Graduate to Opportunity — GTO Innovate

Hiring advanced talent can be a major investment for growing companies, especially when the role is focused on research, product development, or other innovation-driven work. For Nova Scotia businesses looking to strengthen their innovation capacity, the Graduate to Opportunity — GTO Innovate stream offers meaningful wage support when bringing a recent master’s or PhD graduate onto the team. Delivered by Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, the program is designed to make it more affordable to add highly skilled expertise while keeping emerging talent in the province.

Through GTO Innovate, eligible small and medium-sized businesses can receive a non-repayable wage subsidy that offsets a significant portion of the new hire’s salary over two years. Support typically covers close to one-third of wages in the first year and a smaller portion in the second year, helping reduce the upfront risk of creating a senior-level innovation role. The position must be permanent, full-time, and focused largely on activities such as applied research, process improvement, technical analysis, or the development of new products, services, or markets. Additional funding may also be available when hiring graduates from underrepresented groups.

The program is well suited for for-profit Nova Scotia companies that want to accelerate innovation without stretching payroll too thin. With applications generally ongoing, exploring the full program details can help determine whether GTO Innovate aligns with your hiring and growth plans.