🇨🇦 The Grant Hunter – Weekly Briefing
January 4, 2026
The “Day One” Briefing for 2026
Happy New Year.
If you’re new here, welcome. This is where Canadian businesses find out what funding actually matters each week.
If you’re back from the break: one deadline closes this week, SR&ED just doubled, and AI programs are wide open.
Here’s what matters.
One deadline closing fast
CanExport Associations: January 6
If you’re part of a national trade or industry association, you have two days to apply for export funding.
Deadline: January 6 at 12:00 PM EST (that’s noon, not midnight).
Don’t wait until Monday morning. The portal always slows down in the final hour.
This is for associations only. The SME stream is separate and not currently open.
Zensurance update
The application window closed. If you applied earlier, shortlisting and public voting happen mid-January, with the winner announced late January.
Too late for new entries this round.
For next time: Under $1M revenue, 1–100 employees, Canadian business. (QC and Territories excluded.)
Where the AI money actually is
Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII)
The big federal AI program running through 2028. Runs through regional agencies like PrairiesCan and FedDev.
Amount: Hundreds of thousands up to $5M+, interest-free repayable.
Use cases: Automating operations, supply chain work, launching AI products.
Status: Ongoing intake in most regions. If you’re deploying AI to solve real business problems, contact your regional agency.
NRC IRAP - AI Support
Non-repayable funding for AI R&D, technical validation, and adoption.
Catch: You can’t apply online. You need to talk to an Industrial Technology Advisor first.
Don’t have one? Call your regional NRC office or 1-877-994-4727.
SR&ED just doubled
The refundable credit limit jumped from $3M to $6M.
Capital expenditures (equipment, hardware, buildings) are back for the first time in a decade. Applies to property acquired after December 15, 2024.
The new math: Up to $2.1M in cash refunds annually for qualifying corporations.
Send this to your accountant.
How to stack funding in 2026
Don’t pick one program. Use all three.
Non-repayable:
IRAP or AI support for validation and hiring.
Interest-free loan:
RAII for scaling and buildout.
Tax credit:
SR&ED to recover 35% of costs, including salaries and now capital.
Example:
IRAP funds a dev hire → RAII builds the platform → SR&ED refunds 35% of costs (including equipment) at year-end.
One deadline this week. SR&ED just doubled. AI programs are open.
Talk next Sunday.
— Zak