Incentives Programs
Research and Development Incentives
Striving to be one of the world’s most important locations for technological enhancement and development, Canada and Ontario offer one of the world’s most competitive Research & Development (R&D) cost advantages:- The range of eligible expenses in Canada is more extensive than in the U.S., including 100% of R&D expenses, carry-forward amounts, bonusing for incremental R&D, and cash refunds, in some cases
- Canada has a broader definition of what qualifies for R&D tax credits compared to the U.S.
- There's flexibility in structuring investments, including long-term blended and capital blended arrangements
- Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program
- Offers 25-35% refundable/non-refundable research and development tax incentives, supporting technological advancement, uncertainty and content
- Provides $2 billion in tax credits to more than 18,000 claimants per year
- A program of the Canada Revenue Agency
- Ontario New Technology Tax Incentive (ONTTI)
- Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)
- Canada Foundation for Innovation
- Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
- IRAP-TPC Pre-Commercialization Assistance to SMEs
- Ontario Commercialization Investment Funds Program
- Ontario Business - Research Institute Tax Credit (OBRITC)
- Ontario Research Employee Stock Option Credit
- Ontario Research Fund (ORF)
- Ontario Research Oriented Investment Fund Program
- Ontario Retail Sales Tax Exemption on R&D and Manufacturing Equipment
Biotechnology, Health Science and Agri-food Incentives and Programs
New Media Incentives
- Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC)
- Film Advisory Services
- Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit (OCASE)
- Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit (OBPTC)
- Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC)
- Ontario Co-Operative Education Tax Credit (CETC)
- Ontario Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit (OATTC)
- Career Focus Program - Wage Subsidy
- Ontario Targeted Wage Subsidy Program
- CON*NECT - The Colleges of Ontario Network for Education & Training
- Ontario Job Connect
- Ontario Summer Jobs Service
- Brownfields Financial Tax Incentive Program
- City of Cambridge Financial Incentives
- Fee Exemption Programs
- Loan and Grand Programs
- City Wide Incentives
- City of Kitchener Downtown Incentive Programs
General and Small Business Support Programs
- Waterloo Region Small Business Centre (SBC)
- Business Development Bank of Canada - Services Overview
- Business Development Bank of Canada - Innovation Financing
- Financial Institutions - Capital Tax Credit
- Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBF)
- Canadian Youth Business Foundation Start-Up Financing Program
- Capital Leasing Pilot Project
- Ontario Employer Health Tax Exemption
- The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC)
“The model for Canada’s economic future: Waterloo Region”
“… it has relied on a century of change and innovation to produce one of Canada’s strongest economies. It’s a knowledge capital with a thriving entrepreneurial culture. It’s our future. If Canada is to prosper beyond the current commodities boom, we must learn from Waterloo’s success, or risk becoming a global economic backwater.”
Globe and Mail, Report on Business, April 25, 2006
“… it has relied on a century of change and innovation to produce one of Canada’s strongest economies. It’s a knowledge capital with a thriving entrepreneurial culture. It’s our future. If Canada is to prosper beyond the current commodities boom, we must learn from Waterloo’s success, or risk becoming a global economic backwater.”
Globe and Mail, Report on Business, April 25, 2006

