Overview

The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream will provide financial support to advanced manufacturing companies with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises across Ontario. It will provide investments in:

  • capital equipment
  • technology adoption
  • skills development

The types of support available include:

  • funding support
  • complementary services and support

The fund supports projects that:

  • create jobs and build talent
  • attract and encourage private sector investment
  • help companies to adopt technologies that improve their competitiveness
  • lead to business growth and broad positive economic impacts
  • encourage innovation, collaboration, and cluster development

The geographic area

The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream includes all of Ontario.

Who is eligible

The fund supports business and organizations in advanced manufacturing sectors, including:

  • aerospace
  • automotive
  • chemical
  • information and communications technology (ICT)
  • life sciences
  • steel

To be eligible, businesses need to:

  • have at least three years of operations/financial statements
  • employ at least 10 people
  • commit to creating at least five new jobs and/or upskilled current jobs
  • invest at least $500,000 in their project
  • be located in, or plan to locate in, a community in Ontario

Ineligible projects include:

  • ongoing operations including maintenance and capital replacement
  • refinancing of existing business operations
  • acquisitions and buyouts
  • restructuring, or relocating to other jurisdictions within Ontario
  • primary production
  • retail
  • construction (for example, residential development)
  • personal services
  • consulting
  • electricity generation
  • waste management
  • recycling

Restrictions

You are not allowed to combine (or stack) AMIC funding with funding from other provincial programs.

Types of support available

Funding

Up to 15% of eligible project costs.

Loans

Up to 15% of funding to a maximum of $5 million, interest free during the project period (up to four years).

If you achieve your investment and job or upskilling targets, up to 30% of the loan (to a maximum of $500,000) may be forgiven.

Grants

Grants are available only for specific circumstances, up to 15% to a maximum:

  • of $500,000 for small companies located in rural communities
    • small and rural is defined as: a company and any of its related companies totaling less than 100 FTEs; and located in a municipality with a population of less than 100,000 people, or a population density of 100 people per square kilometre or less, as identified in the most recent Statistics Canada Census of Canadian population
  • of $1.5 million for strategic projects that are foreign direct investments or from companies competing against other jurisdictions or companies with significant reshoring projects
    • strategic projects are foreign direct investments or from companies competing against other jurisdictions or companies with significant reshoring projects
    • reshoring is defined as a company: bringing manufacturing (for example, a full line or component) in house that is currently manufactured, outsourced or subcontracted at a location outside of Canada or manufacturing a product/component in Ontario to supply an Ontario manufacturer that currently sources that component from outside of Canada
    • to be viewed as significant, the project must lead to a minimum of 15 new jobs in Ontario

Complementary supports and services

Complementary supports and services are available when you submit a completed application. This could include:

  • advisory services to help you navigate other government programs, such as guidance on compliance approvals
  • help with skills and talent
  • health and safety
  • environmental

These services are available for the duration of your project regardless of the funding outcome. Services will be coordinated by working with partner ministries until they are delivered, closed-out or finalized.

Application deadlines and decisions

There are two application intake periods per year. For application periods two, three and four, our target is to notify applicants of decisions approximately 60 business days from the application deadline.

Application period one

The application period ending on February 17, 2022 is now closed. 

Application period two

The application period ending on September 22, 2022 is now closed.

Application period three

Application opening: February 1, 2023 – March 16, 2023

Registration on TPON and consulting with regional advisor regarding your application is advised at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline, March 1st, 2023.

Application assessment period (60 business days): March 20, 2023 – June 14, 2023

Anticipated notification date: June 14, 2023, 2023

Application period four

Application opening: July 20, 2023 – August 31, 2023

Registration on TPON and consulting with regional advisor regarding your application is advised at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline, August 15st, 2023.

Application assessment period (60 business days): September 5, 2023 – November 29, 2023

Anticipated notification date: November 29, 2023

How to apply

Review the key documents including, program guidelines, and a sample application form.

Step1: complete the online self assessment tool.

Step 2: contact a provincial government advisor for help with your check list and application.

Step3: register for Transfer Payment Ontario

  • TPON is the Province of Ontario’s online application system for grant funding. Before applying for a funding opportunity, all applicants must first register with TPON following a three-step process.
  • When registering an organization on TPON, ensure you have the necessary information (e.g., legal business name) and official business documents (e.g., Canadian Revenue Agency Business Number) readily available. Please enter the data accurately to avoid unnecessary delays.
  • Applicants with technical questions about TPON can contact the TPON Customer Service Line toll-free at 1-855-216-3090 or toll free TTY at 1-800-268-7095, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, or by email at tponcc@ontario.ca.

Step 4: work with your advisor to complete and submit the application forms, along with the required supplemental information. Learn about about submitting an application form on TPON.

Selection criteria

Successful projects must:

  • align with the fund’s goals of supporting advanced manufacturing
  • support job creation or upskilling
  • provide economic benefits
  • be achievable (for example, applicants need to have the necessary financing, project management structure and experience to implement the project)

Contact

For advice on developing and strengthening your application, contact your provincial government advisor or our Business Advisory Services.

Central Region

Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Niagara Region and Simcoe County

Eastern Region

Western Region

Northern Region

Questions

For more information, email us at: rdp@ontario.ca.