CanExport SMEs

CanExport SMEs is a funding program designed to promote and enhance Canada’s trade diversification efforts. It offers grants and contributions to Canadian companies to help them prepare for and establish a presence in international markets where they currently have little or no sales. The program focuses on export marketing activities of existing products and services in foreign markets. Activities designed to attract investment or related to a company’s day to day operations in Canada are ineligible. Activities related to the development, production and distribution of new products and services are also ineligible. CanExport SMEs supports exploratory activities as well as activities that contribute toward a longer-term strategy for internationalization. Companies may opt for a multi-year project, or submit a new application to build upon a previous project. Including up to 5 international markets helps companies accelerate their growth and pursue a regional expansion strategy. The choice of 7 activity categories allows for a high degree of project customization. The program is delivered by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), Global Affairs Canada, in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

Grant Deadline

Deadline not available

Funding Amount

$50,000

Type of Grant

Grant

Sectors

Fintech, Finance, Aerospace, Architecture/Design, Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture, Automotive, Aviation, Biotechnology, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Construction, Consulting, E-Commerce, Educational Services, Electrical, Engineering, Environmental Sustainability, Film, Music, Entertainment, Food Processing, Forestry, Healthcare, Hospitality, HR, Industrial, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Mining, Oil & Gas, Researcher, Computer sciences, Security, Software, Supply Chain, Technology, Telecommunications, Tourism, Transportation, Utilities, Warehousing, SaaS, Media, Hardware, Wellness, research and discovery, Med Tech, Community, Sports & leisure, Restaurant

Demographics

Incorporation

For Profit

Perks

Region Restriction

This grant is restricted to whole of Canada

Keywords

development, business, canada, small business, economic development, international expansion, medium

Age Restriction

This grant is age restricted from 18 to 100

Eligibility and Requirements

Eligibility Criteria:

CanExport SMEs is open to all industry sectors.

To be eligible, your company must satisfy 5 essential criteria:

• Be for-profit
• Be an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP) or cooperative in Canada
• Have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number*
• Have fewer than 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• Have $100,000 to $100 million in annual revenue declared in Canada during its last complete tax reporting year (or during the last 12 months for monthly and quarterly filers)

* Companies that do not have a CRA business number because they are registered on First Nations reserve lands may write to CanExportSMEs@international.gc.ca.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses are described below and fall within the eight (8) categories listed.

For an "eligible expense" to be valid:

• the project activity and the related expense must take place within the project start and completion dates specified in your funding agreement; expenses and activities incurred and paid before the project start date or after the project completion date are not eligible.
• the project activity must fall within an approved category listed in your funding agreement and must be directly linked to one or more approved Target markets.

In all cases:

• payments must be made using a corporate/business bank account or a corporate/business credit card.
• refundable GST, taxes, duties and other items must be removed from the cost of the eligible expense;
• tips and items paid with reward points must be removed from the cost of the eligible expense.

Other eligible travel related costs:

• Seat selection: the cost of seat selection for a flight to an approved project "Target market/Destination".
• Baggage: the fees charged by airlines for checked luggage, or excess baggage.
• Travel to/from Canadian airport: the cost of "ground transportation" to/from the traveler's home or office to the airport.
• Electronic Travel Authority: Some countries, such as Australia, mandate a travel fee for short term trips. The cost incurred for these fees are eligible.

Ineligible companies and projects:

Third-party representatives:

• agents
• promoters
• consultants
• trading houses and export brokers (unless for the agriculture and agri-food sector)

Cannabis and tobacco related projects

We welcome projects from all sectors.

However, we do not offer funding for projects that have a focus on recreational cannabis, even in jurisdictions where its use is legal. This includes projects that focus on the cultivation or supply of recreational cannabis, as well as ancillary products related to its cultivation or use.

Additionally, we do not provide funding for projects focusing on tobacco, vaping or any similar industries involving recreational substance inhalation.

We make no exceptions to this.

Grant Application website

https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/funding-financement/canexport/sme-pme/index.aspx?lang=eng

Contact

If you are unsure about the eligibility of your company, please contact CanExportSMEs@international.gc.ca.