NOHFC INVEST North Innovation Stream
Compared with the 242 other application forms we have read
- Scored mainly on how novel the work is. Only 10 lead with that.
- States real length limits, about 884 words in total. Only 64 tell you how long to write.
- Only 1 written answer, against a median of 5.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Funds applied research, development, and commercialization of new and innovative technologies in Northern Ontario. Provides conditional contributions (non-repayable) of up to 50% of eligible costs, with a maximum of $500,000 for applied R&D-only projects, or up to $2,000,000 for projects that include demonstration and commercialization — whether combined with R&D or commercialization-only. Private-sector businesses can apply alone or in partnership with academic/research institutions. Uniquely allows stacking with other government funding up to 75% of eligible costs.
Eligibility Requirements
- Private-sector businesses in Northern Ontario
- May apply alone or in partnership with a public sector academic or research institution (for partnerships, the private-sector business is the lead applicant and funding recipient)
- Partner institutions must have relevant expertise and resources for the proposed project
- Projects must involve applied R&D, demonstration, or commercialization of new/innovative technologies
- For combined-phase projects, applicant must own or have registered patent/exploitation rights before commercialization phase
- Projects intended solely for internal efficiency purposes are ineligible
- If the project includes demonstration and commercialization costs, NOHFC will not accept a subsequent application for the same technology
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $2,000,000
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing (rolling intake)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Difficult — significant preparation needed
High competition — many applicants
Complex — detailed documentation needed
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipCall a NOHFC advisor (1-800-461-8329 or [email protected]) before applying — they'll assess fit and give candid feedback.
Rejection Pitfalls 9
- Project is for internal efficiency only (e.g., automating existing processes without new product/technology output)
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
How NOHFC INVEST North Innovation Stream judges your application
What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.
Distilled from 6+ source documents, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-07.
6 of the sources
- Invest North – Innovation nohfc.ca
- INVEST North Program — Investment - Innovation Program nohfc.ca
- INVEST NORTH Innovation Stream brochure nohfc.ca
- NOHFC Portal home myportal.nohfc.ca
- NOHFC Portal — Our Programs myportal.nohfc.ca
- NOHFC Inquiry Form myportal.nohfc.ca
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What NOHFC INVEST North Innovation Stream favours
Funding for new tech research, development and commercialization in Northern Ontario◦
“The Innovation Stream supports the research, development and commercialization of new and innovative technologies in Northern Ontario.”
The form
Inquiry form
- 1Full Nameshort answer · 100 characters
- 2Email Addressshort answer · 100 characters
- 3Phone Numbershort answer · 100 characters
- 4Subjectselectionno limit
- 5Questions/Comments/Feedbackwritten answer · 5,000 characters
Questions/Comments/Feedback exceeds the maximum length of 5000 characters.
bar = length the funder allows, from its stated limits
Judged against
- 1
Is this a genuine innovation with market demand?
Show them Show that the technology is new or improved, that it has been tested and fully validated, and that it answers a market need.◦
In the funder’s words · 2
- Innovation meets the NOHFC’s definition of Innovation
- Demonstrated market need and demand
- 2
Can this business execute and stay solvent?
What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium
- 3
What does Northern Ontario gain?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
- 4
How much risk does NOHFC take on?
What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium
Where applicants fail
“In the event that an applicant chooses to include demonstration & commercialization costs in their project, NOHFC will not accept a subsequent application for the same technology.”
Premium · the rest of this brief
See all 3 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.
6 more criteria · 4 more prompts
Do you pass?
Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.
You
Private-sector business, alone or partnered
Private-sector businesses alone, or in partnership with a public sector academic or research institution.
The project
R&D or demonstration and commercialization
Applied research & development projects, and demonstration & commercialization of new and innovative technologies.
Not an internal-efficiency-only project
Projects intended for internal efficiency purposes only are ineligible.
The money
Maximum — R&D onlyup to $500,000
a maximum of $500,000 for Applied Research and Development only projects
Maximum — demo or combinedup to $2 million
a maximum of $2 million for combined or Demonstration & Commercialization only projects
Your shareup to 50% of eligible costs
up to 50% of total eligible costs
StackingCombined government funding capped at 75%
Combined Federal and Provincial government funding may not exceed 75% of eligible project costs.
What it pays for · 10
- Direct internal technical labour costs
- Prototyping costs (engineering and design services and component purchase, fabrication and installation costs)
- Product testing
- Intellectual property protection costs
- Research and development services provided by public sector partners
- Building or renovation costs specifically related to the commercialization of the new technology
- Prototype demonstration costs (engineering and design services and equipment purchases, fabrication and installation costs)
- Material costs
- Product certification costs
- Marketing costs (in-person or virtual trade show assistance and marketing material design costs) - limited to 20% of total eligible project costs
What it does not pay for · 9
- Land
- Working capital
- Administrative or other indirect operating costs
- Labour costs for any person that owns 10% or more of the applicant business
- In-kind contributions
- Business Plans
- Travel, accommodation and meeting costs
- Office equipment and furnishings
- Vehicles
From application to money
- Ask an NOHFC agentAsk an NOHFC agent 1-on-1
- Apply in the portalApply online through NOHFC Portal
- Evaluation and decisionEvaluation, then decision
In the funder’s words · 3
- Ask an NOHFC agent
- NOHFC agents are available for a 1-on-1 conversation through the public inquiry route.
- Apply in the portal
- Online through the NOHFC Portal after Ontario.ca Login registration.
- Evaluation and decision
- The published process is Apply, Evaluation, Decision.
Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.
Everything you need to win NOHFC INVEST North Innovation Stream
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 11-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 5-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 11
Eligible Expenses 10
Ineligible Expenses 12
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
High RiskHow NOHFC INVEST North Innovation Stream Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOHFC INVEST North Innovation Stream | Up to $2,000,000 | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing (rolling intake) |
| Northern Ontario Development Program ... | Rates vary by component. Business... | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Mitacs Accelerate | $15,000 per internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about NOHFC INVEST North Innovation Stream