Ontario Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Grants up to $500,000 for rural SMEs or $1.5 million for strategic/FDI projects, plus interest-free loans up to $5 million, supporting Ontario manufacturers to adopt advanced technologies, improve productivity, and compete globally. Part of Ontario's Regional Development Program.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit Ontario manufacturer
- Minimum 3 years of operation
- Minimum 10 full-time equivalent employees
- Project must improve competitiveness through advanced manufacturing technologies
- Must demonstrate financial capacity to complete project
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Grants up to $500K (rural SMEs) or $1.5M (strategic/FDI); interest-free loans up to $5M
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 15% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Next intake: June 30 - September 23, 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipUp to 15% of eligible project costs covered. Rural SME stream ($500K max) is less competitive than the strategic stream. Projects that clearly demonstrate productivity improvement metrics (units/hour, defect rates, energy consumption) score significantly better. Pair with NRC-IRAP advisory services to strengthen your technology adoption plan.
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Success Profile
Established Ontario manufacturers (automotive parts, food processing, advanced materials) with 25+ employees investing in Industry 4.0 technologies — robotics, IoT sensors, AI-driven quality control, additive manufacturing. Companies that can clearly quantify productivity gains and job impacts.
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Evaluation Criteria
Four primary dimensions: (1) Alignment with advanced manufacturing support goals — genuine technology adoption, not routine capital investment; (2) Job creation and workforce development — minimum 5 new jobs or demonstrable upskilling of current employees; (3) Economic benefits to Ontario — productivity improvement metrics, export growth, supply chain development; (4) Achievability — adequate financing (company must cover 85%+ of costs), qualified management, implementation experience. Applications with specific, quantified productivity improvement metrics (units/hour, defect rates, energy consumption) score significantly better than qualitative statements.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 13
- Construction and facility modifications or upgrades directly related to the project
- Site servicing and power service upgrades required for project execution
- New technology and high-performance equipment
- Maintenance equipment associated with new technologies or systems
- One-time setup and commissioning labour
- Specialized R&D labour (maximum 2 years)
- Direct salaries, wages, and employee benefits tied to project work
- Direct materials for project completion including testing and commissioning
- Prototype and training materials
- Third-party engineering, software development, and management services
- Skills training and training materials
- HR strategy development and recruitment assistance (with limits)
- Permits, inspections, and other fees directly attributable to the project
Ineligible Expenses 12
- Land or building purchases
- Vehicle purchase or lease
- Ongoing operational and production labour
- Materials for regular product production
- Marketing, sales, and distribution costs
- Debt service, taxes, and shareholder payments
- Travel and hospitality expenses
- Merger and acquisition costs
- Capital replacement without an innovation component
- Routine maintenance
- Refinancing of existing operations
- Projects involving primary production, retail, construction, personal services, consulting, electricity generation, waste management, or recycling
Intake Periods
Two intakes per year. Intake Seven: November 4, 2025 – February 3, 2026 (notification April 30, 2026). Intake Eight: June 30, 2026 – September 23, 2026 (notification December 17, 2026). Check ontario.ca for future intake announcements.
Deadline Notes
Intake-based program with periodic application windows. Next anticipated intake June 30 to September 23, 2026. Check Ontario.ca for confirmed dates as intakes are announced.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Companies with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees
- Companies with less than 3 years of operations or financial statements
- Companies not located in or planning to locate in Ontario
- Primary production businesses (mining, forestry, farming)
- Retail, construction, personal services, or consulting firms
- Electricity generation, waste management, or recycling operations
- Companies proposing Ontario-to-Ontario relocations for restructuring purposes
- Non-profit organizations
- Companies not in eligible advanced manufacturing sectors (aerospace, automotive, chemical, ICT, life sciences, steel)
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
High RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How AMIC Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Advanced Manufacturing and In... | up to $500K | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next intake: June 30 -... |
| 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.) | Annual intake window.... |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
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