Grant
Provincial
Between Intakes
Ontario Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF)
Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines
Maximum Funding
Up to $500,000
Closed — the 2026 intake ran June 30 to August 25, 2026; next round expected ...
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
Ontario Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) provides Up to $500,000 (50% of eligible project costs). A competitive, project-based grant program from the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines that funds up to 50% of eligible costs (maximum $500,000) for private-sector R&D and commercialization projects advancing critical minerals technologies. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Closed — the 2026 intake ran June 30 to August 25, 2026; next round expected mid-2027.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
A competitive, project-based grant program from the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines that funds up to 50% of eligible costs (maximum $500,000) for private-sector R&D and commercialization projects advancing critical minerals technologies. The fund targets the battery supply chain and advanced mining sectors and is administered through the Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) portal. Disbursements follow a three-instalment schedule tied to agreement execution and interim/final reporting milestones. The 2026 intake is open, running June 30 to August 25, 2026.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant is a private-sector business, or a private-sector business collaborating with a public-sector academic or research institution, a non-profit organization, or an association
- Where two or more entities collaborate, one entity must be the lead applicant and the funding recipient
- Private-sector businesses incorporated in Ontario
- Projects must take place in Ontario and involve critical minerals technologies
- Eligible activities include R&D, prototyping, testing, IP protection, feasibility testing, and commercialization of critical minerals innovations
- Cannot receive concurrent funding from other Ontario government programs for the same project
- Applicants must not be listed under applicable sanctions legislation or affiliated with named research organizations of concern
- Only one project per applicant per intake round
- Successful applicants must carry $2M commercial general liability insurance
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
High
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $500,000 (50% of eligible project costs)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Closed — the 2026 intake ran June 30 to August 25, 2026; next round expected mid-2027
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
High
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipFederal-provincial stacking is allowed but total government assistance cannot exceed 75% of eligible costs — this means a company using the federal CMRDD (id 69) alongside CMIF needs to ensure combined government support stays under that ceiling.
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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The pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win CMIF
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 5-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
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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5 steps
8 docs
Application Steps
1
Confirm the current intake window The 2026 application period ran June 30 to August 25, 2026 and is now closed. When the next round opens (expected mid-2027), applications go through the Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) portal; only one project per applicant per round is permitted.
Required Documents 8
✓ Completed application form via Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) portal
✓ Ontario.ca Login and registered organization profile in TPON
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
NRCan Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration (CMRDD) — id 69
SR&ED Tax Credits
Ontario R&D tax credits (OITC/ORETC)
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How CMIF Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Critical Minerals Innovation ... | Up to $500,000 | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Closed — the 2026 intake... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Between intakes — the... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Digital Technology Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Open — Call for... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CMIF
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Can sole proprietors apply for CMIF?
No — applicants must be incorporated Ontario private-sector businesses. Sole proprietors, partnerships, or non-incorporated entities are ineligible. Check the eligibility list for full details.
What's the typical project cost for a successful CMIF application?
Most successful projects have total costs between $300,000 and $600,000. This aligns with the 50% cost-share structure, meaning awards typically range from $150,000 to $300,000.
How long does it take to get the first payment after approval?
Payments are disbursed in three installments tied to milestones. The first payment is made after the agreement is signed and the first milestone is confirmed, typically within 30–60 days of approval.
Why do most applications get rejected?
Common rejections include projects without a clear R&D component (e.g., pure extraction), missing Ontario supply-chain connections, or budgeting ineligible expenses like marketing or existing staff salaries.
Can I stack CMIF with federal CMRDD?
Yes, but total government assistance must not exceed 75% of eligible costs. Declare all funding sources in the application and coordinate with your accountant to ensure compliance.
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Full Playbook: CMIF
5 steps · 8 docs · reviewer insights