualifications; and commercialization pathway (Stream II) or novelty (Stream I).

Premium See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t waste 30 hours on a preventable rejection
Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Start with the $19 Playbook first.
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Application Playbook

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

Premium 8 steps 6 docs

Application Steps

1 Review ECT-NB Applicant Guide Download and read the current call's Applicant Guide from netzeroatlantic.ca/ect-nb. The guide specifies the active thematic priorities for the intake.
2 Watch the informational webinar Net Zero Atlantic hosts a webinar at the start of each call. Attend live or watch the recording — it significantly improves application quality.
3 Consult the FAQ Review the published FAQ on the Net Zero Atlantic website to clarify eligibility and scope questions before drafting.
4 Complete the Proposal Submission Template Fill in the structured ECT-NB Proposal Submission Template covering technical approach, emissions reduction potential (quantified in CO2e), team qualifications, and milestones.
5 Complete the Budget Template Prepare the separate budget document detailing eligible expenses: research salaries, third-party testing, and laboratory supplies.
6 Submit via Net Zero Atlantic Submit through netzeroatlantic.ca/ect-apply. Applications go directly to Net Zero Atlantic, not NBIF. Submit before the published intake deadline (typically late October to early November).
7 Evaluation and notification Review panel assesses all submissions. Successful applicants notified approximately January–February following a November intake.
8 Contract negotiation Project milestones, deliverables, and reporting metrics are negotiated and formalized in individual contracts with Net Zero Atlantic before funding is released.

Required Documents 6

✓ Application form with technical project description
✓ Emissions reduction impact projections
✓ Research methodology and timeline
✓ Budget breakdown
✓ Team qualifications and expertise
✓ Commercialization pathway (for company applicants)

Eligible Expenses 3

  • Research staff salaries and graduate student stipends
  • Third-party testing services and laboratory analysis
  • Laboratory supplies and consumable materials directly used in research

Ineligible Expenses 5

  • Major capital equipment or laboratory infrastructure
  • Marketing, commercialization, or distribution activities
  • Travel or hospitality
  • Projects without a greenhouse gas emissions reduction focus
  • Technologies already at commercial market stage

Intake Periods

Annual or semi-annual calls. Fall 2024 call: October 6 – November 10, 2024 (NB stream). Fall 2025 call: October 6 – November 10, 2025 (anticipated). Monitor netzeroatlantic.ca/ect-nb for upcoming intake announcements.

Deadline Notes

Applications accepted on an ongoing basis. Program availability subject to annual funding allocation.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Organizations located outside New Brunswick
  • For-profit companies without significant New Brunswick operations
  • Projects without a greenhouse gas emissions reduction focus
  • Organizations pursuing fully commercialized technologies
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 3 partners

Compatible Programs

SDTC (Sustainable Development Technology Canada) NRCan Clean Energy Innovation Programs NRC-IRAP
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
See your total funding potential across 3 programs
Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
One avoided clawback typically outweighs the $19 Playbook cost by 50–100×.
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How ECT Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
NBIF Emerging Concepts and Technologi... Up to $150,000 Moderate Reimbursement Open
Energy Innovation Program Up to $4 million Hard Reimbursement Call-specific deadlines...
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,...
Ocean Supercluster Up to $5 million Hard Reimbursement Call-specific — no open...

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free
Tax Credit

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit

Up to 8% tax credit · Provincial
 Tax Credit

Alberta Innovation Employment Grant

8% base rate on R&D at or below 2-year rolling average; 20%... · Provincial
 Tax Credit

Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Research, Innovation and Commercialization)

20-30% tax credit (CRIC) · Provincial

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about ECT

Free
Can sole proprietors apply for ECT?
Yes, sole proprietors are eligible as long as they're based in New Brunswick and the project aligns with emissions reduction tech. Must demonstrate commercial potential and technical capability.
What's the typical award amount?
Most awards range from $50,000 to $120,000. The $150k max is rarely reached — projects must show exceptional potential to qualify for the full amount.
How long does approval take?
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Typically 4-8 weeks from submission to decision, but can vary based on funding availability and application complexity.
Why do most applications get rejected?
Common rejections include projects without clear emissions reduction metrics (e.g., no CO2e tonnage), purely academic work, or technologies already at market stage.
Can I combine ECT with other grants?
Yes, ECT pairs well with SDTC (for scale-up), NRCan programs (different cost categories), and NRC-IRAP (for complementary R&D activities).

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