Accelerate Growth: Government Funding Expertise for London's (Ontario) Key Industries

Leveraging the power of Western University and the region’s largest hospital network, we secure capital for your R&D, equipment, and market expansion projects.

London is unique in its strength across three high-value clusters: Health Care, Advanced Manufacturing, and Food Processing. Successfully navigating this landscape requires more than general knowledge, it requires understanding the priorities of the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), Western University’s research mandates, and the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). Our expertise ensures your applications – whether for R&D tax credits or Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) loans – are positioned to maximize alignment with the city’s strategic growth drivers.

Do You Qualify for a Grant?

Key Funding Opportunities for London’s Innovation Economy

London’s diverse economy requires a funding strategy that is both regional and national in scope. We focus on the programs that provide the highest returns for London’s key sectors – Health-Tech, Advanced Manufacturing, and Agri-Food Processing.

Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit

The SR&ED program is the single most valuable source of capital for London’s Biotech, Medical Device, and Advanced Manufacturing firms. We treat the SR&ED tax credit as the financial foundation for your innovation. Our team, which includes top-level business and technical writers with experience in R&D claims, ensures you maximize the reimbursement (up to 35% on qualified expenditures) for the research, design, and experimental work done on-site in London. This critical, non-dilutive funding directly supports your labour and material costs associated with creating new or improving existing products and processes.

Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF)

SWODF is the most powerful regional expansion tool available to London businesses. Our expertise lies in positioning your project to align with SWODF’s mandate of economic development and job creation in Southwestern Ontario. We help you access capital for:

  • Large-Scale Equipment Purchase: Financing the machinery and automation needed by London’s manufacturers.

  • Facility Expansion: Funding for new construction or major retrofits of your plant or lab space.

  • Job Creation: Loans or grants (up to 15% of eligible costs) tied to a commitment to hiring new employees in the London area.

We focus on the detailed profitability analysis and technical reporting required to secure this fund and successfully meet the project targets.

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)

London and the surrounding Middlesex County are home to a massive Food & Beverage Processing cluster. While the Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund (a previous program) focused on expansion, SCAP supports a broader range of activities. We help processors secure funding for projects focused on modernization, sustainability, and food safety compliance. This includes grants for specialized equipment, technology adoption, and process enhancements that increase processing capacity and drive value-added production within the region.

Mitacs & Academic Partnership Grants

Leveraging the academic powerhouse of Western University and Fanshawe College is essential for innovation in London. We specialize in securing Mitacs Accelerate and related hiring grants that subsidize the cost of bringing graduate students and post-doctoral researchers into your company for R&D projects. These grants are critical for health-tech and advanced manufacturing firms needing specialized expertise without taking on the full salary burden, providing you with high-calibre talent to overcome skills shortages and advance your research agenda.

Dedicated Grant Strategy for London’s Key Economic Pillars

Economic Pillar

Grant Strategy & Expertise

Project Funding Examples

Health Care & Life Sciences

London is a hub for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and digital health. We target R&D, commercialization, and clinical trial funding to bring new health technologies to market.

Medical device R&D, Digital health solution commercialization, Clinical trial funding, Health data management technology

Advanced Manufacturing & Defence

We secure funding for manufacturers focused on high-value, specialized production, including the aerospace, automotive, and defence supply chains (e.g., General Dynamics Land Systems). Focus is on automation and productivity.

Robotics and automation adoption, Facility expansion/retooling, Defense supply chain upgrades, CNC equipment purchasing

Agri-Food Processing & Beverage

Home to major food and beverage processors, we target grants for capital investment in food safety, cold storage, and processing capacity expansion, often tied to the local agricultural supply chain.

New processing equipment, Cold chain and food safety upgrades, Energy efficiency (lighting/HVAC), Value-added product development

Delivering Results Across London and Middlesex County

We have successfully secured millions in funding for biotech firms near LHSC, manufacturers in the Western Advanced Manufacturing Park, and food processors in the surrounding Middlesex County.

Map graphic highlighting Western University/LHSC and the Western Advanced Manufacturing Park

FAQ

What grants are best for London businesses collaborating with Western University?

Mitacs Accelerate, along with SR&ED claims for university-directed R&D, are the most effective programs for academic-industry partnerships in London.

Can we get funding for purchasing specialized equipment for our London facility?

Yes. The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) is the primary source for capital equipment investment that creates or maintains jobs in the region.