Funding that helps your company grow into global markets
Due to the popularity of this program, you are encouraged to submit your application three months in advance of any activities. We are committed to provide a decision within 60 business days.
Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on CanExport SMEs applicants and recipients
During this extraordinary time, we encourage you to make informed decisions in order to minimize risk and protect your health and the health of your employees.
- Consult our program-specific advice for information about how your application or approved activities may be impacted
- Refer to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for the latest information from the Government of Canada
Expand your business horizons
Looking to grow your business globally? Apply online for up to $75,000 in CanExport SMEs funding to cover up to 75% of your international market development activities. Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may choose up to (5) export markets to target, where your company has no or minimal business. We are committed to provide a decision within 60 business days.
Which activities can be funded?
Activities eligible for CanExport SMEs funding include:
Business travel
Market research
Participation at trade events and fairs
Adaptation and translation of marketing tools
Intellectual property protection, certification, and adaptation of contracts
Expert advice on business, legal or tax matters
Who can apply?
Your company must meet the following to be eligible:
Be for-profit
Be an incorporated legal entity or a limited liability partnership (LLP)
Have a Canada Revenue Agency business number (unless Indigenous-owned or led)
Employ no more than 500 full-time equivalent employees
Declare between $100K and $100M in annual revenue in Canada during the last 12 months
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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CanExport SMEs enquiries and feedback
If you have questions not covered in the applicant’s guide or the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), we invite you to contact us at the following e-mail address: CanExportSMEs@international.gc.ca. Please note however, due to the high volume of emails that the program receives, only questions that are not already addressed in these documents will be answered.
Results to date - CanExport SMEs by the numbers
- 1,700 approved projects
- +$21M in funding dispensed
- +$30K on average per project
- 115 new markets targeted
- +$376M in new export revenue
- 44% of projects achieved new exports in < 1 year
CanExport is administered by the Government of Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).
