COVID-19 funding opportunities
Innovative Solutions Canada has dedicated funding to help combat current and future outbreaks of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and other similar threats.
Our program will help support the Government of Canada’s fight against COVID-19 by funding R&D and testing prototypes in real-life settings that can help protect Canadians.
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Below are the funding parameters we will use for our COVID-19 funding opportunities.
Challenge Stream COVID-19
This program stream seeks to develop new solutions from an early stage of development to combat COVID-19 and other similar threats.
- We have increased our funding amounts to support COVID-19 challenges
- Funding amounts are identified in each individual challenge
- Once successfully developed, innovators participating in COVID-19 challenges may be eligible to sell their solution to government directly
- Proposals from companies to develop technologies and services must fall within TRLs 1-6. Please consult the TRL definitions
Testing Stream COVID-19 (former Build in Canada Innovation Program)
The Call for prototypes to help combat COVID-19 is now closed, thank you to the Canadian innovators who applied.
We expect we will be launching an ISC Testing Stream open Call for Proposals Spring-Summer 2020, sign-up to our newsfeed to receive a notification when we launch.
Open funding opportunities

COVID-19 Challenge: An intelligent digital clearing house
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is seeking a smart digital exchange platform solution that will connect researchers, health providers, and solution providers with the appropriate expertise, materials, devices, and information to respond to COVID-19.
Challenge sponsor: National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Funding mechanism: Grant
Opening date: May 26, 2020
Closing date: June 2, 2020, 14:00 Eastern Daylight Time
Prospective applicants should refer to the Innovative Solutions Canada Grant Instructions and Procedures document.

COVID-19 Challenge: Magnetic reagents for detection of COVID-19 and other RNA based molecular diagnostic kits
The National Research Council Canada (NRC) is seeking a solution for reagents required for nucleic acid sample preparation and rapid and efficient SARS-CoV-2 Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction in order to perform downstream molecular diagnostics of COVID-19 with capability to integrate within existing and/or potential microfluidic platforms for sample-to-answer solutions that can be deployed on the frontline for rapid testing.
Challenge sponsor: National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Funding mechanism: Grant
Opening date: May 26, 2020
Closing date: June 16, 2020, 14:00 Eastern Daylight Time
Prospective applicants should refer to the Innovative Solutions Canada Grant Instructions and Procedures document.