Please Note: The Low Carbon Innovation Fund is closed and will not accept further applications. Please browse other research and innovation funding programs.
The Province of Ontario is a leader in the development of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission policies and government funding programs. Its unique focus on maintaining and even lessening environmental degradation goes beyond the actions of other provinces; this makes for new, exciting incentives that clean technology developers can access. Ontario-based businesses have many clean technology research, development, and demonstration funding programs available, of which, the Ontario Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF) is one of the most popular.
The Low Carbon Innovation Fund is an Ontario government funding program focused on supporting the development, validation, and demonstration of cutting-edge, pre-market clean technologies (cleantech). It provides funding to reduce the financial barriers associated with demonstrating, scaling-up and commercializing innovative low carbon technologies in an operational environment.
The Low-Carbon Innovation Fund reduces up to 50% of eligible costs to a total $250k – $2M in Ontario government grants.
There is a fast-approaching deadline for LCIF Self-Assessment and Expression of Interest (EOI) applications, therefore companies should consider starting the application process as soon as possible to ensure they meet the cut-off. The first stage of LCIF’s Technology Demonstration application process, the Self-Assessment and EOI applications, are due on September 22, 2017. Applicants will be notified in October 2017 if they will be advancing to the full Business Case application phase.
Low-Carbon Innovation Fund: Clean Technology Grants
The Low-Carbon Innovation Fund helps Ontario companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs mitigate significant risk and technical hurdles when validating innovative technologies prior to commercializing. These are the types of projects that will strengthen Ontario’s business landscape and ensure Ontario-based companies can be globally competitive within the ever-expanding market for clean technologies.
Through the Low-Carbon Innovation Fund, applicants may reduce up to 50% of eligible project costs to a total $250k to $2M in Ontario government grants.
There are two streams of Ontario government grants available through LCIF. They include:
- Technology Validation Projects: Supports proof of concept and/or prototype projects that could result in the development of revolutionary GHG reduction technologies.
- Technology Demonstration Projects: Supports the scale-up and commercialization of innovative low carbon technologies in a real world, operational demonstration project.
Projects Eligible for Ontario Cleantech Funding
To be considered eligible for funding through the Low-Carbon Innovation Fund, applicants should ensure the proposed project has a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of at least 5 and focuses on:
- First-time application of a new GHG reduction technology that addresses a specific need;
- Use of a proven technology that has been successful in a different sector/industry, but is unproven in the proposed application;
- Demonstration of a significant improvement or enhancement to an existing GHG reduction technology solution; and
- Technology validation, such as proof-of-concept and prototype development.
Applicants Eligible for LCIF Cleantech Grants Ontario
LCIF cleantech funding supports applicants from a wide variety of sectors; however, funding will be awarded only to Ontario-based:
- For-profit businesses;
- Municipalities;
- Research and academic institutions; and
- Non-profit organizations.
How to Apply for The Low-Carbon Innovation Fund
Application packages for the Province of Ontario’s Low-Carbon Innovation Fund require several documents to be submitted by a pre-defined intake deadline. To access the first round of LCIF funding, applicants must complete and upload the following documents by September 22, 2017:
- A self-assessment report; and
- An expression of interest (EOI) application package.
Please Note: These are the documents required for the first of a two-phase application process. Successful projects from round 1 of application screening will be asked for additional information about their project during the full application submission.
To get insight into the application process and how to submit an Expression of Interest for LCIF’s first intake on September 22, 2017, please contact Mentor Works or visit the program’s website for more details.