REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems

Communities and organizations that play a role in helping businesses innovate often struggle to secure funding for the programs, partnerships, and infrastructure that make growth possible. The REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems initiative is designed to strengthen those local innovation environments by supporting organizations that help entrepreneurs and small businesses commercialize ideas, access capital, and scale. Delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor), this program focuses on building stronger regional ecosystems that improve competitiveness and long-term economic resilience.

REGI funding supports projects that expand or enhance services such as accelerators, incubators, mentoring networks, commercialization support, and financing initiatives. Nonprofits, Indigenous organizations, municipalities, and collaborative groups working with SMEs can use the funding to improve access to risk capital, support first product sales, deliver innovation-focused training, or attract investment and talent to their region. There is also a strong emphasis on inclusive growth, with projects that support women entrepreneurs, Indigenous Peoples, and youth receiving particular attention. Funding is typically provided as a contribution of up to around $25,000, and may be conditionally repayable depending on the project.

With demand currently high and budgets limited, early discussions are encouraged before applying. For organizations looking to strengthen their regional innovation capacity, learning more about REGI can help determine whether this opportunity aligns with their goals.