SME Grants in Quebec
Key takeaways: Quebec SMEs can draw on two main types of funding: grants, awarded program by program and often until funds run out, and tax credits, claimed each year with the tax return. The need being financed, whether R&D, equipment, exports or workforce, determines which programs to target.
Between federal, provincial and sector-specific programs, an SME can easily miss funding it is entitled to, or spend hours on a program that does not apply to it. Avinova, a Laval-based firm, identifies the grants and tax credits that apply to your projects and prepares complete applications.
Led by Elie Karam, who has helped Quebec businesses secure government funding for more than 15 years, the team works with more than 2,000 financial incentives and the stacking rules that connect them.
What SME grants can fund
In short: Each business need maps to specific programs, which can often be combined.
Funding available to SMEs falls into these categories, based on what it covers:
- Research and development: the SR&ED tax credit refunds up to 35% of a CCPC's eligible expenses, and Quebec's CRIC tax credit complements R&D funding in the province.
- Technology innovation: the NRC IRAP program combines funding with support from an advisor, and the CDAE-IA targets companies developing solutions that integrate artificial intelligence.
- Equipment and productivity: the C3i tax credit reduces the cost of new manufacturing equipment and software by 15% to 25%, and the ESSOR program supports broader investment projects.
- Exports: CanExport SMEs funds up to 50% of the eligible costs of a market development project, from $10,000 to $50,000, alongside other export grants.
- Workforce: Services Québec measures support employee training and hiring of certain profiles, depending on the region and target group.
Key SME grant programs in Quebec
In short: Sorting programs by need quickly rules out those that do not apply to your business.
| Need | Program | Type of assistance | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research and development | SR&ED | Federal tax credit | 35% refundable for a CCPC, on up to $6M of expenses |
| R&D and innovation in Quebec | CRIC | Refundable tax credit | Replaces several R&D credits since 2025 |
| Technology innovation project | NRC IRAP | Contribution and advisory support | Guided by an industrial technology advisor |
| Equipment and software | C3i | Refundable tax credit | 15% to 25% depending on the region |
| Exports | CanExport SMEs | Contribution | $10,000 to $50,000 per project |
| Training and hiring | Services Québec measures | Financial assistance | Depends on the measure and region |
Actual amounts depend on eligible expenses and other assistance received for the same project, since each program sets its own stacking rules.
Our guide to SME grants in Quebec details the criteria for each of these programs.
Grants tailored to your SME's sector
In short: Some sectors have dedicated programs in addition to general funding.
Manufacturing SMEs
Automation, robotics, plant modernization and expansion: manufacturers often combine the C3i, SR&ED and investment programs.
See manufacturing grantsFood processors
MAPAQ offers sector-specific programs such as the Healthy Eating Program and PADAAR, in addition to tax credits.
See agri-food grantsTechnology companies
Companies developing software or AI solutions can target the CDAE-IA and SR&ED, often in the same year.
Discover the CDAE-IAImproving your SME's chances of getting a grant
In short: Refusals often have more to do with administrative rules than with the quality of the project.
- Plan before spending: several programs, including CanExport SMEs, refuse costs incurred before the application is filed.
- Respect stacking limits: a grant can reduce the base of a tax credit covering the same expense, and some programs cap total public assistance.
- Document as you go: for SR&ED, contemporaneous evidence of hypotheses, tests and results strengthens the claim.
- Watch funding envelopes: some programs close as soon as funds run out, as MAPAQ's Food Processing Program did in August 2026.
- Maintain financial health: the applicant's financial viability is one of the criteria of many programs.
How Avinova prepares your SME's grant applications
In short: Support covers every step, from identifying programs to receiving the funds.
Project and funding review
The team reviews your projects for the year, financial statements and timeline to list the applicable grants and tax credits, with an estimate of the amounts.
Priorities and timeline
Programs are ranked by value, filing dates and stacking rules, so an expense incurred too early does not cost you funding.
Building the applications
Each application is prepared according to the assessment criteria of the target program. The firm reports a 99% rate of claims accepted as filed.
Filing and follow-up until payment
Applications are filed, then followed through to the decision and payment. Engagements are mainly contingency-based, with fixed-fee or hourly options depending on the project.
SME grants are best planned ahead
Tax credits are claimed every year, while grants open and close as budgets allow. An SME that matches its projects with the right programs from the start can plan its applications instead of improvising them.
Book your free consultation to find out which funding applies to your business and get a clear financing plan.
Book a free consultationFAQ
What grants can an SME get in Quebec?
A Quebec SME can claim tax credits such as SR&ED, the CRIC and the C3i, which are filed each year with the tax return, and apply for program-based grants such as CanExport SMEs for exports or Services Québec measures for training and hiring. Sector-specific programs are added depending on the industry, for example MAPAQ programs for food processing.
Can a small business combine several types of funding for the same project?
Yes, in many cases. A manufacturing SME can, for example, claim SR&ED for its prototype testing and the C3i for equipment bought the same year. Stacking has effects, however: a grant can reduce the base of a tax credit covering the same expense, and several programs cap total public assistance. These rules must be checked before building the financing plan.
When should you apply for a grant?
Before incurring the expenses, in most cases. Several programs refuse costs incurred before a complete application is filed, and some close as soon as their budget runs out. Tax credits work differently, since they are claimed after the expenses are incurred, but their documentation must be prepared during the project.
How much does Avinova charge an SME?
The initial consultation is free and identifies the funding that applies to your projects. Engagements are then mainly contingency-based, meaning fees correspond to a percentage of the funding obtained. Fixed-fee or hourly options are also available depending on the nature and scope of the file.