CanExport SMEs sample funding application

This document is for reference purposes only and is not meant to be used as an application form.  CanExport SMEs will not review applications using this document. To learn about the program and how to submit an application, visit the CanExport SMEs web page.

Please note that fields marked with * are mandatory. 

• Legal name (must correspond exactly to the name registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)) *:
• Operating name (only enter operating name if different from legal name):
• CRA business number:
• Street address, building / suite:
• City, province, postal code:
• Website:
• Social media:

• Legal first name *:
• Preferred name:
• Last name *:
• Email *:
• Business phone *:
• Job title *:
• Preferred language *:

• Please provide the main address of your business operations in Canada (headquarters) *:
• Are your company’s main business activities both managed and carried out from this address? *: 
  • Yes
  • No
• If no, please specify where your other business activities are located *:
• Do all your company's employees work from this business address in Canada? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• If no, how many employees are in Canada? *:
• If no, how many employees are based abroad? *:
• How would you describe your business model? *:
  • Product sales model (retail or wholesale)   
  • Service sales model (consulting, professional services)   
  • Direct sales model (directly to consumers thru representatives or online channels)    
  • Affiliate sales model (work with affiliated companies)  
  • On-demand production model    
  • Licensing model (selling rights only)   
  • B2B services model    
  • Online sales model (using websites or e-commerce)   
  • Joint venture model (collaborating with other businesses to develop joint products or services, share resources)   
  • Franchise model 
  • Other

• Is it labelled as “Made in Canada” or “Product of Canada”?:
• What percentage of contents are manufactured, in Canada:
• What percentage of materials or components are sourced in Canada:
• To what extent is the service supplied from or by Canadians? Please briefly describe:
• Are the products and/or services intended for export under this funding application fully owned by your company or legally licensed to it? Please briefly describe:
• Other details how the product of service brings value to Canada (e.g. research and development, investment in Canada)? Please briefly describe:

• Project title *:
• Project start date *:
• Project completion date *:
• Did you use a consultant in developing or writing your application? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• If yes, please provide the name of the agency *:

• Project signing authority *:
• Person responsible for claiming *:
• Project manager *:

As part of the basic eligibility process, all applicants must provide proof that their company reported annual revenue between $300,000 and $100 million in Canada during the most recent complete fiscal year.

All applicants must upload their company's Certificate of incorporation and/or their Legal Name Change Certificate if applicable. This requirement is intended to verify the authenticity of company information and reduce the risk of fraud. 

Note that only the requested documents will be accepted. These documents must be obtained from the relevant federal or provincial government authority, depending on the type of business incorporation.

• Are you a for-profit company registered in Canada? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• Is your company incorporated, a limited liability partnership (LLP) or a cooperative? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• Number of full-time equivalent employees working for your company last fiscal year *:
• Number of full-time equivalent employees dedicated to international business development *:
• Total gross annual revenues declared in Canada (including international sales) during your company's last complete fiscal year (or past 12 months for quarterly filers). When entering amounts, do not add any periods, commas, spaces, or cents *:
• International sales revenue from last complete fiscal year (or past 12 months for monthly and quarterly filers).  When entering amounts, do not add any periods, commas, spaces, or cents *:

• Please use the following naming convention when uploading documents:
  • Document Type - Legal Name.ext
• You can upload the following file types: 
  • Word
  • PDF
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Text
• The file should be smaller than 10 megabytes
• The file should be less than 100 characters
• The file cannot contain special characters (i.e. #, &, etc.)

Please note that only the requested documents will be accepted.

• Upload a copy of your company’s GST/HST return for the previous fiscal year (Form GST34, or FPZ-500-V in Quebec):
• If you file quarterly or monthly returns, please submit the last four or twelve returns, respectively:
• If, due to tax-related constraints, you are unable to provide the return for your most recent fiscal year, we will exceptionally accept the return for the prior fiscal year:
• If your company is exempt from GST/HST or exclusively conducts international sales, please provide your latest fiscal year Income Statement from the Corporate Income Tax Return (Form T2SCH125) *:
• Add a description (up to 250 characters) *:
• Upload a copy of your company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Legal Name Change Certificate if applicable. For Limited Liability Partnerships or Cooperatives, provide the official registration document *:

• Briefly describe your project in relation to your CanExport SMEs funding request. This should not be confused with your company's overall expansion plan. For more information, consult the Applicant's Guide. (max 4000 characters) *:
• Briefly describe your company's capacity in terms of human (internal and external), financial and material resources that will support the proposed activities of this project (max 4000 characters) *:
• Does your company/organization have an Intellectual Property (IP) strategy in place to conduct business abroad? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• If yes, did you work with a consultant, agency or government body in its development? Please identify *:
• Briefly describe your IP strategy *:

• Region *:
• Country *:
• Sub-region (if applicable) *:

CanExport SMEs supports business development into new markets. Your project may target a maximum of five related markets.

For each target market: 

• Region *:
• Country *:
• Export sales during the past fiscal year in the selected target market *:
• Does your company have any affiliated entities in this target market (for example parent companies, sister companies or subsidiaries)? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• If yes, does the affiliated company offer the same products or services that are the subject of the application? *:
• If yes, please specify the name and the address of the company and explain the rationale for selecting this target market *:
• Please provide an overview of the potential within the selected target market, including any relevant opportunities, strategic partnerships, or any competitive advantages your company may have, if applicable. (max 4000 characters) *:

• Add the applicable project objectives *:
  • Gather market information
  • Identify potential partners
  • Identify potential representatives or agents
  • Increase export sales
  • Meet with potential clients
  • Others

• Select the anticipated outcomes of your project that will be realized in Canada *:
  • Agreement signed
  • Increased investment
  • Increased R&D/innovation
  • Increased sales
  • Job creation
  • Leads generated
  • Others
• Provide details for each applicable benefit (max 4000 characters) *:

• CanExport SMEs accepts projects valued between $20,000 to $100,000. 
• Activities must be divided by Government of Canada fiscal year (April 1 to March 31 of the following calendar year).
• Funding provided for activities in one fiscal year cannot be reallocated to another fiscal year. For this reason, we recommend planning your activities carefully and submitting a realistic budget. Your ability to successfully complete the activities as outlined in your application will factor into the evaluation of any future applications.
• Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the activities they propose to undertake are eligible. To consult the list of eligible and ineligible expenses, please see the Applicant’s Guide.
• When entering amounts, do not add any periods, commas, spaces or cents.

• Activity type *:
  • Category A: Travel
  • Category B: Trade Show
  • Category C: Adaptation of Marketing Tools for Target Market(s)
  • Category D: Interpretation Services
  • Category E: Contractual Agreements/Product registration/Certification
  • Category F: Consultant – Business/Legal/Tax 
  • Category G: Consultant – Market Study/B2B
  • Category H: IP Protection (Including expert/legal advice for IP-related expenses)

For each activity selected, provide the following information: 

• Target market *:
• Description of the activity including the cost breakdown (max 1000 characters) *:
• Expense amount for category by fiscal year 26-27 *:
• Expense amount for category by fiscal year 27-28 *:

Please provide the following information required for each activity type:

• Destination (only populate if location of activity is different than target market):
• City:
• Number of people:
• Start date:
• End date:

• Destination (only populate if location of activity is different than target market):
• Name of event:
• City:
• Number of people:
• Start date:
• End date:
• Commercial event activity type (select one):
  • Event attendance
  • Exhibitor costs at trade event
  • Shipping and handling costs
  • Business room rental

• Marketing type (select one):
  • Brochures
  • Website adaptation
  • Trade show promotional materials

• Contractual agreement type (select one):
  • Adaptation of Contractual Agreement
  • Supplier Diversity Certification

• Expert advice type (select one):
  • Legal/tax/business consulting
  • Regulatory consulting services

• Market Research type (select one)
  • Export market research and strategy
  • Feasibility studies
  • Key contact identification
  • Facilitation of B2B meetings
  • Prepared research / market evaluations
  • Reputable source contact lists
  • Market research software / subscription

• Intellectual property activity type (select one):
  • IP consultant/legal services (unrelated to IP disputes)
  • IP registration/filing in foreign markets
• If IP consultant/legal services, specify the type of services: 
  • database Search/Registrability Search
  • development of an IP strategy
  • drafting of formal IP documentation
  • filing of IP documentation
• If IP registration/filing in foreign markets, specify the type of registration:
  • trademark
  • patent
  • industrial design
  • copyright

Indicate amount of financial assistance received from other sources (federal, provincial/territorial and municipal) for the same activities outlined in this application.

• Department / Agency *:
  • Federal
  • Municipal
  • Provincial

For each selected department/agency, please provide a description of the activity and the funding received for each activity, based on the duration of this project. 

• Description of activity (max 2000 characters) *:
• Amount *:
• Your financial contribution to the overall cost of project (the amount of your financial contribution must be between $10,000 and $50,000, which is equivalent to 50% of the total eligible project budget. No in-kind contributions permitted):

• Were you referred to the CanExport SMEs program by the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• If yes, please specify the name of your Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) *:
• Has your company worked with other government agencies in Canada (municipal, provincial, territorial or federal) other than Global Affairs Canada? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• If yes, briefly please explain experience working with these other government agencies in Canada *:
• Have you previously been approved for a CanExport SMEs project(s)? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• If yes, please include any new project outcomes that were not reported in your last final report *:

Please indicate: 

• Type of contracts or agreements signed, if any. Examples include:       
  • Signed an agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a local partner, distributor, representative, agent…     
  • Established presence in a local market…     
  • Short-listed on a Request for proposal (RFP)…     
  • Made first sale in target market…     
  • Invited to participate in…       
• Name and brief description of clients or local partners (include website, if available):
• Export sales to date or expected, if applicable:

• Are you repeating a target market and/or activity in your new submission? *:
  • Yes
  • No
• If yes, please explain how this current project builds on your previous project *:
• How did you hear about CanExport? *:
• I consent to CanExport sharing my application information with Government of Canada organizations so that they may contact me in the future to offer their support services. These may include but are not limited to the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Export Development Canada, and the Business Development Bank of Canada *:
  • Yes
  • No

Gender and diversity information provided helps the Government of Canada understand the population applying for and receiving federal business support services. Gender and diversity data collected may be used for research, statistics, program and policy evaluation, risk management, strategy development, reporting, and gender-based analysis (including GBA+). This information can help the Government of Canada monitor progress on inclusive access to federal business support programs and services; to identify and remove barriers; and, to make changes to improve inclusive access. Aggregate and anonymous data may be shared with other federal organizations, and/or published for reporting and monitoring purposes.

• Your business is majority (i.e. over 50%) owned by individuals who self-identify as? *:
  • Men
  • Non-binary, gender fluid or two-spirit
  • Other
  • Prefer not to answer/do not know
  • Woman
• Is your business majority (i.e. over 50%) owned by individuals who self-identify as members of the LGBTQ2 community? *:
  • Yes
  • No
  • Prefer not to answer
  • do not know
• Is your business majority (i.e. over 50%) owned by individuals who self-identify as an Indigenous person(s)? *:
  • Yes
  • No
  • Prefer not to answer
  • do not know
• If yes, please select the options that the majority owners of your business self-identify with (add as many as apply):
  • First Nations (First Nations includes Status and Non-Status Indians)
  • Inuit
  • Métis
  • Other
• Is your business majority (i.e. over 50%) owned by individuals who self-identify as person(s) from a visible minority group (other than Indigenous)? *:
  • Yes
  • No
  • Prefer not to answer
  • do not know
• If yes, please select the options that the majority owners of your business self-identify with (add as many as apply):
  • Arab
  • Black
  • Chinese
  • Filipino
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Latin American
  • Other
  • South Asian (e.g., Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, etc.)
  • Southeast Asian (e.g., Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai; etc.)
  • West Asian (e.g., Iranian, Afghan, etc.)
• Your business is majority (i.e. over 50%) owned by individuals who self-identify as (add as many as apply)? :
  • Other
  • Person(s) living in an official language minority community
  • Person(s) living with a disability (e.g. physical, mental, or other long-term condition)
  • Person(s) who are recent immigrants to Canada (e.g. landed in Canada in the last 5 years)
  • Prefer not to answer/do not know
  • Youth (39 years old or under)

This step shows a summary of the answers provided in previous steps. Please verify that all information is accurate. To update specific responses, you may need to return to the relevant step. Once you have determined that the information is correct, you may proceed to step 16.

• I consent to CanExport sharing my information, as well as information in this application, with the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) so that IRAP may contact me in the future *:
  • Yes
  • No
• I consent to being contacted by the communications and marketing specialist from Global Affairs Canada who would like to highlight the successes of Canadian companies who have received CanExport funding or benefited from the Trade Commissioner Service *:
  • Yes
  • No
• I consent to having the TCS share my contact information, as well as my company’s sector, total annual revenues, and target market, with Export Development Canada (EDC), so that the EDC may contact me to offer its products and services in the future *:
  • Yes
  • No
• I consent to having the TCS share my contact information, as well as my company’s sector, total annual revenues, and target market, with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), so that the BDC may contact me to offer its products and services in the future * :
  • Yes
  • No
• I consent to having the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) contact my company to offer their services and to register my company details in their Client Relationship Management system as per the Privacy *:
  • Yes
  • No

Integrity

By submitting this project application to CanExport, I declare that I am an authorized representative of the company and that all information I have provided to Global Affairs Canada in relation to this proposal is true and correct. I confirm that I am not withholding any information that may materially affect the proposal. I understand that the submission of false or misleading information constitutes grounds for immediate refusal of the application.

I understand that Global Affairs Canada and the National Research Council of Canada are dedicated to upholding values of fairness, courtesy, and respect in all professional interactions as part of their effort to create a harassment-free environment. If these values are not upheld, collaboration may be terminated.

Privacy

I understand that the information I provide to Global Affairs Canada will be shared with the National Research Council as the co-delivery partner of the CanExport program.

I understand that personal information collected is administered in accordance with the Privacy Act.

I understand that if an access to information request is received by Global Affairs Canada, and if records related to my business activities are recovered, Global Affairs Canada will abide by Section 20 of Canada's Access to Information Act and will seek my input in the processing of records.

I understand that my personal and organizational information is subject to the Trade Commissioner Service’s Privacy and disclosure of information statement.

Responsible Business Conduct

I declare that:

1. Neither we, nor our affiliates, nor, to the best of our knowledge, any of our owners, officers or employees, or anyone acting on our or our affiliates’ behalf, are currently under charge or have been convicted in a foreign jurisdiction within the past five years for bribery or corruption offences contrary to any applicable criminal law dealing with bribery or corruption of public officials. We understand that such foreign charges or convictions will be taken into account when the CanExport program is considering whether to provide future funding;
2. Neither we, nor our Affiliates, nor, to the best of our knowledge, any of our owners, officers or employees, or anyone acting on our or our Affiliates’ behalf, are currently under charge in Canada for bribery or corruption of public officials under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA) or the Criminal Code; or have been convicted in Canada of such conduct during the past five years;
3. Neither we, nor our Affiliates, nor, to the best of our knowledge, any of our owners, officers or employees, or anyone acting on our or our Affiliates’ behalf, are currently barred from contracting with or are otherwise under sanction from the Government of Canada due to bribery or corruption offences; non-engagement with a National Contact Point (NCP) for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; or non-compliance with Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) best practices;
4. Neither we, nor our Affiliates, nor, to the best of our knowledge, any of our owners, officers or employees, or anyone acting on our or our Affiliates’ behalf, are currently barred from contracting with or are otherwise under sanction from an inter-governmental organization or an international financial institution due to bribery or corruption;
5. We undertake that neither we, nor any of our owners, officers or employees, nor our Affiliates will knowingly engage, directly or indirectly, in bribery or corrupt business practices contrary to any applicable Canadian criminal law dealing with bribery or corruption of public officials, including but not limited to the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA) and the Criminal Code.
6. We understand that CanExport expects Canadian companies and their affiliates shall operate in a manner consistent with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on responsible business conduct. Further, we understand that CanExport expects that Canadian companies shall cooperate with Canada’s National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) and that the Company shall cooperate with any proceedings before the NCP or CORE which involve a request for review that names the Company. We understand that CanExport shall not provide support to any Canadian company that declines to engage in good faith with an NCP or CORE process and does not reflect RBC best practices.
7. We acknowledge that Global Affairs Canada may share information concerning bribery or corrupt business practices so obtained with Canadian law enforcement authorities.
8. We understand that CanExport expects Canadian companies and their affiliates active in any country to operate in a manner that respects human rights, including with respect to forced or compulsory labour and all applicable laws, as well as to operate transparently and in a manner that seeks to meet or exceed international RBC standards such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. I understand that CanExport will not provide funding to any Canadian company that is found to be knowingly engaged in business conduct inconsistent with these standards.
9. We have not knowingly sourced, directly or indirectly, products or services from a supplier implicated in forced or compulsory labour or other human rights violations. We understand that any evidence that we have knowingly done so will result in the immediate termination of any existing funding agreement with CanExport and a prohibition on any future application.
10. We acknowledge that, during the declaration's period of validity, the Company has an ongoing obligation to report to CanExport any material changes to statements in this Declaration concerning bribery, corrupt business practices and human rights violations, including with respect to forced or compulsory labour and all applicable laws. CanExport reserves the right to terminate a contribution or grant agreement if and when a recipient fails to meet its obligations.

This declaration remains in effect for three (3) years from the date it is submitted.

• I Accept *: