Regional Defence Investment Initiative in British Columbia-Funding overview
Accepting applications until April 15, 2026 at 12:00 pm PT.
1. Funding overview
The RDII is open to incorporated businesses.
In exceptional cases, other entities providing support to defence and dual-use small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may be considered for funding. Such organizations should contact PacifiCan.
Incorporated businesses
Funding:
- Interest-free repayable contributions of $100,000 to $10 million per commercial project
Funding source:
- PacifiCan may contribute up to 75% of eligible costs
- Combined government assistance from all sources (municipal, provincial, and federal, including PacifiCan’s contribution) may support up to 100% of total eligible project costs
- Priority may be given to projects with higher levels of funding from other non-PacifiCan sources
Repayment:
- Repayment normally begins one year after project completion and is made in equal monthly installments over five years
- No collateral is required and there is no penalty for early repayment
Confirmation of non-government funding
Confirmation of internal funding can include:
- Current bank statements
- Unused portions of a line of credit
Confirmation of funding provided by third-party sources can include:
- Official funding letters
- Funding agreements
- Signed term sheets
We do not accept the following as confirmation of funding:
- Forecasted revenues
- Accounts receivables
- Commitments for future funding
- Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) credit receivables
Eligible costs
Our funding can cover incremental, reasonable, and essential project costs including:
- Material and labour costs (e.g., wages and benefits for new positions)
- Capital costs (e.g., purchase of machinery, equipment, and infrastructure)
- Consultancy fees (e.g., professional, advisory, and technical services)
- Costs related to pre-production activities (e.g., technological development and commercial demonstration)
- Costs related to commercializing products or expanding or maintaining markets
- Costs related to specialized services, such as testing services, research and development services, and technical or innovation services
- Costs related to meeting military certifications and/or standards
- Costs related to development capacity to enable businesses to bid on defence projects
All project costs must be incurred and services rendered or goods received between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2028.
Ineligible costs
Ineligible costs include:
- Salary bonuses and dividends
- Entertainment expenses
- Refinancing of existing debts
- Amortization or depreciation of assets
- Lobbying activities
- Membership fees and donations
