Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program

For small and medium-sized businesses in Nova Scotia, turning a good idea into a more productive operation or a new product often requires expertise that isn’t available in-house. The Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program was created to bridge that gap by helping companies tap into research talent and technical resources at Nova Scotia’s universities and colleges. Delivered by Invest Nova Scotia, the program focuses on practical, short-term projects that can improve efficiency, refine processes, or move an innovation closer to market.

Through this initiative, eligible businesses could receive non-repayable funding of up to about $25,000 to work directly with an approved post-secondary service provider. Many companies used the program to test new technologies, solve operational challenges, or develop prototypes with academic support they might not otherwise be able to afford. The two-tier structure allowed first-time participants to start with a smaller project and, if successful, build on that work through a larger follow-on voucher. This made the program especially valuable for SMEs looking to take incremental but meaningful steps toward innovation.

At the moment, the Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program is closed and not accepting new applications. However, understanding how this program works can still be useful for Nova Scotia businesses planning future research or productivity projects, especially as similar opportunities may reopen or be replaced with new funding options. Exploring the full details can help you decide how this type of support could fit into your longer-term growth strategy.