Grant
Federal
Active
REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (ACOA)
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Maximum Funding
Cost-share varies by project of eligible project costs...
Ongoing
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
75%
REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (ACOA) provides up to Cost-share varies by project of eligible project costs (non-repayable). Non-repayable ACOA contribution covering with cost-share that varies by project of eligible costs for Atlantic Canadian not-for-profit organizations that build regional innovation ecosystem capacity. The program covers up to 75% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Non-repayable ACOA contribution covering with cost-share that varies by project of eligible costs for Atlantic Canadian not-for-profit organizations that build regional innovation ecosystem capacity. Eligible organizations include strategic industry clusters, business accelerators, incubators, and innovation-oriented networks. The program places particular emphasis on initiatives that increase the participation of underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women, Indigenous peoples, and young entrepreneurs.
Eligibility Requirements
- Not-for-profit organization headquartered in Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Organization must deliver ecosystem-building activities: strategic clustering, business acceleration/incubation, or innovation ecosystem development
- Project must strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and support the growth of Atlantic Canadian businesses
- For-profit companies, Indigenous communities applying for business-scale initiatives, and government departments are generally ineligible under the RIE stream (see REGI Business Scale-up & Productivity stream instead)
- Enhanced consideration for organizations serving women, Indigenous peoples, and young entrepreneurs
- Funding rate and stacking limits vary by project and applicant type; confirm current terms with the ACOA regional office.
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Cost-share varies by project of eligible project costs (non-repayable)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
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 TipThe REGI RIE stream is explicitly designed for ecosystem enablers — not the individual businesses they support.
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Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Applicant is a for-profit company (not eligible under the RIE stream)
+6 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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All 7 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 ACOA
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 7 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 8-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 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
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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
Pre-application consultation with ACOA Contact your nearest ACOA regional office (1-800-561-7862) to discuss your project concept. Officers confirm whether the project fits the RIE stream (vs. BSP), review organizational eligibility, and advise on timing.
Required Documents 8
✓ Detailed project proposal with objectives, activities, timeline, and expected outcomes
✓ Organization's legal incorporation documents (articles of incorporation, letters patent)
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 7
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
ACOA Business Development Program (BDP)
Provincial innovation programs (e.g., Innovate NS, Innovation PEI, NRC)
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How ACOA Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems... | Cost-share varies by project of... | Hard | Milestone-Based | Ongoing |
| Industrial Research Assistance Progra... | Up to $1M | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... | Up to 50% of capital costs | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Business Development Program (BDP) - ... | Varies (Repayable Contribution) | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Regional Development Corporation - Ru... | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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 ACOA
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Can a for-profit startup accelerator apply?
No — the RIE stream requires not-for-profit legal status. For-profit businesses seeking scale-up funding should instead apply to ACOA's REGI Business Scale-up & Productivity stream.
What's a realistic grant size for a regional accelerator?
$100,000–$500,000 for most programming-focused projects; larger multi-year cluster initiatives with broad regional reach may receive $1M or more.
How long does the application process take?
Typically 8–16 weeks from formal submission to contribution agreement. Pre-consulting with your ACOA regional office before applying reduces this timeline significantly.
Do we need matching funding?
Yes — ACOA covers up to 75% of eligible costs. The remaining 25% must come from other sources such as provincial programs, private donations, membership revenues, or in-kind contributions.
Why do RIE applications get rejected?
Most rejections stem from: project primarily benefiting the applicant's own operations rather than the ecosystem, weak performance measurement, insufficient matching funds, or applying as a for-profit organization.
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Full Playbook: ACOA
6 steps · 8 docs · reviewer insights