Comprehensive guide to 20 manufacturing funding programs in Ontario
Businesses in Ontario can access 20 specialized manufacturing programs combining federal and provincial funding opportunities.
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $50 million
Supports large-scale, transformative and collaborative projects between industry, researchers and non-profit organizations that help grow Canada's economy.
Organization: National Research Council Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $1 million
Provides advice, connections and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market.
Organization: Canada Revenue Agency
Level: federal
Amount: Up to 68% tax credit
Federal tax incentive program that encourages Canadian businesses to conduct research and development in Canada.
Organization: Global Affairs Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $99,999
Helps small and medium-sized enterprises pursue new export opportunities and markets.
Organization: Digital Technology Supercluster
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $5 million
Builds digital technology solutions that address challenges in health, manufacturing, and natural resources.
Organization: Government of Ontario
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to 8% tax credit
Refundable tax credit for eligible R&D expenditures incurred in Ontario by qualifying corporations.
Organization: Export Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
Provides a suite of financial solutions (insurance, guarantees, financing) to help Canadian companies grow their export business and manage risk.
Organization: Colleges and Institutes Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
Connects businesses with colleges and institutes for applied research projects, often via grants like NSERC's college programs.
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $100 million
Supports large-scale industrial transformation projects that strengthen Canada's industrial capacity, often through contributions to major facility or innovation upgrades.
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $1.5 billion
Supports the development and expansion of domestic clean fuel production capacity through project funding (capital investments in new facilities or upgrades).
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $10 million
Supports innovative, first-in-kind projects in the forest sector that increase competitiveness and environmental performance (e.g., bioenergy, biomaterials).
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $10 million
Supports research, development and demonstration projects in critical minerals mining, processing and recycling, aiming to advance critical mineral supply chains.
Organization: Canada Media Fund
Level: federal
Amount: Varies (grant or recoupable investment)
Supports the creation of Canadian content in television, digital media and interactive platforms through various funding streams (development, production, marketing).
Organization: Telefilm Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
Supports the Canadian audiovisual industry through investments and funding for film, television, and digital media projects (production, development, marketing funds).
Organization: Canada Council for the Arts
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
Supports Canadian artists and arts organizations through a variety of grants for creation, production, professional development, touring, and more in arts and culture sectors.
Organization: NGen (Supercluster)
Level: federal
Amount: Varies (project-based funding)
Canada's Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster that co-funds collaborative, transformative manufacturing and technology projects led by industry consortia to scale up innovation.
Organization: Scale AI
Level: federal
Amount: Varies (project-based funding)
Canada's artificial intelligence supercluster that funds collaborative projects deploying AI to enhance supply chains. Supports industry-led consortia in retail, manufacturing, transportation and more.
Organization: Innovation Factory (Hamilton)
Level: private
Amount: Varies (e.g., $30,000 grand prize)
One of Canada's largest pitch competitions, where finalists compete for significant cash prizes from a pool of investors.
Organization: Innovation Factory
Level: private
Amount: Over $150,000 in cash and professional resources
The Hamilton region's premier annual pitch competition where up-and-coming entrepreneurs pitch to a panel of investors for cash and in-kind prizes.
Organization: Government of Ontario
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to 33% of costs, to a max of $2.5 million
Provides financial support to help small-to-medium sized life sciences enterprises (SMEs) in Ontario scale up, commercialize new products, and build domestic manufacturing capacity.