The Build in Canada Innovation Program gives Canadian innovators something they desperately need: a first customer willing to test their products before they've made a single commercial sale. Launched in 2010 and made permanent in Budget 2012, this program addresses the classic "chicken and egg" problem where companies can't sell without proven results, but can't get results without a customer willing to take a chance.
How It Works
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada manages the program, which provides government departments with the opportunity to test pre-commercial innovations through actual procurement contracts. These aren't grants or subsidies—they're real contracts where departments act as the first customer, putting your innovation through its paces in operational conditions.
The program caps standard component innovations at $500,000 CAD and military innovations at $1,000,000 CAD. Your innovation needs to meet specific Technology Readiness Level requirements (TRL 7-9), meaning you must have a prototype ready for demonstration in a realistic environment. You can't have sold it commercially before applying, and it must contain at least 80% Canadian content. According to the program's eligibility criteria, private companies, public companies, not-for-profit organizations, universities, or individuals can apply—as long as they're Canadian or partnered with a Canadian bidder and own the intellectual property rights.
The results? As of July 2017, the program had awarded more than 240 contracts totalling over $100 million across 30 participating departments, with an 80% commercialization rate for tested innovations. That last number matters most—it demonstrates the program actually works as a bridge to commercial success, not just a funding mechanism.
Key Considerations
- Pre-qualification doesn't guarantee a contract. Getting pre-qualified means you meet the eligibility criteria, but actual contract awards depend on departmental needs, fiscal year budgets, and the contract award process. Don't treat pre-qualification as a done deal.
- The "never sold commercially" requirement is absolute. If you've made even one commercial sale of your innovation, you're ineligible. This program specifically targets that pre-commercialization gap where traditional procurement can't reach you.
- The 80% Canadian content threshold applies to the innovation itself. This doesn't mean your entire company operations—it's specifically about where the intellectual property, development, and components originate.
- You're competing across all technology sectors. The program isn't limited to specific industries, which means your medical device might compete for attention alongside cybersecurity tools or clean tech solutions, depending on departmental priorities.
Related Terms
Innovative Solutions Canada (the successor initiative focusing on challenge-driven procurement), Set-Aside Programs, Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements, Intellectual Property Rights in Procurement
Sources
- Build in Canada Innovation Program - Program Guide, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
- Build in Canada Innovation Program celebrates support of Canadian innovators, Public Services and Procurement Canada
- Build in Canada Innovation Program - Eligibility and Definitions
If you're sitting on an innovation that's ready for real-world testing but can't crack the commercial market without proof of concept, this program exists specifically for you. The 80% commercialization rate suggests it's doing exactly what it was designed to do.