Planning a software, app or digital assessment project? Part of the bill could be covered by a grant. In Quebec, it often is.
At LADEV, several of our clients, non-profits and private companies alike, have funded part of their custom software this way. This guide covers the small business grants in Quebec that most often fund digital projects for SMEs and non-profits, what they actually cover and how to put together a strong application.
Who receives the money?
In most programs, your organization submits the application and receives the funding. The supplier (a development firm, a consultant, a research centre) is paid by you, and part of its fees is reimbursed to you.
The direct consequence: your organization is the one that must be eligible. Legal status (business or non-profit), size, revenue, industry and region matter more than the technology you choose.
The main small business grants in Quebec at a glance
The amounts below come from the official program pages, checked in November 2026. Most of these pages are available in French only. Amounts change often, so always confirm at the source before applying.
| Program | Who it’s for | What it funds | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESSOR, component 1B (Investissement Québec) | 250 employees or fewer, annual revenue of at least $2.5M | Digital assessment and plan, system selection | 50%, up to $20,000 |
| ESSOR, component 1C | Same criteria, with a digital plan completed in the last 24 months | Implementation of the digital plan | 50%, up to $50,000 |
| Mon Succès Numérique (Réseau CCTT) | Startups and SMEs with 500 employees or fewer, non-profits more than 50% self-funded, co-operatives and mutuals | Digital project supported by a college technology transfer centre (CCTT) | 50% for a mandate of 100 hours or less, 35% from 100 to 200 hours, up to $11,200 |
| Innovation Program, component 1 (Investissement Québec) | Businesses and groups of businesses, with priority given to SMEs | Design, prototyping, testing, technology showcase | Through calls for projects only. No applications accepted as of November 2026 |
| Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (CED) | SMEs adopting, developing or commercializing AI, and non-profits that support them | Artificial intelligence projects | SMEs: repayable assistance of up to 50% of authorized costs. Non-profits: up to 90%, generally non-repayable |
| EPRTNT, tourism (through your ATR) | Tourism businesses and organizations | Online transactions (such as booking), customer experience, data management | Varies by region |
ESSOR ends on March 31, 2027. If a digital assessment is in your plans, it’s the first program to look at.
Which program for which project?
For a digital assessment
Not sure yet what to automate or which software to choose? That’s exactly what a digital assessment is for. ESSOR component 1B reimburses half of it, and the resulting plan then opens the door to component 1C to move into implementation. A good assessment costs less than the wrong software bought too quickly.
For custom software
If the project stems from a digital plan, ESSOR 1C is the most direct route. For a new product or a prototype, watch for calls for projects under the Innovation Program: none is open right now, but new ones can be launched. For a smaller project, Mon Succès Numérique may be a good fit. And if you bank with Desjardins Business, the Momentum Fund offers up to $20,000 for growth projects, including digital transformation.
For a non-profit
Several doors are open to non-profits. Mon Succès Numérique accepts non-profits that are more than 50% self-funded. If your organization helps SMEs adopt or develop artificial intelligence, the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative can cover up to 90% of the project, generally with no repayment. For a community project with regional reach, Desjardins’ GoodSpark Fund is also worth a look: projects are submitted through your regional caisse. ESSOR, for its part, targets for-profit businesses and social economy enterprises, which can include a non-profit that sells goods or services: check whether your status qualifies.
For an artificial intelligence project
Canada Economic Development’s Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative targets these projects. For an SME, though, it’s repayable assistance, not a grant. ESSOR component 1B, for its part, covers AI integration as part of the assessment.
For a tourism business
Contact your regional tourism association (ATR): it manages the digital transformation program in your region.
For a website
This is the hardest case to fund. Most programs target productivity or innovation rather than online presence, and Mon Succès Numérique excludes website redesigns and SEO.
Grant or tax credit: two different mechanisms
A grant funds a specific project, based on an application. A tax credit reduces your taxes, is claimed with your tax return and often comes back every year. The investment and innovation tax credit (C3i), for example, can apply to purchases of management software packages and computer equipment, at a rate of 15% to 25% depending on the region’s economic vitality, for property acquired before 2030.
The two can sometimes be combined, but funding you receive can reduce the eligible base of a tax credit on the same expenses, and most programs cap the total amount of public funding. Have your accountant validate the setup before counting on both.
Putting the application together without losing weeks
- Describe the project on one page: the current problem, the objective and the result you want to measure.
- Ask for a detailed quote, with deliverables, timeline and amounts per phase. It’s often the centrepiece of the file.
- Gather your financial statements, headcount and organizational information.
- Check the language requirements. For ESSOR, the application must be written in French and the business must have a French-language website.
- Submit the application following the program guide (for ESSOR, the component 1B presentation guide, in French), and keep a copy of every document you send.
A funding example
Here’s a made-up but realistic case: a distribution company with 40 employees and $6M in revenue.
- It commissions a $24,000 digital assessment. ESSOR 1B reimburses 50%, or $12,000.
- The plan recommends an ordering portal connected to its accounting system, estimated at $90,000. ESSOR 1C can cover 50%, or $45,000, under the $50,000 cap.
On a $114,000 project, funding could reach $57,000, subject to approval and stacking rules.
From idea to app, with the grant along the way
Helping our clients with their applications has taught us one thing: the grant isn’t added at the end of the project. It’s prepared alongside it, from the very first conversation. A well-defined project makes a strong application, and a strong application forces you to define the project well.
That’s why we stay with our clients from start to finish:
- Your idea comes first. Before talking technology, we clarify the problem to solve and the expected result. That’s exactly what programs want to read.
- The right program. We identify the ones that match your status (non-profit or business), your size, your industry and the nature of the project.
- A compliant quote. Deliverables, timeline and amounts are laid out the way the program expects them, so your file is complete the first time.
- Support with the application. We help you describe the technical side of the project in the form. If the program analyst wants details on the technology, timeline or costs, we answer them with you.
- Delivery. We build your software or app following the phases and amounts set out in the application, and we provide the detailed invoices and documents the program needs to release the funding.
Your organization submits the application and receives the funding. Our role: making sure the project and the file hold up, from the idea to the app going live.
Find out if your project can be funded
Your organization’s eligibility determines the program, and therefore the form the quote must take. Have a software or app project and wondering whether it can be funded? Get in touch at the start of your project: we’ll look together at which program applies.
This article is for information only and does not replace advice from an accountant or a funding advisor.
Sources: ESSOR, component 1 (Investissement Québec, in French) · Component 1B presentation guide (in French) · Mon Succès Numérique (Réseau CCTT, in French) · Innovation Program, component 1 (Investissement Québec, in French) · Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (CED) · EPRTNT (Québec.ca, in French) · C3i (Quebec Ministry of Finance, in French) · Momentum Fund (Desjardins) · GoodSpark Fund (Desjardins)
