Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces

Businesses must meet the following mandatory criteria:

• high-growth business that is scaling up and producing innovative goods, services or technologies
• incorporated in Canada
• have been in business for at least 2 years in Canada
• have staffed operating facilities in the Prairie provinces
• have confirmed, at the time of expression of interest submission, funding from all other sources, including government and non-government
• non-government funding must represent at least 50% of the proposed project costs
• be a high-growth business looking to support or accelerate growth through the following activities:
  • Productivity improvement, which includes:
    • acquiring, adapting,and adopting new technologies and processes
    • process re-engineering
    • improving manufacturing capacity
  • Business scale-up, which includes:
    • developing or expanding markets
    • adopting best management practices, processes and systems
    • developing business opportunities
  • Technology commercialization, which includes:
    • growing and diversifying markets through late stage product development
    • technology showcasing and demonstration (Technology Readiness Levels 7-9 as defined by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)
• maximum project duration of 3 years, focused on 1 or more of the following areas:
  • Advanced manufacturing. This is defined by developing and adopting innovative technologies to:
    • create new products
    • enhance processes
    • establish more efficient and cost-effective ways of working
  • Clean resources. This refers to transitioning from the old resource economy into a new resource economy. It is where innovation drives economic and environmental competitiveness in the energy, mining and forestry sectors. It leverages Canada’s natural resources advantage to transition to a low-carbon economy.
  • Clean technology. This refers to any process, product or service that reduces environmental harm in order to:
    • control costs
    • meet new regulations
    • improve global competitiveness
    • reduce harm to climate, water, land and air
  • Digital industries. This includes:
    • information and communication technology (ICT)
    • digital and interactive media
    • content industries
  • Health/bio-sciences. This includes a wide range of companies, such as:
    • pharmaceutical developers and makers
    • medical devices and biomedical innovators
    • digital health solutions producers
    • precision health
    • disruptive technologies, such as:
      • artificial intelligence (AI)
      • big data analytics
      • 3-D printing
      • robotics
      • nanotechnologies
  • Natural resources value-added processing. This includes processing natural resources in the energy, mineral or forestry sectors. This adds value to the raw materials.
  • Value-added agriculture. This is a complex and interdependent sector that includes agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture. It also includes food and beverages processing.