Ontario Creates — Global Market Development Fund

Program Description

Up to $15,000 for Ontario screen, interactive and publishing companies to pursue international growth through targeted sales trips and attendance at international market events, capped at 50% of eligible costs. Offered as one program with a separate deadline and guidelines document per sector (interactive digital media, film & television, book, magazine, music).

Eligibility Requirements

• Ontario-based company with a principal place of business in Ontario serving as head office and base of operations
• Canadian-owned and controlled, as defined in the Investment Canada Act
• Private sector, for-profit company
• Incorporated in Ontario or federally and registered in Ontario — or, if not incorporated at time of application, prepared to incorporate immediately if successful
• In sound financial position, including all associated companies, and in good standing with Ontario Creates at time of application submission
• Applies under the sector stream matching the majority of its revenue and project slate (interactive digital media, film & television, book, magazine or music) — each sector has its own deadline and its own guidelines document, and the applicant tests differ by sector
• INTERACTIVE stream — established company test: at least 25% of revenue OR 50% of expenditures over the previous two fiscal years from creating screen-based content projects similar in nature to the current projects, PLUS at least one owner or full-time permanent employee with a minimum full-time equivalent of three years of experience creating professional, commercialized content for interactive platforms, networks or devices similar in nature to the current projects
• INTERACTIVE stream — new companies (under one year of operation or nothing released) ARE eligible: they need the same three-year senior person, must be majority-owned by Ontario residents, must be prepared to incorporate immediately if successful, and must meet the established-company criteria on incorporation
• Work completed while enrolled in a post-secondary education program does not count as professional content creation
• New companies and first-time applicants should contact Ontario Creates at least three weeks before the deadline to confirm eligibility
• Activities must take place outside Ontario and must focus on international audience and business development — targeted sales trips, media tours to key territories, virtual or in-person participation in international markets and events, and trade missions organized by industry associations and government agencies
• Activities are drawn from the Pre-Approved Activities list; anything additional needs Ontario Creates permission in advance of the event
• Attendance at an event primarily for professional development, training, to speak, or to receive an award will NOT be supported
• Eligible interactive content projects: video games, mobile content, e-learning content, XR experiences, web series. Projects must include unique creative professional content created by the applicant, be released on an interactive digital media platform as the primary distribution channel, be for a consumer or student audience, be for use by individuals or groups, be intended to educate, inform or entertain, combine at least two of text, sound and images, and be intended for commercial exploitation
• INELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES: projects primarily intended to sell products or services; to promote companies or corporate/institutional agendas; for use by corporations or businesses; for interpersonal communication; catalogues and databases; repurposed live, linear or streaming content that has not been augmented; user-generated content, social networking tools or distribution of third-party licensed content; technology, hardware, software, applications, tools, services or platforms; and anything contrary to public policy in Ontario Creates' opinion
• Up to three representatives per company per activity, at least one of whom must be an executive-level decision maker. Representatives must be full-time employees or owners of the applicant company (sales agents and external consultants are ineligible), Canadian citizens or landed immigrants / permanent residents, and Ontario residents
• Only one application per company or associated company per fiscal year