Northern Industries Innovation Fund

💡What Is This Program?

🎁What Benefits Are Offered?

Provides incremental funding, up to 50% of the total project budget, for innovation projects that support applied research and development, new or improved products and services, and testing of innovative equipment or technologies. Aims to increase competitiveness, support economic diversification, and mitigate the economic impact of the pine beetle epidemic in Northern B.C. businesses.

📋What Are the Application Steps & Timeline?

📝Steps to ApplySource

• Contact Northern Development to discuss project scope
• Complete the application form
• Submit the application with required attachments
• Northern Development reviews the application
• Complete due diligence process
• Receive funding decision notification
• If approved, receive formal letter
• Sign and return the agreement
• Submit completed reporting form with attachments

🌐Application PortalSource

https://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca

📤Submission MethodSource

online

📅Key DatesSource

Continuous until annual budget is committedApplication acceptance

Within one week of receipt of completed applicationApplication review decision

🔄Intake TypeSource

continuous

📄What Documents Are Required?

✅Required DocumentsSource

• Northern Industries Innovation Fund Application Form
• Detailed budget for the project
• Supporting detailed quote(s) and/or consultant proposal (if applicable)
• Copy of applicant’s incorporation document (if applicable)
• Letter(s) of support (if applicable)

📥Templates AvailableSource

• Staff Labour Expenses Template
• Spreadsheet detailing all project expenses

✉️Supporting LettersSource

Letter(s) of support (if applicable)

💰What Expenses Are Eligible?

🧾Eligible ExpensesSource

• Capital expenditures
• Direct third-party project labour costs, including travel
• Innovative equipment for research trials
• Incremental third-party project management
• Wages for direct project labour
• Contractor fees
• PST
• Monetized donations

🚫Ineligible ExpensesSource

• GST
• Costs incurred prior to signing an agreement
• Purchases of construction equipment or tools not primary subject
• Vacation pay, statutory holiday pay, WCB, extended benefits
• Operational costs, overhead expenses, administrative staff wages
• In-kind (volunteer) labour

📏Expense CapsSource

None stated

💳Payment ModelSource

reimbursement

⏪Retroactive Expenses EligibleSource

No

🤝Is Matching Funding Required?

🔀Matching RequiredSource

Yes

📊Matching RatioSource

10% minimum

🏦Eligible Matching SourcesSource

• cash
• monetized donations

📚Stacking RulesSource

Eligible for combining with other funding sources

🛡️Proof of Matching RequiredSource

Confirmation of the committed donation(s)

📊What Are the Reporting Requirements?

🗓️Reporting FrequencySource

annual

📑Reporting RequirementsSource

• Project ledger detailing all project expenses
• Spreadsheet detailing all project expenses
• Copies of invoices
• Evidence of work completed (i.e. photos, reports, studies, research)

🔍Audit RequirementsSource

All Northern Industries Innovation Fund projects supported by Northern Development must be evaluated and verified following the completion of the project prior to releasing funding.

📢Branding RequirementsSource

Applicants must make project deliverables available to Northern Development in order to undertake quality assurance.

🗄️Record Retention PeriodSource

3 years