Cultivating Innovation:
The AgriInnovation Program (AIP)
Written by:
Samantha Hingley, Senior Client Manager.
The AgriInnovation Program (AIP) is part of the 5 year Growing Forward 2 Initiative that was introduced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2013. The program received $468 million in funding to support projects in the industry. The AIP is divided into two streams: Industry-Led Research and Development as well as Enabling Commercialization and Adoption.
The Industry-Led Research and Development stream looks to fund projects that are in the pre-commercialization stage. There are two types of projects that are eligible under this stream: Agri-science cluster and Agri-science project. An Agri-science cluster is a collaboration between the government, the industry, and academic institutions. This type of project must be led by the industry and it must be national in reach. An Agri-science project is a single project or a smaller set of projects that are less extensive than an Agricluster. An Agri-science project can be local, regional, or national in reach. Eligible projects under this stream can receive non-repayable funding for up to 50% of their project costs to a maximum of $5 million. Eligible costs include labour, capital assets, contracted services, travel, and administration.
The Enabling Commercialization and Adoption stream looks to fund projects that are in the commercialization stage and include innovative agri-based products, processes, technologies, or services. There are three types of projects that are eligible under this stream: pre-commercial demonstration, commercialization, and adoption. A pre-commercial demonstration project involves an agri-based innovation that has been tested and is less than 2 years from being released in the market. A commercialization project involves an agri-based innovation that will be released in the market once the project is completed. An adoption project involves an agri-based innovation that has been recently released in the market. Eligible projects under this stream can receive a repayable loan for up to 50%of eligible costs to a maximum of $10 million. Eligible costs include labour, capital assets, contracted services, and other direct project costs.
Both of the AIP streams allow applications to be submitted on a continuous basis. The maximum amount of funding available each year per applicant for both streams is $10 million.
