CanExport Innovation: Up to $37,500 for Foreign R&D Partnerships
A research partnership with a foreign partner has costs before any joint work begins: travel to meet the partner, legal and business advice, and IP protection in international markets. CanExport Innovation is a federal grant that helps Canadian organizations establish and formalize new collaborative research and development (R&D) partnerships with foreign partners for a single technology.
The program is currently paused. The September 2026 intake window has closed, and the next intake dates are not yet posted. CanExport Innovation covers up to 75% of eligible costs: applicants submit a budget of up to $50,000, for a grant of up to $37,500.
What is CanExport Innovation?
CanExport Innovation is a federal grant, available Canada-wide, for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises, academic institutions and non-government research centres. It helps them establish and formalize new collaborative R&D partnerships with foreign partners for a single technology.
It covers up to 75% of eligible costs to pursue and sign collaborative R&D agreements: travel to meet pre-identified foreign partners, IP protection and certification in international markets, expert legal and business advice, shipping technology to test compatibility with a partner’s, and translating or adapting promotional materials.
The grant pays for forming the partnership. The actual R&D work after an agreement is signed is not funded.
CanExport Innovation at a glance
| Detail | CanExport Innovation |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | Up to $37.5K |
| Program type | Grant |
| Level | Federal |
| Where it applies | Canada-wide |
| Status | Paused |
| Deadline | September 1, 2026 — The September 2026 intake window (portal open 24 hours from 12 PM EST on September 1) has closed; applications are being assessed until the budget is fully allocated, with defence and dual-use projects first, then Indo-Pacific partnerships. The program runs four intakes a year — next dates not yet posted. |
| What it funds | Export / International Markets, R&D / Proof of Concept |
| Industries | All sectors, including Software & IT, ECE, Medical Devices, Life Sciences |
| Company stage | Growth, Expansion, Established |
| Payment model | Lump Sum |
| Matching funds required | Yes |
| Competition level | Moderate |
How much funding is available?
CanExport Innovation covers up to 75% of eligible costs. Applicants submit a budget of up to $50,000, for a grant of up to $37,500. An organization can receive up to $100,000 in any 12-month period.
Your organization covers the rest. You need sufficient private revenues to cover 25% of project costs, and in-kind contributions are not permitted. The grant is paid as a lump sum.
- Coverage: up to 75% of eligible costs.
- Budget: applicants submit a budget of up to $50,000.
- Grant: up to $37,500.
- Limit for one organization: up to $100,000 in any 12-month period.
- Your share: 25% of project costs, from private revenues.
Who is eligible?
The organization
- Your organization must be a Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (for-profit, with fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees), an academic institution, or a non-government research centre.
- It must be registered in Canada with an active Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number.
- You need sufficient private revenues to cover 25% of project costs. There is no minimum revenue, and in-kind contributions are not permitted.
- Not eligible: accelerators, incubators, charities, third-party representatives, and government entities.
The technology
- You must own, co-own, or have decision-making authority over the IP rights for the technology.
- Your prototype must be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher.
- You must intend to commercially launch the technology within 5 years.
The application
- Each application covers one technology, with up to three foreign partners.
- No retroactive costs: expenses before the project start date are not reimbursed.
When and how to apply
CanExport Innovation is paused and is not accepting applications. The September 2026 intake window, when the portal was open for 24 hours from 12 PM EST on September 1, has closed.
Applications from that intake are being assessed until the budget is fully allocated, with defence and dual-use projects first, then Indo-Pacific partnerships. The program runs four intakes a year, and the next dates are not yet posted.
The status of CanExport Innovation in EVAMAX Grant AI™ is currently Paused. Open the program there and choose “Remind me” to be told when it changes.
Is CanExport Innovation right for you?
CanExport Innovation suits growth, expansion and established-stage Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises, academic institutions and non-government research centres that have a prototype at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher and want to formalize a collaborative R&D partnership with a foreign partner. Watch for the limits: you must cover 25% of project costs from private revenues, expenses before the project start date are not reimbursed, and the actual R&D work after an agreement is signed is not funded. Competition is moderate, and the next intake dates are not yet posted.
Next steps: look up CanExport Innovation 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 14, 2026. Programs change — confirm current terms on the official program page before you apply.