REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) — ACOA
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Who actually receives this funding
538 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 5,139 awards since 2018. Typical award: $99.8K. Half of all awards fall between $50K and $350K. The advertised maximum is $2M — most awards land closer to $99.8K. Top sectors among classified recipients: Computer systems design, Food manufacturing, Miscellaneous manufacturing. Top provinces: Nova Scotia 37% · New Brunswick 30% · Newfoundland and Labrador 21%. Covers: ACOA REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity stream — direct contributions to Atlantic businesses under the Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation program. All REGI-BSP-prefixed variants. Total ~5,153 rows. Excludes REGI-RIE (ecosystem stream, ~2,054 rows — different population). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.
The typical REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity award is $99.8K — the median of 5,139 awards since 2018, even though the program advertises up to $2M. In 2025, 538 organizations were funded.
Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Interest-free, unsecured repayable contributions to businesses in Atlantic Canada to scale operations, adopt new technologies, improve productivity, and commercialize new products. Eligible applicants include sole proprietorships, partnerships, incorporated companies, corporations and co-operatives, social enterprises, Indigenous-owned businesses, all other types of enterprises, and non-profit organizations that offer services to businesses. Part of the federal REGI platform. The contribution is repaid in full over a defined schedule with no interest charged — nothing is forgiven. ACOA invested $214M through REGI in 554 businesses in 2024.
Eligibility Requirements
- Business operating in Atlantic Canada (NS, NB, PE, NL)
- Includes sole proprietorships, partnerships, incorporated companies, corporations and co-operatives, social enterprises, Indigenous-owned businesses, and all other types of enterprises — incorporation is not required
- Non-profit organizations that offer services to businesses are also eligible under the Business Scale-up option
- Must demonstrate economic benefit to Atlantic Canada
- Must not have started project before funding decision
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Typically $100,000-$2,000,000 (repayable, interest-free; large-scale projects may reach higher)
- Type
- Loan
- Level
- Federal
- Financing share
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to secure BSP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 6-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what lenders look for
How to qualify
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipCall your regional ACOA office first — officers will tell you if your project fits and flag documentation gaps.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 9
Ineligible Expenses 8
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow BSP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGI Business Scale-up and Productivi... | Typically $100,000-$2,000,000 | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Innovation PEI — Ignition Fund | Up to $25,000 | Easy | Advance Payment | Periodic intakes (spring... |
| Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth ... | ~$15,000 in subsidized services | Easy | In Kind | Ongoing — Launch Export... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... | Up to 50% of capital costs | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about BSP