Northern Industries Innovation Fund (NIIF)

Overview of the Northern Industries Innovation Fund (NIIF) program:

The Northern Industries Innovation Fund, administered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), provides financial assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and certain non-profits to promote innovation and industrial advancement in northern and central BC. The program focuses on fostering applied research and development, creating or improving products and services, and testing new technologies that enhance industrial efficiency and competitiveness. By offering incremental funding to complement other federal, provincial, or private investments, NIIF aims to stimulate capital investment decisions that lead to sustainable job creation, revenue growth, and economic diversification in the region. Eligible industries include agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas, energy, manufacturing, high-tech, industrial supply chain, and transportation. The program emphasizes innovation that addresses local challenges such as the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic and supports projects with regionally transferable outcomes. Funding is available for capital expenditures, third-party labour, consultant fees, and innovative equipment, with detailed reporting requirements to ensure accountability and measurable economic impact. Projects must align with NDIT’s economic diversification goals and demonstrate clear deliverables, including job creation, revenue increases, or cost savings over a three-year reporting period following completion.

Benefits of the Northern Industries Innovation Fund (NIIF) program:

• Funding support for research, development, and innovation initiatives.
• Financial leverage through matched funding with federal, provincial, or private programs.
• Encouragement of new technologies, improved industrial processes, and productivity gains.
• Regional economic diversification and mitigation of impacts from natural resource challenges (e.g., Mountain Pine Beetle).
• Job creation and retention within eligible industries.
• Access to Northern Developments expertise and evaluation tools.
• Quick review process with funding decisions made within a week for complete applications.
• Post-project support through structured reporting and economic impact tracking over three years.

Eligibility criteria of the Northern Industries Innovation Fund (NIIF) program:

• Eligible Applicants:
• Businesses headquartered within the Northern Development Initiative Trust region.
• Privately owned, incorporated entities with fewer than 500 employees and annual revenues under $100 million.
• Registered non-profit organizations engaged in industrial activity.
• Post-secondary institutions with private-sector applied research partnerships.
• Community contribution companies.
• Priority is given to applicants from regions most affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic and to projects with regional benefits.
• Eligible Industries:
• Agriculture, aquaculture, energy, forestry, high-tech, industrial supply chain, manufacturing, mining, oil & gas, and transportation.
• Eligible Projects:
• Applied research, technological innovation, value-added production, process improvement, site remediation, and adoption of new or improved technologies.
• Eligible Costs:
• Capital expenditures, contractor fees, third-party labour (including travel), innovative equipment for trials, and employer contributions to CPP/EI/pension.
• Ineligible Costs:
• GST, pre-agreement costs, operational overhead, administrative wages, vacation pay, in-kind volunteer labour, and non-research-related purchases.