Hiring skilled technical employees can be expensive, especially for early-stage Canadian companies developing new products. The Access to Talent Program helps natural products businesses offset salary costs when bringing in qualified staff to move a product closer to market. This program, run by Natural Products Canada (NPC), offers up to $75,000 per project to support eligible hires.
The Access to Talent Program is a federal wage subsidy delivered by Natural Products Canada. It helps small and mid-sized Canadian companies hire employees to work on product development, regulatory planning, commercialization, or scale-up activities.
Unlike student hiring or general wage subsidies, this program is tightly focused on natural products and enabling technologies at specific stages of development. Funding can only be used for salary costs, not recruitment or contractor fees.
Key funding details:
To qualify for the Access to Talent Program, both your business and your project must meet certain criteria.
Your company must:
Your project must:
Funded employees can work on:
Only salary costs are eligible. Recruitment fees, headhunter costs, and other hiring expenses are not covered.
The application process is competitive and focuses on both the quality of the talent and the commercial potential of your project.
Confirm NPC membership
Membership in Natural Products Canada is required before applying.
Define the role clearly
Outline how the new hire will directly support product development, regulatory progress, or commercialization.
Prepare a project plan
Include milestones, expected outcomes, and how the work advances your product toward market.
Build a compliant budget
Show salary costs only. The program will reimburse up to 40%, capped at $75,000.
Submit through NPC
Applications are reviewed based on feasibility, impact, and alignment with NPC priorities.
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly confirm whether this and similar hiring programs fit your company size, sector, and province.
Including recruitment costs in your budget
Only salary costs are eligible. Recruitment fees will be rejected.
Applying without NPC membership
Membership is mandatory and often overlooked by first-time applicants.
Using contractors instead of employees
The program funds employees, not independent contractors or consultants.
Weak commercialization rationale
Projects without a clear path to market are unlikely to be approved.
For more hiring pitfalls, see Common Mistakes Employers Make When Applying for Wage Subsidy Grants.
Q: How much funding does the Access to Talent Program provide?
You can receive up to 40% of eligible salary costs, to a maximum of $75,000 per project.
Q: What types of employees can be funded?
New hires working on product development, regulatory strategy, commercialization, or scale-up activities are eligible.
Q: Are hiring or recruitment fees covered?
No. Only salary costs are eligible under the Access to Talent Program.
Q: Do I need to be a Natural Products Canada member to apply?
Yes. NPC membership is a mandatory eligibility requirement.
Q: What does TRL 4–9 mean?
TRL 4–9 covers technologies that are past basic research and lab tests, and are being built, tested, and prepared for use in real-world settings.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and wage subsidy programs across Canada. Check which ones match your business profile.
See also:
If your company is building a natural product and needs specialized talent, the Access to Talent Program can reduce your hiring risk while accelerating growth. Make sure your project fits the eligibility criteria and that your commercialization plan is clear. GrantHub can help you identify this program and other hiring grants that fit your stage, sector, and province.
Was this article helpful?
Rate it so we can improve our content.
Canada Proactive Disclosure Data
The Canadian government has funded over 400,000 businesses through 1.27 million grants and contributions. Check your eligibility in 60 seconds.