CFIN Innovation Booster

Food and beverage companies often hit technical roadblocks when trying to turn promising ideas into market-ready products. Whether it’s validating a new processing method, testing a novel ingredient application, or proving out a concept before full commercialization, early-stage innovation can be costly and risky. The CFIN Innovation Booster is designed to help Canadian food and beverage SMEs move past those hurdles with targeted, non-repayable funding that supports practical research and real-world demonstration projects across the entire food value chain.

Delivered by the Canadian Food Innovation Network, this national program supports industrial research and demonstration activities that advance new processes, product categories, or applications of science, from post-farm operations through to consumer-ready food products. It’s particularly well suited for companies working on early to mid-stage innovations that need proof of feasibility before scaling. Funding can cover a meaningful portion of project costs, with support reaching up to roughly $100,000, making it easier for businesses to test, refine, and validate innovations within a relatively short project timeline. Primary agriculture projects are excluded, keeping the focus squarely on food innovation beyond the farm gate.

For small and medium-sized food businesses looking to overcome technical barriers and accelerate commercialization, the CFIN Innovation Booster can be a strategic stepping stone. Reviewing the full program details can help determine whether your innovation project is a strong fit and how to position your application for success.