Innovate to Opportunity

📋 Eligible Entities - For-profit businesses of all sizes (small, medium, large enterprises) - Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) - Partnerships with Canadian business registration - Sole proprietorships operating in Canada - Businesses across all sectors eligible, provided they meet program criteria - Excludes: Non-profits, government entities, and non-Canadian controlled businesses ### 💰 Funding Details - Wage Subsidy Coverage: Up to 50% of salary costs in Year 1 - Program Duration: 3-year wage subsidy period - Subsidy Structure: Declining or tiered subsidy model (subsidy percentage decreases in Years 2 and 3) - Repayability: Non-repayable grant (wage subsidy, not a loan) - Matching Requirements: No cost-matching requirement mentioned; business covers remaining salary portion - Per-Hire Limits: Specific salary caps may apply per position (verify with program administrator) ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - Salaries and wages for newly hired recent Masters graduates - Salaries and wages for newly hired recent PhD graduates - Research and innovation-focused positions (direct R&D roles) - Export capacity building roles (positions supporting export preparation or expansion) - Eligible payroll costs including CPP, EI, and other statutory employer contributions - Excludes: Non-research roles, management overhead unrelated to innovation/export, or existing employee salary increases ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Hiring Requirement: Must hire recent Masters or PhD graduates (graduation recency window applies—typically 2-5 years) - Job Focus: Position must be directly tied to research, innovation, or export capacity development - Export Connection: Hire must support business's ability to begin, prepare for, or expand exporting - Employment Duration: Employee must remain employed throughout subsidy period to maintain full benefit - Reporting & Compliance: Annual reporting on hired employees, roles, and export outcomes required - Wage Records: Maintain detailed payroll