Amount: up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of
$30,000. 

The Export Development Program (EDP) allows Nova Scotia businesses to improve competitiveness, adopt technology and enhance e-commerce and also increase sales outside of Nova Scotia.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be a Nova Scotia registered business in good standing (current registration on the Registry of Joint Stock Companies)
  • Have a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia.
  • Have most of its workforce currently residing in Nova Scotia (some exceptions may apply, contact the Regional Business Development Advisor in your area to discuss).
  • Be engaged in, or have imminent plans to engage in, commercial activities outside of Nova Scotia, with fully developed exportable product(s), service(s), technology(ies), and/or intellectual property.
  • Have a business plan and a strategy to sell products/services outside of Nova Scotia outlining the company’s target market and distribution channels; and challenges in the target market and how they will be overcome.

EDP offers three streams to support your business growth.

Stream 1: Travel and Virtual Trade Missions

Eligible Projects:

  • Travel to a market (within Canada ONLY at this time, based on federal COVID-19 travel guidelines) to attend a trade show, conference or to visit clients, potential partners or investors.
  • Participate in a virtual trade show, mission or conference.
  • Invite foreign clients, potential partners or investors to visit the business’ Nova Scotia facilities for the first time.

Eligible Project Costs:

  • Standard floor space cost or virtual booth space for a non-retail trade show;
  • Entry-level conference registration fees (up to two representatives of the business);
  • Return base economy travel or equivalent transportation (up to two representatives of the business);
  • A per diem rate of $200 CAD ($400 x 50%) for each approved traveler to cover accommodations and in-market ground transportation/standard car rental (up to two representatives of the business). Per diem does NOT include the trip return day. Per
    diem expenses are capped at 7 days per trip;
  • Fees for translators or interpreters related to the project;
  • Fees for translating marketing materials for a virtual trade show/mission;
  • Incoming client/partner/investor first time visit eligible costs (up to two individuals) include return base economy airfare and per diem rates, subject to the guidelines above.
Minimum project cost is $1,000 CAD.

Stream 2: Hiring a Consultant to address challenges or barriers to selling products/services outside of Nova Scotia.

Allows to get expert help to address the challenges or barriers to selling your products/services outside of Nova Scotia.

Eligible Projects:

  • Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
  • Business growth, strategic and marketing plans.
  • Market research, feasibility or business case analysis for proposed or existing business activity.
  • Product research, development, and design.
  • Development plan for e-commerce platform for markets outside of Nova Scotia.
  • Business matchmaking or lead generation in new markets.
  • Business valuations for succession planning.
  • Productivity, efficiency, lean, capacity improvements, sustainability and reduction of carbon footprint.
  • Intellectual Property or Certification research or development (does not cover legal fees).
  • Technology implementation or development.
  • (Re)Branding for international markets.
  • E-commerce solution improvement.

Eligible Project Costs:

  • Consulting fees.
  • Consultant transportation and accommodations costs directly related to the project.

Minimum project cost is $5,000 CAD.

Stream 3: Digital Adoption

Eligible Projects:

  • Purchase software, hardware and platforms to enhance remote working productivity.
  • Implement e-commerce solutions and the digitization of internal operations.

Eligible Project Costs:

Initial expenses incurred while implementing new software, platforms, and hardware related to operational digitization and automation, e-commerce and digital marketing upgrades, new processes to aid remote working and broadband and connectivity upgrades.

Eligible costs include*:

  • Consultant fees related to the development and implementation of the technology solution (The chosen consultant must be at arms’ length from the applicant).
  • Inventory control software.
  • CRM software.
  • ERP software.
  • Accounting software.
  • Video conferencing software.
  • E-commerce platform and plug-in subscriptions when an initial expense upon implementation.
  • Computer hardware.
  • Photography equipment.
  • Remote working suites such as Google docs, Office 360 and ZOHO.
  • Cloud computing and web hosting such as Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
*If software is a subscription, up to one year of expenses will be eligible.

Amount

All eligible businesses can apply for up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $30,000 CAD across the three streams.

Deadline

Applications for the Export Development program must be received by January 14, 2022 at 5 PM.

Applications for Stream 1 will ONLY be considered for projects completed between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022.

Applications for Stream 2 and Stream 3 will ONLY be considered for projects completed between April 1, 2021 and March 15, 2022.