BC Industry Funding Programs

Government Funding Programs by Industry — British Columbia

The funding your BC business can access depends on your industry. Technology and construction companies have the most options — but every sector has programs available. Click your sector below.

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Select Your BC Industry

BC has 131+ active funding programs. Select your sector to see every program available to your business.

SaaS & Technology

The Most Funding-Rich Sector in BC

SR&ED, IRAP, IDMTC, and Innovate BC can all apply to the same BC tech company simultaneously. Most SaaS founders claim one program. The best-advised ones claim four.

$42B+ Vancouver's tech sector GDP contribution — 182,000+ workers
SR&ED alone returns up to 45% on eligible R&D (35% federal + 10% BC). Stack with IRAP advisory and Innovate BC grants for maximum non-dilutive capital.

What qualifies as SR&ED for tech

  • Developing new algorithms or solving technical uncertainty
  • Building features with no existing proven solution
  • Machine learning model development and training
  • Performance optimization beyond known methods
  • Integration of complex systems with technical risk

What qualifies for IRAP & Innovate BC

  • Product development with commercial application
  • Hiring technical staff for R&D projects
  • Technology demonstration and market validation
  • IP development and prototype creation
  • AI adoption projects with BC commercial intent
Program Max Amount Who Qualifies in BC Type Status
Federal SR&ED Tax CreditCanada Revenue Agency 35% refundable
up to $2.1M/yr
BC CCPCs doing software R&D or technical uncertainty resolution. Budget 2025 doubled the expenditure limit to $6M. Tax Credit ● Ongoing
BC Innovation Tax Credit (BCITC)BC Ministry of Finance 10% refundable
on BC R&D labour
BC-based CCPCs. Stacks on top of federal SR&ED. Made permanent Budget 2026. Combined effective rate: 45%. Tax Credit ● Ongoing
NRC IRAPNational Research Council Canada Up to $500K
per project
BC SMEs under 500 employees building innovative tech. Covers up to 80% of eligible R&D costs including salary. Grant ● Ongoing
Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (IDMTC)BC Government 25% on BC labour
no cap
BC companies developing video games, educational software, or interactive training tools. Raised from 17.5% Sept 2025. Permanent. Tax Credit ● Ongoing
Innovate BC — Ignite ProgramInnovate BC Up to $300K BC tech companies commercializing innovative products with strong BC commercial outcomes and job creation. Grant ● Open
Innovate BC — Fast PilotInnovate BC Up to $200K Early-stage BC tech companies demonstrating technology in real-world settings. Bridges gap to commercial adoption. Grant ● Open
PacifiCan RAIIPacific Economic Dev. Canada Up to $3M
per project
BC businesses commercializing AI solutions in health, environment, transportation. $32M total pool. Grant ● Open
BC Venture Capital Tax CreditBC Government 30% to investors
$53.5M budget
Helps BC tech SMEs attract equity investors by offering investors a 30% tax credit. Makes your company more fundable. Investor Tax Credit ● Ongoing

Is your BC tech company stacking all four programs?

SR&ED + BCITC + IRAP + Innovate BC is the optimal stack. Most claim one. Free assessment shows you the full picture.

Construction & Trades

BC Contractors Leave More Money on the Table Than Any Other Sector

SR&ED applies to novel construction techniques. The BC ETG covers crew training. CSBFP funds equipment. CleanBC pays for upgrades. We've operated a BC contracting company for 9 years — we know exactly what qualifies.

$183K Recovered for a Surrey contractor who had never filed an SR&ED claim in 11 years
Novel moisture mitigation methods, custom process documentation, and innovative building techniques all qualify for SR&ED when properly documented.

What qualifies as SR&ED for contractors

  • Novel moisture mitigation or waterproofing methods
  • Custom process documentation systems
  • Innovative structural or finishing techniques
  • New energy efficiency approaches in construction
  • Technical uncertainty in new build methods

What qualifies for ETG & other programs

  • Safety certification and Red Seal trade training
  • Equipment operator and technical skills
  • LEED and green building certifications
  • Project management and estimating software
  • New hire onboarding and apprenticeship costs
Program Max Amount Who Qualifies in BC Type Status
SR&ED Tax Credit (Construction R&D)Canada Revenue Agency 35%+10% refundable
retroactive 2 yrs
BC contractors with novel building methods or process innovation. Retroactive claims available for last 2 fiscal years. Tax Credit ● Ongoing
BC Employer Training Grant (ETG)BC Ministry of Post-Secondary 80% of costs
$300K/yr max
BC contractors with 1+ employees. Covers safety training, trade certifications, equipment operator training. Apply as often as needed. Grant ● Open
Canada Small Business Financing ProgramISED Canada Up to $1.15M
85% gov't guarantee
BC contractors needing equipment financing or leasehold improvements. Government guarantees 85% of loan to lender. Loan ● Ongoing
CleanBC Industry FundBC Ministry of Energy Varies by project BC construction companies undertaking emission reduction projects — electric equipment, energy-efficient processes, low-carbon materials. Grant ● Open
Apprenticeship Completion GrantGovernment of Canada Up to $2,000
per apprentice
BC contractors hiring Red Seal trade apprentices. BC Apprenticeship Tax Credits also apply on wages. Stacks with ETG. Grant + Tax Credit ● Ongoing
BDC Construction LoansBusiness Development Bank of Canada $25K–$10M+ BC contractors with 12+ months operating. Working capital, equipment, fleet. BDC specializes in businesses banks turn down. Loan ● Ongoing

Running a BC contracting company and never claimed these programs?

Most BC contractors qualify for SR&ED, ETG, and CSBFP — and have never applied. Free assessment includes retroactive SR&ED going back 2 years.

Manufacturing & Industrial

Budget 2026 Added a New 15% Manufacturing Tax Credit for BC

Stack BC's new 15% Manufacturing and Processing Investment Tax Credit with federal SR&ED, CleanBC incentives, and CSBFP equipment loans for a comprehensive funding plan.

15% New BC Manufacturing Tax Credit on eligible capital investment — Budget 2026
Stacks with federal SR&ED (35%), CleanBC Industry Fund, and CSBFP equipment loans. BC manufacturers investing in upgrades can now recover a significant portion through this new credit.
Program Max Amount Who Qualifies in BC Type Status
BC Manufacturing & Processing Investment Tax CreditBC Ministry of Finance 15% on eligible
capital investment
BC manufacturers investing in capital equipment upgrades. Must demonstrate BC job creation or retention. New in Budget 2026. Tax Credit ● New — Open
Federal SR&ED Tax CreditCanada Revenue Agency 35% + 10% BC
refundable
BC manufacturers with process R&D — product innovation, process improvement, technical uncertainty. Retroactive 2 years available. Tax Credit ● Ongoing
WD Business Scale-Up Program (BSP)Pacific Economic Dev. Canada Up to $5M
no-interest loan
BC manufacturers profitable 2+ years in advanced manufacturing, digital tech, or clean tech. 50% of project costs. No-Interest Loan ● Open
CleanBC Industry FundBC Ministry of Energy Varies by project BC manufacturers implementing emission reduction upgrades. Covers capital cost of qualifying equipment and energy efficiency improvements. Grant ● Open
CSBFP Equipment FinancingISED Canada Up to $1.15M BC manufacturers purchasing or upgrading equipment. Government guarantees 85% of loan — available through banks and credit unions. Loan ● Ongoing

Are you taking advantage of the new BC Manufacturing Tax Credit?

Brand new in Budget 2026 — most BC manufacturers don't know it exists yet. Free assessment covers this and every other program that applies.

Clean Technology & Energy

BC Is a Global Cleantech Hub — With Programs to Match

PacifiCan's RAII delivers $32M+ in AI and clean tech support — up to $3M per project. CleanBC, Innovate BC, and federal SR&ED all stack for BC cleantech companies.

$32M+ PacifiCan RAII AI support for BC businesses — up to $3M per project
BC cleantech programs stack well: PacifiCan + Innovate BC + CleanBC + SR&ED. Cleantech companies developing new processes also qualify for SR&ED — often missed.
Program Max Amount Who Qualifies in BC Type Status
PacifiCan RAII (AI & Clean Innovation)Pacific Economic Dev. Canada Up to $3M
per project
BC businesses commercializing or adopting AI and clean tech in health, environment, transportation. $32M total pool. Up to 50% of costs. Grant ● Open
CleanBC Industry FundBC Ministry of Energy Varies by project BC industrial businesses implementing projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Covers capital costs of qualifying installations. Grant ● Open
Innovate BC — Ignite & Fast PilotInnovate BC $200K–$300K BC-based cleantech companies commercializing or demonstrating innovative technology. Applications reviewed quarterly. Grant ● Open
SR&ED Tax Credit (Cleantech R&D)Canada Revenue Agency 35% + 10% BC
refundable
BC cleantech companies developing new technologies — carbon capture, hydrogen, battery tech. Stacks with all programs above. Tax Credit ● Ongoing
BC Hydro Power Smart IncentivesBC Hydro Varies BC commercial and industrial customers implementing energy-efficient equipment. Rebates based on energy savings achieved. Rebate ● Ongoing

Operating in BC's cleantech space and not stacking these programs?

PacifiCan + Innovate BC + SR&ED is a powerful combination. Free assessment identifies your full stack.

All Other BC Sectors

Agriculture, Film, Professional Services, Retail & Indigenous

Every BC industry has at least some funding available. Below is the summary for sectors not fully detailed above.

🌾

Agriculture & Food Processing

AgriInvest, BC On-Farm Technology Adoption, Buy BC Partnership, Investment Agriculture Foundation, and CanExport for food exporters.

Key range: $15K–$500K
🎬

Film, Media & Creative

Film Incentive BC (36%), Production Services Tax Credit (36%), Digital Animation VFX (16%), IDMTC (25%). BC issued $909M in credits in 2023–24.

Key range: 25%–58.5% credit on eligible expenditures
🪶

Indigenous-Owned Businesses

Black Entrepreneurship Program ($250K), NACCA lenders, First Citizens Fund (BC-specific), NRT equity matching, Futurpreneur Indigenous stream — plus all general programs.

Key range: $5K–$250K exclusive + all general programs
🛍️

Retail, Hospitality & Services

Smaller grant pool — but BC ETG applies to all staff training, CSBFP covers leasehold improvements, and digital adoption programs are widely available.

Key range: $15K–$300K via ETG + CSBFP
Common Questions

Industry funding questions BC businesses ask most

Does my industry really affect what funding I can access?
Significantly. Tech and manufacturing have the most programs. Retail and hospitality have fewer. But the activity matters too — a retailer implementing digital tools may qualify for programs a non-digital one can't. We map both your industry and your activities to find every available program.
Can a BC construction company really qualify for SR&ED?
Yes — more often than people think. We've personally recovered $183K for a Surrey contractor who operated for 11 years without ever filing. Novel building methods, custom processes, or technical approaches that weren't obvious at the project start can all qualify. We've lived this industry — we know what reviewers accept.
What's the new BC Manufacturing Tax Credit?
A 15% refundable tax credit on eligible capital investment for BC manufacturers — introduced in Budget 2026. Stacks with federal SR&ED and CleanBC programs. Most BC manufacturers don't know it exists yet. Must demonstrate BC job creation or retention to qualify.
I run a SaaS company in BC. Which programs should I be claiming?
At minimum: federal SR&ED (35%) + BC BCITC (10%) = 45% refundable on eligible R&D. Stack with NRC IRAP advisory funding and Innovate BC if you're commercializing BC IP. If you build interactive digital media, add IDMTC at 25%. Most BC SaaS companies claim one. The top ones claim all four.
Not sure which BC programs apply to your industry?

Free 30-minute assessment. We identify every program you qualify for and tell you the realistic dollar amount you can expect.

No cost · No obligation · 778-776-2144