As a performance-focused web marketing agency, at Bofu, we offer you solutions to help you find your place in the accelerated digital shift of recent years and ESPECIALLY the years to come!
To modernize your online presence, increase your ability to sell online and optimize your business processes using web marketing technologies, we offer you the ultimate guide to digital transformation grants for Quebec SMEs.
This guide includes a list of grants that we have chosen that are available both federally and provincially, a description of each, the admission criteria and the amounts that can be granted to you. Do not hesitate to contact us, we are official suppliers for certain grants, notably PCAN Quebec .
The Canadian Digital Adoption Program (PCAN)
The Canadian Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) aims to help businesses adopt digital technologies, increase their online presence and digitize their business operations. It offers different grants for digital transformation and even for the creation of websites .
It is broken down into two categories of subsidies: the first is intended for the development of online commercial activities (e-commerce) and the second for the improvement of business technologies.
Part 1 - Development of online commercial activities:
This subsidy component aims to help businesses better serve their customers and attract new ones through e-commerce. Eligible businesses must be registered or incorporated, for-profit, consumer-facing businesses, have at least one employee, and commit to maintaining the digital adoption strategy for six months post-intervention.
Digital transformation projects covered by this grant include: setting up a digital e-commerce plan (online booking tools, online ordering system, electronic payments, etc.), search engine optimization website, installation of an e-commerce platform, support service solutions to support an e-commerce strategy, web advertising, etc.
Eligible businesses can receive a maximum micro grant of $2,400. Grants are offered through local and regional service providers.
Part 2 - Improvement of company technologies:
The PCAN Business Technology Improvement Stream grant provides support to Canadian small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) who want to adopt new digital technologies. Eligible businesses must be a private, for-profit organization with between 1 and 499 full-time employees and an annual turnover of at least $500,000 over the previous three fiscal years. The grant covers up to 90% of eligible costs for providing the services of a digital advisor and developing a digital adoption plan, for a maximum value of $15,000 per SME.
The implementation of digital tools to digitize and automate your business process is here!
ESSOR
The Essor Program aims to support the financial needs of businesses that are growing or developing. It offers grant opportunities for digital transformation to realize investment projects, promote growth and productivity and facilitate internationalization.
For-profit businesses established under the laws of Quebec or Canada, as well as collective businesses, can benefit from subsidies offered by the Essor Program. These grants can cover various digital transformation projects, such as digital diagnostics, digital plans and implementation plans, and investment projects for business growth with a minimum amount of $100,000.
To access this financial assistance, it is possible to obtain up to $100,000 in the form of a 50% non-repayable contribution, as well as repayable contributions, loan guarantees and equity investments. To find out more, we invite you to contact an advisor.
Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Program // Business Expansion and Productivity (CERI)
The CERI – Business Development and Productivity program aims to encourage innovation and economic growth by the region through the commercialization and integration of new technologies and other projects. Small and medium-sized businesses, cooperatives, non-profit organizations, business groups, business support organizations and Indigenous organizations are generally eligible for the grant.
Eligible businesses can receive interest-free, repayable financial assistance of up to 50% of authorized costs, while NPOs can receive non-repayable financial assistance of up to 90% of authorized costs.
Unfortunately, retail businesses, food services, transportation services, the residential construction sector, daycare services, hairdressing and beauty salons, nightclubs, bars and cabarets are not not eligible. The projects covered by the grant include the acquisition of digital equipment and infrastructure, the evaluation, adaptation or adoption of new technologies, the implementation of an advertising campaign, the showcase and technological demonstration, the adoption of exemplary management practices, processes and systems, etc. Learn more on the Canadian government website .
Innovation program
The Innovation program aims to help companies, particularly SMEs, to carry out their innovation projects and commercialize their innovations. It offers several grant opportunities for digital transformation and the digital shift.
For-profit companies in all sectors and collective enterprises defined in the social economy law are eligible for this program, with the exception of companies in the field of games of chance and gambling.
Product or process innovation projects, from planning to pre-commercialization (technology showcase), can be subsidized, and this subsidy can cover up to 50% of total expenses, for an amount ranging from $50,000 to $350,000, depending on the project. Learn more here .
Marketing and Export Support Program (PSCE)
The financial assistance that can be granted to you is 50% of eligible expenses, up to $250,000 over a maximum period of twelve months. Do not hesitate to click here to discover all the projects and approaches covered by this grant.
The Marketing and Export Support Program (CESP) offers different digital transformation grant opportunities to achieve the objectives of its three components. Component 1 aims to strengthen the capacity of SMEs to market their products and services on the Quebec market, Component 2 aims to increase the export capacity of SMEs and accelerate their projects on markets outside Quebec and Component 3 aims to support large companies with a turnover of more than $100 million in their structuring projects on international markets.
For-profit businesses legally incorporated in Quebec or Canada and having an establishment in Quebec, as well as social economy businesses and non-financial cooperatives are eligible for the subsidy. Businesses with a turnover of less than $100 million are eligible for parts 1 and 2 and those with a turnover of $100 million and more for part 3.
Please note that certain sectors of activity are not eligible. Digital transformation projects such as developing and implementing a marketing strategy , including digital strategies for foreign markets, tool development and advertising in foreign markets, professional fees for Specialized services for the development of a marketing strategy and for the development of a diagnosis, a business plan or a strategy aimed at export or internationalization may be covered by the grant.
CanExport SME
Our team can assist you in applying for financing from the CanExport PME program, which aims to support businesses in their international expansion. It covers various activities related to digital transformation to enable companies to export their products and/or services abroad.
The CanExport PME program allows you to receive financial assistance of up to 50% of eligible costs, an amount between $10,000 and $50,000.
Please check if your business is eligible for this grant . For-profit businesses, corporations, unlimited liability companies and cooperatives with a CRA business number are eligible for this grant, provided they have fewer than 500 full-time employees and have declared revenues between $100,000 and $100 million in Canada during their last fiscal year.
Our team can help you identify activities related to digital transformation that can be funded by this program, such as expert advice in digital marketing and e-commerce, search engine optimization (SEO) , advertising in online on social media platforms,online marketplaces and search engines , translation, adaptation or creation of marketing materials, etc.
Fund C
Fund C is a Desjardins program aimed at creating quality jobs and stimulating economic development by helping businesses grow through support in areas such as innovation, business succession, market development foreigners, digital transformation and business model transformation. To be eligible, your project must correspond to one of the 9 components of Fund C.
To learn more about the digital transformation projects that can be covered, you can check out the examples such as implementing advanced technologies, improving online security, increasing online sales and transforming the business model. Maximum financial assistance is 25% of the project cost, up to $10,000.
Contact our team of digital marketing experts if you have more questions.
