Innovation - The key to economic growth
The Government of Canada recognizes that the knowledge-based economy of the 21 st century can only take hold in countries and regions that innovate, improve productivity, develop and implement the latest technology, invest in skills for their citizens, and seek out new opportunities around the world.
To find out more about Canada's Innovation Strategy, visit www.innovation.gc.ca
How can the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency help?
Atlantic Innovation Fund
The Atlantic Innovation Fund is an initiative
through which the Government of Canada is
making strategic investments aimed at increasing
Atlantic Canada's innovation capacity.
The Fund is a key component of the Atlantic
Investment Partnership.
The Atlantic Innovation Fund is focused on:
- Projects in the areas of natural and applied
sciences, as well as social sciences and
humanities where these are explicitly linked to
the development of technology-based products,
processes or services.
- Research and development activity that is
linked to economic development and
commercialization of technologies, particularly
in areas that support the growth of strategic
sectors and clusters.
- Projects that demonstrate pan-Atlantic
collaboration and research beyond a single
locale or province.
Business Development Program
The Business Development Program is designed
to help individuals set up, expand or modernize
a business. Focusing on small and medium-sized
enterprises, the program offers access to
capital in the form of interest-free, unsecured
loans and provisionally repayable loans.
Developing your Innovative Ideas:
The Business Development Program can
provide an interest-free, provisionally repayable
loan of up to 75 per cent of the eligible costs of
developing new or improved products, services
and processes.
Innovation Skills Development Initiative
The Innovation and Skills Development
Initiative is designed to improve the innovation
management and technical competencies of
small and medium-sized enterprises in Atlantic
Canada.
All technology-oriented small and medium-sized
enterprises in Atlantic Canada,
demonstrating a commitment to, and plans for,
enhancing their innovation and skills
capabilities could qualify for contributions of up
to 75 per cent of approved costs per project.
The assistance will be in the form of a
non-repayable contribution and shall be less
than $100,000.
Contact your local ACOA office
Understanding how innovation and technology skills can broaden your business opportunities is as easy as getting in touch with us.
Canada Business Service Centre
To help you get a handle on your options, just
call the Canada Business Service Centre
network, the first point of contact for business
information and assistance programs in Atlantic
Canada.
You can contact your nearest Canada Business
Service Centre: 1-800-668-1010 or
www.cbsc.org
