Ontario Business Grants 2026
- No repayment required (Zero Equity)
- Direct application links (No middlemen)
- Updated for March 2026 Deadlines
What government grants are available for Ontario businesses in 2026?
The Short Answer: Ontario businesses can access Starter Company Plus ($5,000–$10,000 non-repayable for early-stage companies), the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN, up to $250K for automotive and EV SMEs), NOHFC Northern Ontario grants (up to $1M), the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (10% of eligible capital), and federal programs stacked on top: IRAP, SR&ED, and CDAP. Ontario-based tech and manufacturing companies are among the best-funded businesses in Canada.
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Annual provincial programs
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Ontario Business Grants Comparison
4 grants found| Grant Name | Agency | Funding Amount | Deadline | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ontario Together Fund Apply directly with official links for Ontario business grants. No middlemen. Updated deadlines and verified zero-equity funding programs for 2026. OntarioBusiness Growth | Ontario Ministry of Economic Development | $250,000 - $2,500,000 | Rolling basis | Active | Application Guide |
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit Apply directly with official links for Ontario business grants. No middlemen. Updated deadlines and verified zero-equity funding programs for 2026. OntarioR&D | Ontario Ministry of Finance | $10,000 - $500,000 | Annual | Active | Application Guide |
Ontario Scale-Up Vouchers Program Apply directly with official links for Ontario business grants. No middlemen. Updated deadlines and verified zero-equity funding programs for 2026. OntarioStartups | Ontario Centres of Excellence | $10,000 - $25,000 | Quarterly | Active | Application Guide |
Ontario Centres of Excellence Apply directly with official links for Ontario business grants. No middlemen. Updated deadlines and verified zero-equity funding programs for 2026. OntarioTechnology | Ontario Centres of Excellence | $50,000 - $500,000 | Multiple rounds | Active | Application Guide |
Ontario Together Fund
Apply directly with official links for Ontario business grants. No middlemen. Updated deadlines and verified zero-equity funding programs for 2026.
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit
Apply directly with official links for Ontario business grants. No middlemen. Updated deadlines and verified zero-equity funding programs for 2026.
Ontario Scale-Up Vouchers Program
Apply directly with official links for Ontario business grants. No middlemen. Updated deadlines and verified zero-equity funding programs for 2026.
Ontario Centres of Excellence
Apply directly with official links for Ontario business grants. No middlemen. Updated deadlines and verified zero-equity funding programs for 2026.
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Our specialists can help you navigate Ontario's provincial programs.
Ontario provides extensive business grant programs to support innovation, growth, and economic development across the province. With over $400 million in annual funding, Ontario maintains its position as Canada's economic engine.
Key Ontario Grant Programs
- Ontario Together Fund - Up to $2.5M for business adaptation
- Ontario Innovation Tax Credit - 10% tax credit for R&D
- Ontario Scale-Up Vouchers - $25K for advisory services
- Ontario Centres of Excellence - Up to $500K for tech commercialization
Ontario business grants typically require companies to be incorporated in Ontario, demonstrate growth potential, and contribute to the province's economic objectives:
- Ontario business registration and operations
- Demonstration of innovation or growth potential
- Job creation or retention commitments
- Alignment with provincial priorities
Application Process
Ontario grant applications require detailed business plans, financial projections, and clear demonstration of economic impact. The province emphasizes innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth in its evaluation criteria.
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Ontario is Canada's largest economy and offers the country's most diverse business grant ecosystem. The province funds innovation through Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), the Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC), the Ontario Together Fund, and dozens of sector-specific programs administered through the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT). Ontario's size means more programs, but also more competition — strong applications are critical.
| Program | Amount | Best For | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Together Fund | $250K–$2.5M | Ontario manufacturers and businesses strengthening supply chains and adapting to economic challenges | Non-repayable grant; competitive |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC) | $10K–$500K | Ontario CCPCs doing SR&ED — adds 10% provincial refundable tax credit on top of federal 15–35% | Refundable tax credit; filed with SR&ED |
| Ontario Scale-Up Vouchers | $10K–$25K | High-growth Ontario tech startups accessing specialized advisory services for scaling | Non-repayable vouchers; quarterly intake |
| Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) | $50K–$500K | Ontario tech companies doing collaborative R&D with universities; commercialization focus | Non-repayable + industry match required |
| Invest Ontario Fund | $500K–$10M+ | Large-scale capital investments by companies creating significant Ontario jobs | Negotiated contributions; major employers only |
| Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit | Up to $2,000/person | Ontario individuals + employers training workers in eligible skills — supports employer-sponsored training | Refundable tax credit; annual filing |
The Ontario Innovation Tax Credit is a 10% refundable provincial tax credit applied to qualifying SR&ED (Scientific Research & Experimental Development) expenditures. It is claimed in addition to the federal SR&ED credit — and unlike the federal credit, the OITC's 10% applies to the full amount of qualifying Ontario R&D expenditure without the complex federal phase-out calculations. For a qualifying Ontario CCPC spending $500K on eligible R&D: federal SR&ED = ~$175K refund + OITC = $50K refund — total $225K non-dilutive return on $500K R&D investment.
FedDev Ontario (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) is Ontario's regional development agency, focused on business growth, innovation, and economic diversification in southern Ontario. For northern Ontario businesses, FedNor provides similar support. These federal programs stack with provincial programs for maximum funding coverage.
Ontario CCPCs doing qualifying R&D are entitled to a 10% provincial refundable tax credit on top of the federal SR&ED. Most Ontario companies working with SR&ED consultants correctly file the federal claim but miss the Ontario OITC supplement. Confirm your SR&ED consultant files Schedule T2SCH566 (OITC) with every Ontario provincial return — it should be automatic but frequently isn't.
OCE requires industry-academic collaboration — a formal agreement with an Ontario university, college, or research hospital before the application. Companies that apply without an established academic partner are automatically disqualified. Build your university relationship first (most Ontario universities have industry liaison offices that facilitate connections), then apply to OCE.
The Ontario Together Fund was specifically designed for supply chain strengthening and business adaptation — not general business expansion. Applications that don't clearly articulate supply chain resilience, domestic production, or economic challenge response miss OCE's evaluation criteria. Frame your project in supply chain and economic resilience language even if your underlying motivation is growth.
FedDev Ontario is one of the most underutilized federal programs by Ontario businesses — partly because it's less visible than NRC-IRAP or SR&ED. FedDev Business Scale-Up contributions ($500K–$10M+) are among the largest single grants available to Ontario companies outside of Invest Ontario. Growing Ontario companies with documented revenue and expansion plans should engage FedDev before their Series A, not after.
Ontario has sector-specific agencies that manage dedicated funding pools: Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) for digital media and film; Ontario Genomics for life sciences; MaRS Discovery District for health and cleantech startups; Communitech for Waterloo-region tech. These agencies often know about provincial and federal programs before they're publicly announced and can position your company for intake before deadlines.
FAQ: Ontario Business Grants 2026
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