Programme Accès aux talents ### 📋 Eligible Entities - Canadian SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) - Canadian startup companies - Businesses must be operating in the natural products or technology development sectors - Applicants must demonstrate capacity to hire and onboard a new employee ### 💰 Funding Details - Grant Amount: Up to 40% of new employee salary costs - Maximum Funding Cap: $75,000 per grant - Repayability: Non-repayable grant (forgivable funding) - Matching Requirement: Employer covers minimum 60% of salary costs - Duration: Typically covers salary costs for a defined employment period (verify specific term length with program administrator) ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - Salary costs for newly hired employees - Employment-related payroll deductions and benefits (as part of salary package) - Employee wages dedicated to projects involving: - Natural product development - Technology development and innovation - Product commercialization initiatives ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Hiring must be for a new employee position (not existing staff) - Employee must work on approved projects contributing to natural products or technology development - Employer must contribute minimum 60% of total salary costs - Grant funding capped at $75,000 per applicant - Project must demonstrate clear development outcomes or commercialization potential - Applicants must meet program intake deadlines and submission requirements - Employment must be maintained for the duration specified in the grant agreement - Regular reporting and compliance verification required throughout funding period