CanNor REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems

Building a strong regional innovation ecosystem takes more than individual startups—it requires coordinated networks that help businesses move from idea to scale. The CanNor REGI — Regional Innovation Ecosystems program is designed for not-for-profit organizations that play this connector role, bringing together entrepreneurs, industry partners, and support services in regions with clear growth potential. Delivered by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, this initiative focuses on strengthening the environments where innovative businesses can start, grow, and compete.

Funding through this program supports organizations that operate accelerators, incubators, cluster initiatives, and other business support networks. Projects often focus on helping small and medium-sized businesses commercialize new products, technologies, or services, while also improving productivity and access to talent and investment. There is a strong emphasis on leveraging regional strengths and ensuring that under-represented groups—including Indigenous entrepreneurs, women, and youth—are better connected to the innovation economy. Financial support can be substantial, with contributions reaching into the millions for larger, high-impact ecosystem projects, and may be conditionally repayable depending on outcomes.

For nonprofit organizations working to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in their regions, this program can provide the scale of support needed to make lasting change. Reviewing the full details can help determine whether your organization’s mandate and projects align with CanNor’s regional innovation goals.