Amount: up to 40% of the new employee’s salary to a maximum of $75,000 (Steam 1) & of the new employee’s salary to a maximum of $150,000 (Steam 2).

The Access to Talent Program helps Canadian SMEs or start-up companies hire an experienced individual to carry out a project to achieve key milestones that support the development of a natural product or technology.

Canadian SMEs or start-up companies can receive up to 40% of the cost of the new employee’s salary to a maximum of $150,000. The company is required to contribute 60% of the cost over the project period. The project period is a maximum of 18 months. Funds from this program are applied to salary costs only. Any recruitment costs that may be incurred by the SME or start-up company are not eligible and will not be supported by the program.

The applicant must demonstrate a novel natural product or technology that aligns with NPC’s definitions of bio-based innovation – products and solutions must leverage or enhance the use of naturally occurring molecules (ie those derived from plants, trees, insects, animals, or organisms such as bacteria or microbes)

Eligible positions

Eligible positions include but are not limited to:

  • Product or technology development
  • Business development
  • Regulatory strategy and/or collecting necessary data for regulatory submissions
  • Product or technology scale-up
  • Marketing or sales strategy
  • Fundraising to support the growth of the product or technology
  • Ineligible projects include marketing and sales positions or projects beyond TRL 9.

Eligibility requirements

  • Must be incorporated Canadian SME or start-up company with fewer than 25 employees.
  • Company must have has a novel natural product or technology that aligns with NPC’s definitions of natural products or technologies and must also fit within the TRL 4-9 of the Government of Canada’s established Technology Readiness Levels.
  • Potential to achieve $10MM to 15MM in annual revenue within a reasonable period for the market or sector.
  • Potential for significant economic, social, health and/or environmental benefits.
  • Technological advancement and benefits to the natural products ecosystem across Canada.
  • Technical feasibility of the project.
  • Potential for commercialization in Canada.
  • Potential spillover benefits to more than one sector.
  • Potential for improving the representation of women, visible minorities, and Indigenous peoples in the natural products ecosystem.Member of Natural Products Canada.

Funding

Stream 1: SMEs and start-ups hiring an individual with 5-9 years experience can receive up to 40% toward the cost of the new employee’s salary to a maximum of $75,000. The applicant is required to contribute 60% of the cost over the program period.

Stream 2: SMEs and start-ups hiring an experienced individual with 10+ years experience, at the senior level, can receive up to 40% toward the cost of the new employee’s salary to a maximum of $150,000. The applicant is required to contribute 60% of the cost over the program period.