Innovative Solutions Canada: Paid Government Contracts up to $1M
A new product is hard to sell until someone has used it. Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) answers that problem by having government departments hire innovative Canadian companies to test their products in live federal environments.
Companies receive a paid contract of $150,000 to $1,000,000, which brings market validation, a paying reference customer and a pathway to federal procurement. ISC is open, and it works through government challenges rather than a fixed deadline.
What is ISC?
ISC is a federal program in which government departments act as the first customer for innovative Canadian technology. A department sets out a challenge, and companies whose technology addresses it can apply to test their product in a live federal environment.
The company is paid under a contract of up to $1M. Beyond the money, the contract gives you market validation, a paying reference customer you can point to, and a pathway to federal procurement. It funds prototype work and commercialization, and it is aimed at growing and expanding companies.
ISC at a glance
| Detail | Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | $150K – $1M |
| Program type | Grant |
| Level | Federal |
| Where it applies | Canada-wide |
| Status | Open |
| Deadline | No fixed deadline — challenge-based. Apply during the posting window (typically 6–8 weeks) of a government challenge that matches your technology. |
| What it funds | Commercialization / Market Launch, Prototype / Product Development |
| Industries | Software & IT, ECE, Medical Devices, Advanced Manufacturing |
| Company stage | Growth, Expansion |
| Payment model | Milestone |
| Matching funds required | No |
| Competition level | Moderate |
How much funding is available?
ISC pays through a contract worth $150,000 to $1,000,000. Payment is tied to milestones, and no matching contribution is required from your company.
Who is eligible?
Your company
- You must be a Canadian small business with under 499 employees.
- Your company must own the IP of the solution.
Your technology
- Your technology must address a defined government challenge.
- It must be an innovative product that is not yet commercially available at scale.
When and how to apply
ISC has no fixed deadline. It is challenge-based: you apply during the posting window of a government challenge that matches your technology, and that window is typically 6–8 weeks.
Because each challenge is open for a limited time, the practical step is to know which challenges fit your product and be ready to apply while the window is open.
The status of Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) in EVAMAX Grant AI™ is currently Open. Grant AI™ re-checks it against the official program page, so look there for the latest before you start an application.
Is ISC right for you?
ISC suits Canadian small businesses in software and IT, electronics, medical devices and advanced manufacturing that own their technology and have a product close to market but not yet sold at scale. Competition is moderate, and the first test is fit: your product has to answer a challenge a government department has defined.
Next steps: look up Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) in EVAMAX Grant AI™ to see its live status and other programs that fit your company, or talk to EVAMAX about building your application.
Program details are from the EVAMAX Grant AI™ record as of October 30, 2026. Programs change — confirm current terms on the official program page before you apply.