Regional Innovation Ecosystems in British Columbia - Who can apply
Open
The application deadline has been extended from September 11 at 12 pm to October 30, 2026 at 12:00 pm PT. This change is being made to allow more time for applicants to develop their proposals in the context of changing economic conditions, opportunities and challenges. Applicants that have already applied do not need to re-apply.
2. Who can apply
The Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program is open to supporting activities typically undertaken by not-for-profits organizations that support businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs in British Columbia. For-profit entities may only be eligible if they are Indigenous, part of a consortium, and/or their project's benefits are broadly distributed. All eligible recipients must be legal entities capable of entering into a legally binding agreement. Examples of eligible recipients include:
- industry associations
- municipalities or other municipal-type organizations
- post-secondary educational institutions
- provincial crown corporations
- Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) organizations and businesses
- a group of eligible recipients such as a consortium (with members that include for-profit or not-for-profit entities)
- social enterprises
- angel networks
- business acceleratorsFootnote 1