Grants for Agriculture and Food

Critical Industrial Technologies Initiative

Through the Critical Industrial Technologies initiative Ontario industry will converge with innovative SMEs to amplify Ontario’s rich critical technology capabilities and propel four key sectors of Ontario’s economy to the forefront of this transformation.

Four key sectors:

  • Mining
  • Advanced Manufacturing (non-auto)
  • Agri-Food
  • Construction

Critical technology areas:

  • 5G & advanced networks
  • AI
  • Blockchain
  • Robotics
  • Cybersecurity
  • Quantum

The Critical Industrial Technologies (CIT) initiative will support Ontario SMEs to develop new IP faster and at a greater scale for the benefit of the province and beyond. The Critical Industrial Technologies initiative is a Government of Ontario initiative led by OCI.

Goal of the CIT Initiative

The initiative will bring together key stakeholders at all levels to build an ecosystem that connects large companies and industry needs with SME solutions.

The initiative is committed to achieving the following 4 goals:

  • Building an Ontario critical technology ecosystem that propels Ontario’s mining, advanced manufacturing, construction, and agri-food sectors forward to be leaders in the global economy.
  • Supporting critical technology education and awareness to help SMEs understand the benefits of creating, commercializing, and adopting critical technologies.
  • Accelerating the growth of Ontario companies through the development and commercialization of Made-in-Ontario technologies and expanding critical technology talent.
  • Fueling significant advances within and between the four sectors by supporting the adoption, demonstration and integration of critical technologies.

Technology Development Sites

Technology Development Sites (TDS) are where SMEs can come to develop, test, and showcase their critical technology products and services, so they can hit the market faster.

TDSs are established by industry incumbents, vendors, and associations in their respective technology and/or sector domains. As part of the CIT program, OCI has partnered with these organizations to extend these capabilities for SMEs to utilize and integrate learnings, assets, and/or new IP into their product/service suites.

Small-and-Medium-Sized-Enterprises (SMEs) can access a Technology Development Site by:

  • Contacting the Critical Industrial Technologies team to apply for access
  • Applying to the Development and Commercialization Program for Technology Development Site Access with funding support for your project

CIT Programs

The Critical Industrial Technologies Initiative has a series of programs to drive the commercialization and adoption of critical technologies in the mining, advanced manufacturing, construction and agri- food sectors.

1. Development and Commercialization Program (DC)

Eligible SMEs can access a Technology Development Site to integrate, develop, test, and showcase their critical technologies solution with $50-200k of support from OCI.

Eligibility: 

SMEs interested in adopting, integrating, or demonstrating critical technologies and developing new IP-rich products and services.

2. Technology Access Program (TA)

Eligible SMEs can access a Technology Development Site to integrate, develop, test, and showcase their critical technologies solution.

Eligibility: 

SMEs interested in adopting, integrating, or demonstrating critical technologies and developing new IP-rich products and services.

3. Sector Adoption Program (SA)

Sector Adoption Program supports a consortium of partners working together to address a set challenge statement and catalyze impactful change for the whole sector. Up to $1 million available for a multi- partner consortium with a minimum of 1 SME.

Eligibility: 

Industry leaders seeking to collaborate on province-wide innovations that move the needle on critical technology challenges across the four key sectors.

4. Talent Development Program (TD)

Eligible SMEs can invest in critical technology training and support for employees.

Steam 1:
Internships for new, young talent creating the workforce of tomorrow

Stream 2: Upskilling/reskilling existing employees for the challenges of today

Eligibility: 

SMEs invested in modernizing their workforce to thrive in the dynamic future of critical technologies.

Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative: Ontario Grant for Agri-food Sector

Amount: up to $100,000 of total Eligible Costs per Project.

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Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative – Funding for equipment upgrade

Amount: 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $200,000 in funding.

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Alberta Agri-processing Investment Tax Credit

Amount: 12% non-refundable tax credit up to $175 million

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Maple Production Improvement Initiative

Amount: 50% cost-share funding for eligible costs up to $20,000 per project

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Small Food Processor Scale-Up Program

Amount: up to $150K in cost-shared funding of up to 75% of eligible costs.     

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The Health, Safety and Mental Health Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Protection and Risk Resilience: Plant Health Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Protection and Risk Resilience: Plant Health Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Protection and Risk Resilience: One Health, Food Safety and Animal Health Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Indigenous Agriculture and Food Development and Growth Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Business Assessment Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Productivity Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Labour: Attracting and Growing the Agri-Food Workforce Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Supply Chain Resiliency Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Facilitating Interprovincial Trade of Regulated Product Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Markets Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Interprovincial Research Collaboration Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Science, Research, Innovation and Commercialization Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Environmental Stewardship Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Greenhouse Gas Emissions-Reducing and Carbon Sequestration for Primary Producers Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program: Industrial Facility track

Amount: up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $10 million per proposal

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Grow Ontario Market Initiative

Amount: up to $125,000 in funding per Project

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Food Processing Growth Fund

Amount: up to 75% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $1,000,000.

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Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative

Amount: 20% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $300,000 in funding.

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Food Security and Supply Chain Fund

Amount: up to 25% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $150,000 per project.

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FoodShift Program

Amount: up to $50,000 in project-based matching funding.

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Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund

Amount: up to 20% of Eligible Costs, to a maximum of $3 million per applicant

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Agricultural Clean Technology Program

Amount: Funding 50% up to a maximum of $2 million per project.

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