Funding programs: Glossary of terms

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Adoption: The process of accepting, integrating and/or using new technology.
Angel network: An organized group of investors who provides capital to start-ups.
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.

Business accelerator and incubator: An organization that helps start-ups grow by providing mentoring, training and support.

Cluster: A place where many companies, innovators or institutions, such as research universities, are located close to each other. This helps these entities work together, share resources, specialize and become more competitive. Clusters can also attract major global companies.
Commercialization: The process of introducing a new product, process or service into the marketplace. It is achieved when commercial level sales and/or production are realized. This includes 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:

The following are not accepted as confirmed funding:

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): 1 FTE equals 1 year of full-time employment (40 hours per week).

High-growth business: Any for-profit company 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): Individuals with university degrees at the bachelor’s level or above.

Incremental cost: A cost that would not be incurred if the project work was not carried out. A cost that rises because of project work, or that would be less had the project work not been done is usually incremental.
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: These include Indigenous governments, Indigenous-led not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous-controlled businesses such as Indigenous Development Corporations.

Non-government funding source: Funding that is not from a municipal, provincial, territorial or federal government source.

Project Funding Start Date: The date when expenses are eligible for funding. It is established in a project agreement.

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.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL): A measure of a technology’s maturity and readiness for real-life applications. More information is available from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.