The ESSOR – Stream 1 program aims to accelerate the development of an investment project for your company by enabling you to carry out studies prior to your investment project, such as feasibility studies and digital diagnostics.

The ESSOR – Stream 1 program aims to accelerate the development of an investment project for your company by enabling you to carry out studies prior to your investment project, such as feasibility studies and digital diagnostics.

Intake Period: Ongoing submission, first come first served (fiscal year begins in April), program ends March 31, 2027.

Funding Amount

Financial assistance is provided in the form of a non-repayable contribution.

• Sub-stream A (feasibility study): 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $50,000.
• Sub-stream B (diagnostics and plans): 50% of eligible expenses, up to % $20,000.
• Sub-stream C (implementation): 50% of eligible expenses up to $50,000.

Eligible Applicants: ESSOR – Stream 1

Companies must give priority to DEPART when applying for financial assistance if they meet all these criteria:

• Be Located in Quebec
• Have at least $2.5 M in revenues.
• Have 250 or fewer employees
• Are located (or carrying out a project) in a MRC targeted by the DEPART program – Targeted territories section
• Involve a sector of activity eligible for the DEPART program – section Eligible sectors of activity
• Apply for financial assistance of more than $15,000 according to the DEPART program’s rates.

Eligible Projects: ESSOR – Stream 1

• Sub-stream A: Feasibility studies for business start-up, modernization or expansion projects (e.g.: market analysis, process or technology evaluation for plant construction projects, expansion or addition of production equipment/lines)
• Sub-stream B: Digital diagnostics and plans (e.g. for ERP or CRM implementation, costing system implementation)
• Sub-stream C: Implementation of a digital plan (sub-component B mandatory)

Why Ayming?

Our team of experts will take the time to understand your current and future planned projects. We will then align these initiatives to the program in order to provide you with the highest ROI and the highest chance of approval.

• We have extensive experience working with Canadian SMEs and have the expertise to properly position and maximize your application to secure your business funding.
• We are the first Canadian company to establish a national grants practice.
• Our proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) driven database of grants provides live access to thousands of programs, including a custom snapshot of all federal and provincial grants currently available to each company specifically.
• Our highly experienced delivery teams boast over 50 + years of combined grants experience and over 200+ years of combined SR&ED experience, meaning you partner with true subject matter experts who are invested in your success.
• No risk success-fee remuneration.

Contact one of our Grant experts today and get your application started ASAP before program funding is depleted! We’re here to help and answer all of your questions.