Grant
Territorial
Between Intakes
NWT Mining Incentive Program (MIP)
Northwest Territories Geological Survey
Maximum Funding
Up to $240,000
Annual April 30 deadline - the 2026-27 intake closed April 30, 2026; no 2027-...
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
60%
NWT Mining Incentive Program (MIP) provides Up to $240,000 (Corporate stream); Up to $25,000 (Prospector stream). Funding for prospectors and exploration companies to support mineral exploration projects in the NWT. The program covers up to 60% of eligible costs. Annual April 30 deadline - the 2026-27 intake closed April 30, 2026; no 2027-28 date has been published.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Funding for prospectors and exploration companies to support mineral exploration projects in the NWT. Corporate stream up to $240,000 (60% of costs); Prospector stream up to $25,000.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must hold the legal right (mineral claim, lease, or permit) to conduct mineral exploration in the Northwest Territories
- Eligible applicants: exploration companies (Corporate stream) or individual prospectors (Prospector stream)
- Must be conducting or planning mineral exploration activities in the NWT
- Corporate stream: up to $240,000 (60% of eligible costs); Prospector stream: up to $25,000
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $240,000 (Corporate stream); Up to $25,000 (Prospector stream)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Territorial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 60% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Annual April 30 deadline - the 2026-27 intake closed April 30, 2026; no 2027-28 date has been published
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win MIP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 8-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipProcurement from NWT-registered businesses is the single biggest scoring lever — explicitly calculate and maximize the percentage of eligible expenses (excluding wages) flowing to NWT suppliers.
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See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Rejection Pitfalls 6
- Late submission (April 30 deadline is absolute — no exceptions)
+5 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
6 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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6 steps
8 docs
Application Steps
1
Verify mineral claim and legal exploration right Confirm you hold a valid registered mineral claim, lease, or exploration permit for the proposed NWT project area. Obtain a copy to attach to your application.
Required Documents 8
✓ Completed MIP application form
✓ Project proposal (max 15 pages) including geological rationale, work program, and budget
Eligible Expenses 7
Ineligible Expenses 6
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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3 partners
Compatible Programs
SR&ED (if exploration involves experimental scientific work
CanNor SEDP (Socio-Economic Development Program
NRCan Geoscience programs
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How MIP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NWT Mining Incentive Program (MIP) | Up to $240,000 | Hard | Reimbursement | Annual April 30 deadline... |
| PrairiesCan (Prairies Economic Develo... | Varies | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Investments in Forest Industry Transf... | Up to $10 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Between intakes —... |
| Mining Innovation Commercialization A... | Up to $500,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | MICA operator challenges... |
| Critical Minerals R&D and Demonstrati... | No published per-project maximum | Hard | Milestone-Based | Open — Expressions of... |
Related Programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about MIP
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Can sole proprietors apply as prospectors?
Yes, individual prospectors qualify for the Prospector stream ($15k-$25k). Must hold a valid mineral claim in NWT and source 30%+ of non-wage costs from NWT businesses. No incorporation required.
What's the typical award amount?
Corporate stream: $80k-$200k (60% of costs). Prospector stream: $15k-$25k. Partial awards common — budget for 40-50% of requested amount.
When are decisions made?
Decisions made by July 15 after April 30 deadline. Interim reports due Oct 1; final reports April 1 of next year. No exceptions for late submissions.
Why do applications get rejected?
Most common: insufficient NWT procurement (below 30% of non-wage costs), expired mineral claims, or vague technical proposals. No bank account = automatic rejection.
Can I combine with SR&ED?
Yes, SR&ED is compatible if exploration involves experimental work. Consult tax advisor on cost overlap — MIP funds 60% of costs, SR&ED covers 35% of R&D wages.
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Full Playbook: MIP
6 steps · 8 docs · reviewer insights