Funding programs: Glossary of terms

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2SLGBTQI+

The community of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other sexual and gender diverse peoples in Canada. More details are available from Women and Gender Equality Canada.

A

Adoption (of technology)

The process of accepting, integrating and/or using new technology.

Angel network

An organized group of investors who provide capital, mentoring or professional resources to start-ups (i.e., early stage companies).

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Technology that learns from data sets and algorithms to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence like visual perception, speech recognition and autonomous decision-making.

Assessment

The process of reviewing and analysing an application and proposed project prior to considering entering into a contribution agreement. This includes ensuring the project meets program and department objectives, and Government of Canada guidelines for contributions funding.

B

Black community(ies)

Communities made up of citizens and permanent residents of Canada who self-identify as fully or partially Black, including individuals with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds of African descent.

Business accelerator, business incubator

An organization that helps companies grow by providing mentoring, training or other support.

• Business incubators are typically organizations that provide early-stage businesses (frequently pre-revenue start-ups) with access to coaching, mentoring, investors and other forms of support. Companies that use incubators also often benefit from access to foundational resources, such as logistical and technical support, training and shared workspaces.
• Business accelerators are organizations that provide businesses with access to mentoring, investors and other forms of support to help them grow and develop. Companies that use accelerators are typically established, revenue-generating startups. These companies benefit from guidance and peer support with an aim towards more rapid scale-up.

Businesses created, maintained, or expanded

The total number of unique businesses created, maintained, or expanded as a direct outcome of a PacifiCan-funded project.

• Businesses created are businesses formed or established due to PacifiCan’s investment in the project
• Businesses maintained are businesses that existed prior to the project, but that would not continue if the project is not funded
• Businesses expanded are businesses receiving services leading to the growth of the business

C

Clients receiving business services

The total number of unique clients served during a project’s duration. This includes individuals receiving a loan, self-employment assistance, advisory services or business information services.

Cluster

Clusters are local groupings of companies, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations that boost innovation and growth in a particular industry.

Commercial project

A project that is expected to generate revenues above its costs and/or increase the value of a business. Projects led by for-profit organizations are presumed to be commercial.

Commercialization

The process of introducing a new product, process or service to market. It is achieved when commercial level sales and/or production are realized. Commercialization activities include market diagnostics, development, customization of technology for broader (off-the-shelf) use, production expansion, supply chain integration and other activities aimed at bringing new technologies and solutions to market in the near term.

Confirmed funding

Internal or third-party funding that has been confirmed by one or more of the following:

• bank statements
• unused portions of a line of credit
• official funding letters
• funding agreements
• signed term sheets

The following are not accepted as confirmed funding:

• forecasted revenues from future activities
• accounts receivables
• commitments to raise equity or to obtain future bank financing
• Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) credit receivables

Contribution

A transfer payment subject to performance conditions specified in a funding agreement. A contribution is to be accounted for and is subject to audit. More details are available from the Directive on Transfer Payments.

D

Diverse groups

Includes persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, youth, immigrants, racialized people, 2SLGBTQ+ people, women, and people from Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs).

Dual-use technologies

The items, services or technologies that can be employed for civilian purposes and are also critical to providing operational advantage to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Allied military operations.

E

Export sales growth

The growth in the total export value (in dollars) of goods and services of a business supported through PacifiCan funding.

F

Full time equivalent (FTE)

One FTE equals one year (12 months) of full-time employment (typically 40 hours per week). Seasonal or part-time employment should be converted to FTEs.

G

Gender

The socially constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men and gender-diverse people. Gender is diverse and may not align with the sex assigned at birth. More details are available from Women and Gender Equality Canada.

Government assistance

Funding from any level of government (federal, provincial, territorial or municipal). This also includes funding from any organization that is fully government-funded, and that does not make investment decisions on a commercial basis or independently from government.

Grant

A transfer payment subject to pre-established eligibility and other entitlement criteria. A grant is not subject to being accounted for by a recipient nor is it normally subject to audit by the department. The recipient may be required to report on results achieved. More details are available from the Directive on Transfer Payments.

H

High-growth business

Any for-profit business that has notable and/or consistent revenue increases year-over-year (typically, this means an increase of at least 20% year-over-year).

Highly qualified personnel (HQP) jobs

FTE (full-time equivalent) positions that:

• require a university degree at the bachelor’s level or above; and/or
• involve generating advancements or innovations through the application of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)-related knowledge and expertise.

I

Incremental activities

The activities that add to or expand existing operations or activities and would not have taken place without the project.

Incremental cost

A cost that arises specifically because of the project. It must either:

• exist as a direct result of the project; OR
• increase as a result of the project (i.e., without the project, the cost would be lower)

Incremental private sector investment attracted

The amount of private sector capital invested as a result of a project funded by PacifiCan. It does not include private sources of funding for project activities.

Indigenous business

Businesses that are led or owned by Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) in which Indigenous peoples or an Indigenous government band (as defined by the Indian Act) own or control at least 51% of the business.

Indigenous Development Corporation

The economic and business development arm of a First Nations, Métis or Inuit government that invests in and manages businesses to financially support community interests.

Indigenous organizations

Indigenous governments, Indigenous-led not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous-controlled businesses such as Indigenous Development Corporations.

Indigenous peoples

Refers to First Nations, Inuit and Métis as recognized under Section 35 of the Constitution Act. More details are available from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.

In-kind costs or contributions

A project cost that the funding applicant does not incur and pay for. Typically, these expenses are borne by third parties for goods or services that are provided to the applicant at no cost or at a reduced cost. These expenses must be valued at their fair market cost.

Innovation

The process through which economic and social value is extracted from knowledge. This occurs when ideas are generated, developed and implemented to produce new or improved strategies, capabilities, products, services or processes.

J

Jobs created

The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs created as a direct result of a project.

Jobs maintained

The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs maintained as a direct result of a project. The jobs must have existed within the organization prior to the project, but would not continue, or would likely be lost, if the project were not funded.

M

Majority-owned or -led

Majority-owned is an organization where an individual or group own more than 50% of the organization.

Majority-led is an organization where an individual or group represents more than 50% of the organization’s management, giving them long-term control and management of the organization.

N

Newcomer to Canada or immigrant

Newcomer to Canada refers to a person who arrived in Canada within in the last 10 years.

Immigrant refers to a person who is or has ever been a landed immigrant/permanent resident.

Non-government funding source

Funding that is not from a municipal, provincial, territorial or federal government source.

Non-HQP jobs

FTE (full-time equivalent) positions that are not highly qualified personnel (HQP) jobs.

O

Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)

Francophone communities in provinces and territories other than Quebec, and Anglophone communities in Quebec. In British Columbia, OLMCs are Francophone.

P

Person with a disability

A person whose full and equal participation in society is hindered by any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation. More details are available from Accessible Canada Act.

Project

The group of activities and actions that occur in the period between the project funding start date and the project funding end date.

Project funding end date (Proposed end date)

The date that project activity is anticipated to cease and expenses are no longer eligible for funding. For repayable contributions, this does not include the repayment period. The project end date is defined in the contribution agreement.

Project funding start date (Proposed start date)

The date the contribution agreement between the recipient and PacifiCan comes into effect. Typically, any costs incurred prior to this date are not eligible for reimbursement under the terms of agreement. The project start date is defined in the contribution agreement.

R

Racialized communities

Groups that have been socially constructed as races based on characteristics such as ethnicity, language, economics, religion, culture or politics.

Recipient

The entity that enters into a Contribution Agreement with PacifiCan to be supported by the program funding.

Repayable contribution

A contribution that must be repaid to the Regional Development Agency (e.g., PacifiCan) according to repayment conditions specified in a contribution agreement.

Revenue growth

New revenue (foreign and domestic) that businesses generate as facilitated by or directly attributable to their participation in a project.

S

Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentives

Tax incentives that encourage research and development in Canada. More details are available from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Supply chain

Direct and indirect suppliers of goods and services in Canada and internationally that:

• contribute to the activities of another business, government or non-profit;
• source, produce and deliver a product or service to a customer.

An entity's supply chain does not include the end users or customers who purchase its products or services.

T

Technologies to market

Commercial products and processes resulting from the transition of research, inventions or intellectual property. This involves analyzing market needs, securing IP and creating business models for adoption, ensuring innovations move from labs to practical applications.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

A measure of a technology’s maturity and readiness for real-life applications. More details are available from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Transfer payment

A monetary payment, or a transfer of goods, services or assets made, on the basis of an appropriation, to a third party, including a Crown corporation, that does not result in the acquisition by the Government of Canada of any goods, services or assets. Transfer payments are categorized as grants, contributions and other transfer payments. Transfer payments do not include investments, loans or loan guarantees. More details are available from the Directive on Transfer Payments.

W

Women

Refers to adults who identify as women, including cis- and transgender individuals.

Y

Youth

Refers to people between the ages of 15 and 34.