Trade Commissioner Service — Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) Co-innovation projects

For Canadian companies developing innovative technologies, breaking into global markets often requires more than capital—it takes the right international partners and shared R&D momentum. The Trade Commissioner Service’s Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) Co-innovation projects are designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises collaborate with foreign partners to bring new or improved products, services, or processes closer to commercialization. Delivered by Global Affairs Canada, this initiative supports companies across the country that are ready to scale their innovation beyond Canada’s borders.

Through CIIP’s co-innovation stream, eligible businesses can receive significant non-repayable funding—often up to around $600,000—to offset a portion of project costs when working with an international partner. Support typically covers about half of eligible expenses for R&D activities such as adapting existing technologies for new markets, validating innovations with early adopters, or jointly developing new solutions with uncertain but promising commercial outcomes. Projects are expected to be well advanced, with a clear commercialization pathway and defined intellectual property arrangements between partners.

Opportunities under CIIP are usually offered through targeted international calls aligned with specific countries and technology areas, and applications are accepted on an ongoing, call-based basis. For Canadian SMEs with protectable technology and global ambitions, CIIP can be a powerful way to de-risk international innovation—making it well worth exploring the full program details to see where your business might fit.