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

The purpose of the Science, Research, Innovation and Commercialization Designated Program is to:

    1. Increase the development and adoption of innovative best practices and technology that builds on the Sector’s research capacity and increase knowledge, sharing and commercialization;
    2. Increase creation and commercialization of innovative technologies, products and practices;
    3. Increase adoption of best practices, technology and innovations; and
    4. Address challenges and opportunities and continue to work to move applied research into the market through knowledge mobilization and support for commercialization.

Eligible Activities

The following activities are eligible to be undertaken under the Science, Research, Innovation and Commercialization Designated Program, including any Initiative established thereunder:

  1. Sustaining and generating new, core capacities needed to undertake world-class research and scientific, economic and data analysis;
  2. Applied research;
  3. Developing technology and products;
  4. Disseminating knowledge;
  5. Commercialization;
  6. Research impact assessments;
  7. Fostering collaboration among governments, the agri-food research and innovation community and the Sector in Ontario;
  8. Developing highly skilled researchers, policymakers and innovators in government, academia and the agri-food sector;
  9. Developing technology, start-ups and scale-ups through coordinated hubs;
  10. Developing products and market validation;
  11. Research equipment;
  12. Private sector partnerships to undertake science, research and innovation-type activities that advance the agri-food sector in Ontario;
  13. Science, research and innovation-type activities outside of traditional research-based entities;
  14. Pilot and demonstration projects of agri-food technologies developed in Ontario and from other jurisdictions to encourage adoption;
  15. Communicating success stories that build public trust and improve understanding of the Sector’s successes related to science, research and innovation; and
  16. Any activity set out in:
    1. A Recipient’s Transfer Payment Agreement or a Vendor’s Service Level Agreement, or
    2. Any Designated Program Guidelines for the Science, Research, Innovation and Commercialization Designated Program or any Initiative Guidelines for any Initiative established under the Science, Research, Innovation and Commercialization Designated Program,

provided that activity falls within the purpose of the Science, Research, Innovation and Commercialization Designated Program.

Eligible Persons

The following are eligible to participate in the Science, Research, Innovation and Commercialization Designated Program, including any Initiative established thereunder:

    1. Primary Producers;
    2. Processors;
    3. Industry Organizations;
    4. Research Bodies;
    5. Retailer/Wholesalers;
    6. Service Providers;
    7. P/T/M Governments; and
    8. Indigenous Peoples.