What is CanExport Innovation?
CanExport Innovation is delivered by Global Affairs Canada - Trade Commissioner Service (delivered with NRC IRAP) as a grant. Funding is typically up to $37,500 (75% of a max $50,000 project budget). This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to $37,500 (75% of a max $50,000 project budget) |
|---|---|
| Cost share | Program covers up to 75% of eligible costs; applicant covers 25% (in-kind contributions not permitted) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant |
| Delivered by | Global Affairs Canada - Trade Commissioner Service (delivered with NRC IRAP) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - next intake opens Sep 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST, 24-hour window only |
| Last verified | 2026-08-25 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Technology and innovation - any sector with a prototype (TRL 4+) and owned/controlled IP
- Employee count: max 500
- Eligible activities: Pursuing and signing collaborative R&D agreements with international partners: IP protection and certification in international markets, expert legal and business advice, shipping technology for feasibility testing with a partner, translation and promotional materials, virtual networking, travel to meet pre-identified foreign partners
Watch out for
No owned/controlled IP; no prototype (below TRL 4); no intent to launch commercially within 5 years; purely domestic project; over 500 employees
Deadlines & how to apply
TIME-CRITICAL AND UNUSUAL. The next intake opens Sep 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST and is open for 24 HOURS ONLY. Applications are then assessed first-come first-served, so preparation must be finished before the window opens, not during it. The September 2026 intake gives PRIORITY to defence and dual-use technologies under Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy, with secondary priority to Indo-Pacific partnerships; other eligible applications are considered from the remainder. Funding covers up to 75% of eligible costs on a maximum $50,000 project budget, so a maximum $37,500 contribution, capped at $100,000 per organization per year. Supports R&D collaboration agreements with foreign partners. Apply through the NRC portal, which requires an account set up in advance. Verified against the official program page and the 2026-27 applicant's guide, both modified Jul 28, 2026.
How NorthGrants helps with CanExport Innovation
Most business owners read about CanExport Innovation, see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.