Open Innovation Subsidy Program

This subsidy program helps emerging companies test innovative solutions in a business context by partnering with stable organizations. It aims to support projects that will have an impact on the sustainable transformation of Montréal.

City of Montreal

Overview of the Open Innovation Subsidy Program program:

This financial incentive gives start-ups the chance to start a business relationship with an established organization in Montréal. The objective of the program is to stimulate the commercialization of innovations that address an urban issue, the ecological transition or the labour shortages. Urban issues include Montréal’s economic, cultural and social development; environmental management; transportation systems; or revitalization of neighbourhoods or wasteland. As part of this collaboration, the emerging company gets financial and technical support, along with an extended business network. For its part, the partner organization gets the agility of a start-up and access to an innovative solution.

Benefits of the Open Innovation Subsidy Program program:

The maximum amount of the subsidy is equal to 50 per cent of the actual cost of the project and cannot exceed $50,000.

Eligibility criteria of the Open Innovation Subsidy Program program:

To qualify for this program, the following criteria must be met:
For Start-up companies:
- The companys head office or principal place of business must be located in one of Montreals borough or neighbouring municipalities
- Be in the start-up phase or in operation for fewer than five years
- Have a team of at least two people working full-time
- Post annual sales equal to or lower than $2 million
- If the company is a joint-stock company, its capital stock must primarily be held by Canadian citizens, permanent residents or holders of a Certificat de selection au Quebec. The company cannot be more than 50 per cent owned by another legal person. Social economy companies (co-ops or non-profits) are also eligible.
For Partner Organizations:
- Must be established within the Montreal agglomeration
- Must be a legal entity governed by public or private law with more than 50 employees or independent workers
- Must be a non-profit corporation such as a cooperative or industrial cluster
- The city can act as a partner organization to test a product, except for the Service de developpement economique, which manages the program.