Innovation Scouting Fund

The Innovation Scouting Fund seeks to directly address real-world business challenges identified by leading Canadian food manufacturers, distributors, foodservice, or grocery retail firms. Each call is sponsored by one of these potential technology adopters and invites Canadian Small or Medium Enterprises and academic researchers to apply with their solutions for consideration and further validation.

The program will provide funding support for the winning foodtech innovator(s) to collaborate directly with a notable player in the Canadian food landscape. These funds will facilitate a robust pilot project, covering essential costs for the innovator and the partnering firm, enabling effective testing and validation in real-world applications.

Each Innovation Scouting Fund call is supported by a Call Details document that outlines the priority areas for projects. Applicants will outline their proposed solution and detail their readiness for a pilot.

• Canadian SMEs with at least one year of incorporation.
• Academic researchers at Canadian institutions.
• Proposing a technology or solution that aligns with the call priorities and has achieved at least a TRL of 3 (analytical/experimental proof of concept) or higher.
• Submissions must be safe for consumption under Canadian regulations; novel ingredients must be considering Health Canada approval.
• Further qualifications are detailed in the Call Details document.

As consumer demands shift towards convenience without compromise, the food industry is seeking to bridge the gap between "fast" and "nutritious." This Large Canadian Food Company is a global leader committed to elevating the eating experience through sustainable manufacturing, advanced preservation, and novel product formats.

This food company is exploring opportunities for its next generation of products and manufacturing capabilities. Applications must align with one or more of the following areas:

• Next-Gen Processing & Preservation (non-thermal, non-frying seed-oil alternatives)
• Novel Formats & Textures (3D forming, layered or stuffed products, non-frozen convenience)
• Functional Flavor Systems (nutrition-adding flavors, clean-label sodium reduction)
• Smart & Active Packaging (edible films, moisture/heat-managing packaging)
• Smart Manufacturing & Digital Quality (inline sensing, AI, defect detection)

For more details on the priorities for this particular call and details on the sponsor, please see the Call Details.

The Innovation Scouting program supports a targeted, 12-month collaboration between the applicant and the partner company to test and validate high-potential innovations. Funding up to $75,000 is available to support further development, trial production, demo formulations, and performance validation. See the Program Guide for a full overview of eligible costs and application questions.

Notification of awards and application outcome will be released in early July 2026.