Northern Innovation Stream

Overview of the Northern Innovation Stream program:

Funding is provided for pilot and demonstration projects in Northern Ontario that involve research and development or commercialization activities for new technologies in specific sectors.

Benefits of the Northern Innovation Stream program:

• Eligible applied research & development activities and associated costs include, but are not limited to:
• Direct internal technical labor costs
• Prototyping costs (engineering and design services and component purchase, fabrication, and installation costs)
• Product testing
• Intellectual property protection costs
• Research and development services provided by public sector partners
• Eligible demonstration & commercialization activities and associated costs include, but are not limited to:
• Direct internal technical labor costs
• Building or renovation costs specifically related to the commercialization of the new technology
• Prototype demonstration costs (engineering and design services and equipment purchases, fabrication and installation costs)
• Material costs
• Product certification costs
• Research and development services provided by public sector partners
• Marketing costs (in-person or virtual trade show assistance and marketing material design costs) - limited to 20% of total eligible project costs

Eligibility criteria of the Northern Innovation Stream program:

• Private-sector businesses alone, or in partnership with a public sector academic or research institution.
• For public-private partnership projects, the private-sector business is the lead applicant and the funding recipient.
• For public-private partnership projects, the partnering academic or research institution must have the relevant expertise and resources required by the private-sector partner to complete the proposed project.