Grant
Federal
Active
REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (FedDev Ontario)
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
Maximum Funding
Typically $125,000–$10,000,000 (non-repayable for NPO ecosystem...
Ongoing
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (FedDev Ontario) provides up to Typically $125,000–$10,000,000 (non-repayable for NPO ecosystem projects; up to ~50% of eligible costs). Non-repayable FedDev Ontario funding for not-for-profit innovation enablers — accelerators, incubators, Community Futures Development Corporations, economic-development organizations, and Indigenous organizations — that build southern Ontario's regional innovation ecosystem. The program covers up to 50% 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 FedDev Ontario funding for not-for-profit innovation enablers — accelerators, incubators, Community Futures Development Corporations, economic-development organizations, and Indigenous organizations — that build southern Ontario's regional innovation ecosystem. Projects must deliver business-support programming that helps Southern Ontario businesses and entrepreneurs grow, compete, and create jobs. Continuous intake with no set deadlines.
Eligibility Requirements
- Not-for-profit organization operating in southern Ontario (does not include Northern Ontario — FedNor delivers REGI there)
- Eligible organization types: non-profit corporations, Indigenous organizations, Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs), municipalities and regional governments, post-secondary institutions, and other innovation enablers
- Project must support businesses or community economic development in southern Ontario: growing economic clusters, building regional capacity (risk capital, export and talent services, technology adoption, mentorship and training), or strengthening small and rural communities (attracting business, talent and investment, supply chain localization)
- For-profit companies are generally not eligible under the RIE stream (apply to FedDev's REGI Business Scale-up & Productivity stream instead)
- Enhanced consideration for organizations serving underrepresented groups: women, Indigenous peoples, Black-led, and young entrepreneurs
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Typically $125,000–$10,000,000 (non-repayable for NPO ecosystem projects; up to ~50% of eligible costs)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% 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 TipFedDev Ontario's REGI RIE stream funds the organizations that support businesses — not the businesses themselves.
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Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Applicant is a for-profit company (must use REGI BSP stream instead)
+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 REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (Fed...
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 FedDev Ontario Contact FedDev Ontario (1-866-593-5505) to discuss your project concept. Officers confirm eligibility, the correct REGI stream, and advise on application requirements and timing.
Required Documents 8
✓ Project proposal with objectives, planned activities, timeline, and measurable outcomes
✓ Legal incorporation or registration documents confirming NPO status
Eligible Expenses 8
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
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development programs
Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDC) programming
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (Fed... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems... | Typically $125,000–$10,000,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Ongoing |
| Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI... | Up to 40% of eligible costs | Hard | Varies | 2027 competition open -... |
| Ontario Job Grant (formerly Canada-On... | Up to $10,000 per employee | Easy | Varies | Ongoing — year-round... |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Commercial Façade Improvement Grant P... | Up to $12,500 (50% of costs) | Easy | Reimbursement | Annual Intake |
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 REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (Fed...
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Can a for-profit accelerator or VC firm apply?
No — the RIE stream is restricted to not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations, municipalities, post-secondary institutions, and CFDCs. For-profit companies should apply to FedDev's REGI Business Scale-up & Productivity stream.
What's a realistic grant size for a mid-sized accelerator?
$200,000–$1,000,000 for most programming projects. Multi-year or large-scale cluster initiatives may reach $3M–$5M.
How long does the process take?
Typically 8–16 weeks from formal submission to a signed contribution agreement. Pre-consulting with FedDev before applying significantly speeds things up.
Do we need matching funding?
Yes — FedDev covers up to 50% of eligible costs. The remaining 50% must come from other government programs, private sector, in-kind contributions, or earned revenues.
Why do applications get rejected?
Most common reasons: for-profit applicant, project primarily benefits the applicant rather than the ecosystem, weak performance measurement, or insufficient matching funding secured.
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Full Playbook: REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems (Fed...
6 steps · 8 docs · reviewer insights