Innovate BC Ignite
Up to C$300,000 for a BC industry-academic R&D partnership, requiring C$2 from other sources for every C$1 of Ignite funding · Innovate BC
Innovate BC Ignite is a grant programme from Innovate BC for British Columbia companies collaborating with a BC academic research partner on an innovation project Current lifecycle: closed. Real economics: Up to C$300,000 for a BC industry-academic R&D partnership, requiring C$2 from other sources for every C$1 of Ignite funding.
Tier 3governmentcanadaresearch-partnershipgrant
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Key facts
| Funder | Innovate BC |
| Amount | Up to C$300,000 for a BC industry-academic R&D partnership, requiring C$2 from other sources for every C$1 of Ignite funding |
| Decision time | No current review timeline is actionable because the program is closed; accepted teams may spend up to two months finalizing the agreement. |
| Eligibility | A BC industry-academic team must start at TRL 3 or above, conduct most activity in BC, demonstrate a path to market within three years, execute an IP agreement and secure the 2:1 co-funding. |
| Restrictions | Funding is paid in annual instalments after accepted progress and financial reports; the agreement can take up to two months to finalize. Majority work must occur in BC, the project must target market within three years and the applicant must supply two-thirds of total project funding from other sources. |
| Status | closed |
Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.
Application process
- Submit the program checklist
- If eligible, submit the short application
- If invited, prepare a full proposal
- Complete expert merit review
- Finalize IP and funding agreements
- Receive annual instalments after satisfactory reports
Background
Innovate BC operates Innovate BC Ignite. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. Innovate BC reports 58 projects and C$15 million supported through Ignite Official success stories include Jetti Resources, Hydra Energy and Ionomr Innovations
How the application really works
Submit the program checklist → If eligible, submit the short application → If invited, prepare a full proposal → Complete expert merit review → Finalize IP and funding agreements → Receive annual instalments after satisfactory reports
Tips
- Show direct fit with natural resources.
- Show direct fit with applied sciences.
- Show direct fit with engineering.
- Show direct fit with life sciences.
- Show direct fit with clean technology and other BC innovation.
Watch out for
- Current lifecycle is closed.
- Funding is paid in annual instalments after accepted progress and financial reports; the agreement can take up to two months to finalize.
- Majority work must occur in BC, the project must target market within three years and the applicant must supply two-thirds of total project funding from other sources.
Track record
- Innovate BC reports 58 projects and C$15 million supported through Ignite
- Official success stories include Jetti Resources, Hydra Energy and Ionomr Innovations
The page has historically estimated about 40% invitation to full proposal and 30–40% funding at that stage, but no current-round denominator exists.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this actionable now?
- closed. Current program page is closed; it describes a two-stage checklist/application and invitation-only full proposal without a new deadline.
- What is the real economic value?
- Up to C$300,000 for a BC industry-academic R&D partnership, requiring C$2 from other sources for every C$1 of Ignite funding
- Who is eligible?
- A BC industry-academic team must start at TRL 3 or above, conduct most activity in BC, demonstrate a path to market within three years, execute an IP agreement and secure the 2:1 co-funding.
- How does selection work?
- Submit the program checklist; If eligible, submit the short application; If invited, prepare a full proposal; Complete expert merit review; Finalize IP and funding agreements; Receive annual instalments after satisfactory reports. No current review timeline is actionable because the program is closed; accepted teams may spend up to two months finalizing the agreement.
- What burden and restrictions apply?
- Funding is paid in annual instalments after accepted progress and financial reports; the agreement can take up to two months to finalize. Majority work must occur in BC, the project must target market within three years and the applicant must supply two-thirds of total project funding from other sources.
- What evidence exists?
- Innovate BC reports 58 projects and C$15 million supported through Ignite Official success stories include Jetti Resources, Hydra Energy and Ionomr Innovations The page has historically estimated about 40% invitation to full proposal and 30–40% funding at that stage, but no current-round denominator exists.
Related grants
Sources
- www.innovatebc.ca/programs/ignite — Official closure, amount, match, eligibility, process, historical selectivity, program scale and project outcomes (checked 2026-08-10)