How applications are assessed

Once an application has been submitted, it will be assessed by program officials. Applications are assessed using the following criteria. Applications that are consistent with this Applicant's Guide and that present clear, concise, well-justified projects and budgets will have the shortest assessment times.

The program bases its evaluation of a project on the information provided in the funding application as well as registration information provided to delegation organizers. We reserve the right to refuse an application for the following reasons:

• incomplete applications
• applications where information has not been updated since the last submission
• applications that provide limited information, preventing an adequate assessment against the program's evaluation criteria
• applications that provide information in the business case and budget that cannot be assessed properly or independently verified
• applications which contain information that differs greatly from what is submitted to delegation organizers

We assess applications based on the following:

• represents new or expanded initiatives aligned with the company's international business development goals and goes beyond the company's core activities

In assessing the likelihood of the project to achieve meaningful commercial outcomes, the program will evaluate whether:

• the objectives, activities and expected outcomes of the project are realistic
• the proposed activities and expenses are reasonable and specific

The program will assess the choice of target markets by reviewing if the applicant has demonstrated in their application that they have considered the commercial potential of their product or service in the target market(s), such as via market research or gathering other information.

We will review the applicant's:

• capacity in terms of human and financial resources to undertake the proposed activities
• previous export history
• past interactions with CanExport, the TCS, and partners of Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
• explanation of how their products or services are commercialized or ready for export

The program will:

• consider the applicant's performance on previously approved CanExport projects

We give special consideration to:

• The proposed project's alignment with the Government of Canada's Export Diversification Strategy. The program will prioritize applications that most clearly focus on export diversification.
• Projects whose target markets are covered by bilateral or regional free trade agreements.
• Applications submitted by businesses owned or led by groups that are traditionally underrepresented in international trade such as women, Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians, LGBTQ2+, visible minorities and young entrepreneurs.

An export-ready business is one that has the capacity, resources and management to deliver a marketable product or service on a global scale at a competitive price. For more information, visit the TCS website to help assess your export readiness.