Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness 2025 Intake Now Open 

The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) program provides financial support to advanced manufacturing companies, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Ontario. 

This program has announced its new intake period, which opens today, January 16, 2025, and closes on April 24, 2025. 

AMIC offers both grants and interest-free loans to successful applicants. The maximum amount is $1.5 million in grants and $5 million in no-interest loans. Both grant and loan funding will cover up to 15% of a project’s overall costs. 

Funding Snapshot: AMIC  

AMIC emphasizes attracting growth and investment for companies that are eager to spend on purchasing capital equipment, adopting new technologies, and accelerating employee skills and talent development.  

Grants:  

• Cover up to 15% of eligible costs in specific scenarios:  

• Maximum of $500,000 for small companies in rural communities.  

• Maximum of $1.5 million for strategic projects involving foreign direct investment, reshoring, or competition with other jurisdictions.  

Loans:  

• Cover up to 15% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $5 million.  

• Loans are interest-free during the project period (up to four years).  

Loan Forgiveness: Up to 30% of the loan (maximum $500,000) may be forgiven if investment and job creation targets are met.  

Example: A business invests $10 million in a project over four years, creating five new full-time positions. Approved for a $1.5 million loan, the company achieves its investment and job targets. Consequently, $450,000 (30% of the loan) is converted into non-repayable funding.  

Note: AMIC funding cannot be stacked with other provincial funding programs.  

Applicant Eligibility  

To qualify for AMIC funding, applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Operate in advanced manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, automotive, chemicals, ICT, life sciences, and steel;   

• Have 3+ years of operational experience with financial statements;  

• Employ at least 10 people;  

• Commit to creating at least five new jobs or upskilling current employees;  

• Plan an investment of at least $500,000 in their project; and  

• Be in, or planning to locate in, a community in Ontario.  

Eligible Projects  

Projects must involve investments in capital equipment, technology adoption, and/or skills development. The outcomes of the projects should:  

• Create jobs and enhance the local talent pool;  

• Attract private sector investment and support business growth;  

• Adopt new technologies to improve competitiveness; and  

• Foster broad economic impacts, including innovation, collaboration, and cluster development.  

Timeline  

• New Intake Opening: January 16, 2025  

• Deadline: April 24, 2025  

• Funding Notifications: July 22, 2025 

Apply for AMIC Funding 

We strongly recommend applying for this program early, as it is highly competitive among advanced manufacturing businesses. If your business would like assistance in writing AMIC applications, consider speaking with the team of government funding experts at Ryan to find out if your business is eligible and how we can help take care of the application process on your behalf. 

To learn more about Canadian federal and provincial government funding programs, please attend a free government funding event to ask questions and discover new programs your business may be eligible for.