Updated June 2026 · Verified against Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) guidelines
Milestone-Based Est. 2018
Grant Federal Active

REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (CED Quebec)

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
Maximum Funding
Up to 90% of eligible costs for...
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
90%
REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (CED Quebec) provides Up to 90% of eligible costs for qualifying not-for-profit ecosystem organizations (project-dependent). Non-repayable CED funding for Quebec not-for-profit incubators, accelerators, and regional economic development players whose primary mission is to offer incubation or acceleration services to start-ups and impact businesses. The program covers up to 90% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. (As of June 2026, verified against Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) program guidelines)
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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Non-repayable CED funding for Quebec not-for-profit incubators, accelerators, and regional economic development players whose primary mission is to offer incubation or acceleration services to start-ups and impact businesses. CED covers up to 90% of eligible costs for qualifying non-profit ecosystem organizations under this stream — one of the highest cost-share rates among federal regional development programs. Projects must build innovation ecosystem capacity across Quebec regions.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Not-for-profit organization in Quebec whose primary mission is incubation or acceleration of start-ups and impact businesses
  • Regional economic-development players in Quebec delivering ecosystem capacity (economic development corporations, sector clusters, innovation hubs)
  • For-profit companies are not eligible under this stream (apply to CED's REGI Business Scale-up & Productivity stream or QEDP instead)
  • Project must strengthen Quebec's entrepreneurial ecosystem and support regional economic development
  • Enhanced consideration for organizations serving underrepresented groups: women, Indigenous peoples, and young entrepreneurs
Provinces
Quebec
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Moderate
Est. Hours
40h
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Up to 90% of eligible costs for qualifying not-for-profit ecosystem organizations (project-dependent)
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 90% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
Moderate
Effort
~40 hours
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (CED... — $19

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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

CED's 90% cost-share for qualifying NPOs is unique among REGI RIE streams — for most federal RDA programs the non-repayable ceiling is 50-75%. To qualify for this higher rate, your organization's primary mission must genuinely be incubation or acceleration (not just a component of a broader mandate). Frame your mission, staffing, and track record to demonstrate that incubation/acceleration is your core activity, not a secondary service. Contact your regional CED office to confirm the current intake approach, since the dedicated 2024-2028 call closed and support now flows through regular REGI/QEDP channels.

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Rejection Pitfalls 7

  • Applicant is a for-profit company
  • Organization's primary mission is not incubation or acceleration
  • Insufficient organizational capacity or governance structure
+4 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

A Quebec not-for-profit incubator or accelerator whose primary mission is supporting start-ups and impact businesses, with a proven track record of cohort programming, strong mentor networks, and measurable portfolio outcomes (companies launched, revenue growth, jobs created). Regional economic development corporations with dedicated innovation mandates are also eligible.

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Evaluation Criteria

CED assesses: (1) alignment with REGI and CED mandate; (2) organizational mission, capacity, and governance; (3) project quality, feasibility, and additionality; (4) ecosystem impact (companies incubated, jobs, revenue growth); (5) value for money; (6) sustainability. Organizations serving underrepresented entrepreneurs receive enhanced consideration.

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7 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Pre-application consultation with CED Contact your regional CED office (1-800-561-0633) to discuss your project. Officers confirm current intake approach, eligibility, and whether the project fits the RIE or QEDP stream.
2 Develop proposal and performance framework Prepare a detailed proposal: organizational mission statement emphasizing incubation/acceleration as primary activity, project rationale, activities, timeline, measurable ecosystem outcomes, and budget. Confirm 10% matching sources.
3 Submit formal application Submit the complete application to CED: proposal, legal documents, financial statements, budget, and letters of support from ecosystem partners.
4 CED review and due diligence CED assesses eligibility and project merit. May request additional documentation. A project officer is assigned to the file.
5 Contribution agreement negotiation and signing Approved projects receive a conditional approval and negotiate contribution agreement covering milestones, eligible expenses, reporting, and disbursements. Sign the agreement.
6 Project delivery and milestone reporting Deliver funded incubation or acceleration programming per agreement. Submit progress reports and milestone payment claims per schedule.

Required Documents 7

✓ Detailed project proposal with objectives, activities, timeline, and measurable ecosystem outcomes
✓ Legal incorporation documents confirming not-for-profit status and mission
✓ Financial statements for the past two fiscal years
✓ Project budget identifying all eligible costs and other funding sources
✓ Letters of support from ecosystem partners and key stakeholders
✓ Description of organizational governance, capacity, and programming track record
✓ Performance measurement framework with indicators and targets

Eligible Expenses 7

  • Salaries and wages for staff directly engaged in incubation or acceleration programming
  • Contracted services from arm's-length vendors supporting program delivery
  • Travel and accommodation for project activities
  • Equipment and technology directly required for programming
  • Event and cohort programming costs
  • Marketing and outreach for ecosystem programming
  • Non-rebatable QST and GST/HST

Ineligible Expenses 6

  • Costs incurred before CED project approval
  • Core operating overhead not directly attributable to the funded project
  • Political or lobbying activities
  • For-profit business activities
  • Land or building acquisition
  • Activities outside CED's Quebec mandate

Intake Periods

Rolling basis following close of the dedicated 2024–2028 call for proposals (closed May 2024). Verify current intake approach with CED — support now flows through regular REGI/QEDP channels.

Deadline Notes

CED's dedicated 2024–2028 incubator/accelerator call for proposals closed May 2024. Quebec not-for-profit incubators and accelerators may now access REGI RIE support through CED's regular REGI/QEDP programming on a rolling basis. Contact your nearest CED office to confirm current availability and intake approach. Verify the program landing URL at canada.ca/en/economic-development-quebec-regions before applying.

Ineligible Organizations

  • For-profit companies (use REGI BSP or QEDP for businesses)
  • Federal government departments
  • Individuals
  • Organizations whose primary mission is not incubation or acceleration of start-ups
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Investissement Québec programs Quebec Economy and Innovation Ministry programs Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP / CED)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

Standard federal contribution agreement provisions apply. Risk triggers: project not completed as approved, expenses not documented, advance not accounted for, or reporting obligations not met.

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How REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (CED... Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems... Up to 90% of eligible costs for... Hard Milestone-Based Ongoing
Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Researc... 20-30% tax credit (CRIC) Hard Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Investissement Québec — Project Finan... Varies Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing
Canada Economic Development for Quebe... Varies Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
PME MTL - Fonds Jeunes Entreprises Up to $15,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (CED...

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Can a for-profit incubator apply?
No — only not-for-profit organizations whose primary mission is incubation or acceleration are eligible under this stream. For-profit businesses should apply to CED's REGI BSP or QEDP streams.
Why is CED's cost-share rate up to 90% when other RDAs cap at 50-75%?
CED applies higher rates for not-for-profit ecosystem organizations delivering a public-benefit mission (incubation/acceleration). This is specific to Quebec's delivery model — confirm with CED that your organization qualifies for the 90% rate.
The dedicated 2024-2028 call closed — can we still apply?
Yes — after the dedicated call closed in May 2024, eligible organizations access support through CED's regular REGI and QEDP channels on a rolling basis. Contact CED to confirm the current process.
What's a realistic grant size for a Quebec accelerator?
Typically $200,000–$1,000,000 for annual programming; larger multi-year initiatives may reach $2M. The 90% cost-share makes larger budgets accessible with only a small matching requirement.
Why do applications get rejected?
Most common: the organization's primary mission is not incubation/acceleration, insufficient track record, or weak performance measurement framework. Verify the current intake process with CED before applying.

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