Strategic Response Fund — Food Processing, Supply Chain and Manufacturing Call — Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Large federal contributions for food processing, supply chain and manufacturing projects. Applicants submit an expression of interest before being invited to a full application.
Eligibility Requirements
- Incorporated in Canada
- 10 or more employees
- Pursuing a commercially viable project in food and beverage processing, food-grade packaging and materials, industrial manufacturing systems, or agricultural inputs and critical food-system components
- Project aligns with building new domestic capacity, modernizing existing capacity, or strengthening supporting infrastructure
- Demonstrated financial capacity to complete the project
- A clear commercialization or operational pathway
- Able to begin implementation within a few months
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $10,000,000 to $50,000,000 in federal contribution per project, from a $350,000,000 envelope
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- First intake closed August 4, 2026. A second intake window opens in fall 2026.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win ISED
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 3-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 3-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipSubmitting an expression of interest is not a formal funding application; EOIs submitted after the first August 4, 2026 intake appear to be held for the second fall intake.
Rejection Pitfalls 6
- Project is too small: the federal contribution requested falls below the $10 million floor
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 3
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Applying for ISED? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow ISED Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Response Fund — Food Proces... | $10,000,000 to $50,000,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | First intake closed... |
| 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.) | Applications accepted... |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Researc... | 20-30% tax credit (CRIC) | Hard | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about ISED