NGen Pilot Projects: Up to $250,000 for SME Manufacturing Partners
Adopting a new manufacturing technology is risky for a small company working alone: the equipment, the process work and the people all cost money before you know the idea will pay off. NGen's Pilot Project stream is built for that stage, funding partnerships of small and medium-sized manufacturers that want to prove out a technology or a process change together.
The stream provides up to $250,000 on a 50% cost-share, for projects that advance high-potential technologies, transform processes and de-risk technology adoption. The program is open, and applications are being accepted.
What is NGen?
NGen — Next Generation Manufacturing Canada — is Canada's Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster. It is an industry-led, non-profit organization that funds collaborative projects to develop, adopt and scale advanced manufacturing technologies.
The Pilot Project stream is aimed at SME partnerships. Its purpose is to help companies advance high-potential technologies, transform their processes and de-risk technology adoption within the Canadian manufacturing ecosystem.
NGen at a glance
| Detail | NGen — Next Generation Manufacturing Canada |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | $50K – $250K |
| Program type | Grant |
| Level | Federal |
| Where it applies | Canada-wide |
| Status | Open |
| Deadline | No fixed deadline on record |
| What it funds | R&D / Proof of Concept, Prototype / Product Development, Product Demonstration / Pilot, Commercialization / Market Launch, Productivity / Automation / Equipment |
| Industries | Advanced Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace, Equipment Manufacturing, Plastics Moulds Rubber, Software & IT |
| Company stage | Startup, Growth, Expansion |
| Payment model | Milestone |
| Matching funds required | Yes |
| Competition level | Moderate |
How much funding is available?
A Pilot Project can receive up to $250,000, with NGen covering 50% of the cost and the partners funding the rest. The total project value must be between $100,000 and $500,000.
Funding is paid against milestones. Only certain costs count, and two categories are capped as a share of the total project:
- Eligible costs: salaries and wages, sub-contracts and consultancy, equipment and supplies, user fees, materials, travel and dissemination
- Sub-contracts and consultancy: a maximum of 70% of the total
- Capital equipment and supplies: a maximum of 20% of the total
Who is eligible?
The companies
- Any SME with fewer than 500 full-time employees that is incorporated in Canada can take part.
- Each company must be a member of the NGen Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster. Membership is free.
- Projects must include at least two partnering SMEs; there are no single company applications.
- International organizations may participate as partners, but their work is not eligible for funding.
The project
- The total project value must be between $100,000 and $500,000.
- Projects must be completed within nine months of initiation.
- The work should develop technical capability, project management capacity and market knowledge.
- It must include at least one of: an IP commercialization strategy, business case development, technical program development, risk mitigation planning, technology development, manufacturing process development, or manufacturing process scale-up.
When and how to apply
The program is open, and applications are being accepted. Applications go through NGen and come from a partnership, not a single company, so line up at least two partnering SMEs and make sure each is an NGen member before you apply.
Plan the work so it can be completed within nine months of initiation, and build the budget around the eligible costs and the 70% and 20% limits.
The status of NGen — Next Generation Manufacturing Canada 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 NGen right for you?
The Pilot Project stream suits Canadian SMEs in manufacturing that already have a partner, or a likely one, and a contained technical question they can answer in nine months. Watch the structure: two SME partners are the minimum, your share of the cost is half, and work done by international partners is not funded.
Next steps: look up NGen — Next Generation Manufacturing Canada 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 27, 2026. Programs change — confirm current terms on the official program page before you apply.