What is CanExport Innovation?
CanExport Innovation is delivered by National Research Council (NRC) as a grant. Funding is typically up to $500,000. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to $500,000 |
|---|---|
| Cost share | 50% |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant |
| Delivered by | National Research Council (NRC) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open — rolling |
| Last verified | Apr 2026 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Technology, innovation — all sectors with IP or R&D
- Employee count: max 500
- Eligible activities: Technology licensing; IP commercialization in foreign markets; international R&D collaboration
Watch out for
No technology or IP component; purely domestic; over 500 employees
Deadlines & how to apply
Specifically for commercializing Canadian technology internationally; different from CanExport SMEs
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.