Provincial · New Brunswick
New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)
Independent non-profit funding the full NB innovation pipeline: a flagship $80,000 Innovation Voucher, $200,000 Startup Fund, and two cleantech funds up to $250,000.
Quick facts
- Funding cap
- Up to $80,000 (Voucher) · Up to $250,000 (Corporate Cleantech)
- Who applies
- NB-incorporated businesses with 24+ months operating history and under 500 employees
- Intake
- Ongoing for most programs (two-stage applications)
- Contribution type
- Grant (non-repayable)
Last reviewed May 12, 2026. Programs change. Verify amounts, deadlines, and eligibility with New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (independent non-profit) before applying.
The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation is an independent non-profit, not a government department. It funds the full innovation pipeline from early-stage concept development to company scale-up by providing direct funding to NB businesses, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Independence means funding decisions move faster and the mandate stays focused on high-impact innovation rather than broad economic development. If a New Brunswick business is doing something genuinely new, NBIF is worth a serious look.
What it covers
NBIF runs four distinct funding programs, each targeting a different stage and project type. The Innovation Voucher is the most accessible entry point for SMEs and the right starting point for most digital transformation work. Larger projects move to the Startup Investment Fund or, for cleantech, the Emerging Concepts and Technologies fund or the Corporate Cleantech Innovation Fund.
Funding details
Four programs, four caps. Innovation Voucher Fund: up to $80,000, with NBIF covering 80 percent of eligible R&D costs and the business contributing 20 percent. Funds are paid directly to the research institution, not the business. Startup Investment Fund: up to $200,000 for early-stage NB companies bringing a new or substantially improved product, service, or technology to market. Emerging Concepts and Technologies (ECT): up to $150,000 for breakthrough cleantech and GHG-reduction technology. Corporate Cleantech Innovation Fund: up to $250,000 for established companies in cleantech.
How to apply
All NBIF programs use a two-stage application process: an initial project summary submitted online to determine eligibility, then a full application from qualified applicants. Most programs accept applications on an ongoing basis, but approval timelines range from weeks to months. Engage early and expect a conversation with NBIF program staff before submitting. Apply through nbif-finb.smapply.io.
Programs and streams inside NBIF
Different streams target different stages and project types. Confirm which one fits before applying.
Innovation Voucher Fund
Up to $80,000 (80% of eligible R&D costs)
The flagship SME program. Pays up to $80,000 directly to a research institution to cover 80 percent of the cost of R&D services delivered to a business. Funds applied R&D and technology development, product or process improvement through research partnerships, feasibility studies and proof-of-concept work, and software, AI, data, and digital technology development.
Eligibility: Provincially or federally incorporated company registered to carry on business in NB, fewer than 500 employees, at least 24 months of operating history.
Startup Investment Fund
Up to $200,000
Capital for NB companies bringing a new or meaningfully improved product, service, or technology to market. Intended for companies with market validation and a clear commercialization path.
Eligibility: For-profit NB-incorporated companies with market validation and a defined commercialization path.
Emerging Concepts and Technologies (ECT)
Up to $150,000
For companies developing breakthrough technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. Applies to both technology and business-model innovation.
Corporate Cleantech Innovation Fund
Up to $250,000
For established companies investing in cleantech innovation at scale. Eligible costs cover employee salaries, subcontracting, third-party testing, materials, equipment, infrastructure, and certain IP costs.
Priority sectors
Where the program tends to focus its funding.
How it stacks with other programs
NBIF pairs cleanly with ACOA REGI for larger projects and with SR&ED on the unfunded engineering hours. For NB organizations whose project doesn't fit NBIF's R&D framing, Opportunities New Brunswick's Strategic Investment Funding is the alternate provincial route.
Stages of work this program tends to fund
Mapped against Aurenia's nine-stage methodology. Useful when scoping the application.
- S2Customer Discovery
Decisions grounded in what your customers actually say, not what you assume. Synthesized from interviews, surveys, and support data.
- S6Architecture & Vendor Selection
An honest build-vs-buy analysis and vendor short-list, picked for fit. We don't take vendor commissions, so the recommendation is yours.
- S7Design & MVP Build
We orchestrate the build with hand-picked partners. You stay close to the work without managing three vendors yourself.
Common questions
Who is eligible for the NBIF Innovation Voucher?
Provincially or federally incorporated companies registered to carry on business in New Brunswick, with fewer than 500 employees and at least 24 months of operating history. Priority sectors include ICT, industrial fabrication, biosciences, value-added food and wood, aerospace and defence, and energy.
How does the Innovation Voucher actually pay out?
NBIF pays the research institution directly (up to $80,000, covering 80 percent of eligible R&D costs). The business contributes the remaining 20 percent. The business gets the innovation; the institution gets paid; less cash leaves the business.
My project is digital but not deeply R&D. Does NBIF still fit?
Possibly not. If the project doesn't have a meaningful research or applied-research component, Opportunities NB's Strategic Investment Funding tends to be the better provincial fit. We can help map a project to the right NB program in a discovery call.
What does the two-stage application look like?
Stage one is an online project summary that NBIF uses to confirm eligibility and fit. Qualified applicants are then invited to submit a full application. Most programs accept submissions on an ongoing basis.
Can NBIF be stacked with ACOA REGI?
Yes. NBIF on the research-driven portion of the project, REGI on the broader modernization. The same eligible cost can only be claimed once across the two.
Sources
Last reviewed May 12, 2026. Programs change. Always verify amounts, deadlines, and eligibility with the official program officer before applying.
Want help scoping this against NBIF?
Mapping a project to the right programs is something we do as part of an engagement, not a separate fee. Book a 30-minute call. No pitch, no pressure, just an honest read on which programs realistically apply.
Or email us at hello@aureniagroup.com