Canada Digital Adoption Program

Access up to $15,000 in government funding to boost your business technology.

Canada Digital Adoption Program

Access up to $15,000 in government funding to boost your business technology.

Federal Government Announcement Monday, February 19, 2024 —The Canada Digital Adoption Program is fully subscribed and no longer accepting new applications for the Boost Your Business Technology grant.

Continue your transformation journey

MNP Digital remains committed to supporting your digital adoption goals. We are pleased to announce our cost-effective Digital Adoption Accelerator program for small and mid-sized businesses.

Fill out the form here to learn more — and stay tuned to this page for further updates.

The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is offering $4 billion in total funding to help small to medium-sized businesses embrace digital transformation. Through the Boost Your Business Technology grant, successful applicants can access up to $15,000 to retain an MNP Digital advisor and offset the costs of planning their transformation journey.

Let’s begin your transformation journey

As Canada’s largest and most experienced digital advisory team focused on small and mid-sized businesses, MNP is the perfect partner to help you make the most of this opportunity.

We have local experts conveniently located across the country who understand the challenges and opportunities in your market — and how to help you succeed.

Grant eligibility assessment

Review the funding criteria with a qualified advisor to determine whether you qualify, and which stream would be best for your business.

Grant application support

Complete your application with the help of an MNP Digital advisor who can help maximize your funding and the likelihood of approval.

Business needs assessment

Review your operations, current technology, and business strategy to identify where you can benefit from digital transformation — and what to prioritize.

Review solution options

Find platforms and capabilities that will support your budget and business objectives — and create a cost / benefit analysis of your top options.

Strategy and roadmap

Design a comprehensive digital strategy with steps, timelines, and resources to achieve your near- and long-term transformation objectives.

Do you qualify for funding?

The Government of Canada has outlined four mandatory criteria for eligible applicants:

01
Incorporated at the national or provincial level; or be a Canadian resident sole proprietor.
02
Privately-owned for-profit entity.
03
Maximum 499 full time equivalent employees.
04
At least $500,000 and not more than $100 million in revenue in one (1) of the past three (3) tax years.

Complete the CDAP assessment tool to determine your business’ digital maturity and whether you qualify for the Boost Your Business Technology Grant. 

Turn your plan into action

Developing your strategic plan and roadmap is just the beginning. You also need to execute throughout your transformation journey. Our comprehensive and highly skilled team of digital transformation architects and solutions for small and medium-sized businesses provide ongoing support to help you modernize your business technology.

With MNP, you won’t just get a service provider — but a transformation partner who’s completely invested in your success.

When you’re ready to begin your transformation, utilize CDAP’s additional funding opportunities to ensure your investment goes as far as possible.

Get a head start with up to $100,000 in interest-free loans

Businesses that are eligible for the Boost Your Business Grant can also qualify for an interest-free loan through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). This loan can be used to implement your roadmap and facilitate the purchase of new technology.

Learn more

Access up to $7,300 in wage subsidies to hire skilled youth

Building a skilled and dynamic team is vital for a successful digital transformation. Maximize your business’s digital potential by accessing wage subsidies of up to $7,300 per eligible hire through Magnet. Hire talented youth equipped with the skills needed for digital adoption.

Learn more

Ready to get started?

Our dedicated team is standing by and ready to help you access and make the most of CDAP funding. Reach out today for more information about the program, your eligibility, and your transformation opportunities.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Think you’re ready to take advantage of the Canada Digital Adoption program, but don’t know where to start? Here, we provide clarity on the most common points of confusion, what you can get from the Boost Your Business Technology Grant, and how MNP can help you through every step of the process.

Can MNP apply for funding on my behalf?

The owner or director of your organization can apply or, beginning June 1, 2023, assign a representative to submit most of the application on your behalf. Our team can guide you through the process, review your application, provide feedback to maximize your likelihood of success, and answer any questions you have.

Who qualifies for a Boost Your Business Technology grant?

The Government of Canada has outlined four mandatory criteria for eligible applicants:

  1. Incorporated at the national or provincial level; or be a Canadian resident sole proprietor.
  2. Privately-owned for-profit entity
  3. Maximum 499 full time equivalent employees
  4. At least $500,000 and not more than $100 million in revenue in one (1) of the past three (3) tax years.

How do I access funds?

The Government of Canada will reimburse you for up to 90 percent of eligible expenses, up to $15,000. Once your MNP advisor has completed work on your digital adoption plan you will submit the relevant invoices to receive your grant payment.

Can I access funding if I’ve participated in a digital adoption program before?

You are not eligible for the $15,000 Boost Your Business Technology Grant if you already have a digital adoption plan developed through one of the following programs in the last 12 months:

  • Programme Audit Industrie 4.0
  • Digital Boost 2.0
  • Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency: Digital Acceleration Pilot

However, you may qualify for the Fast-Track option and be eligible to apply for a $100,000 interest free loan through BDC to continue your digital transformation journey. All program eligibility requirement still apply.

Can I work with any company that offers digital services?

The Government of Canada has a list of partners in its Digital Advisor Marketplace who you can work with. MNP is an approved vendor for the Canada Digital Adoption Program.

Who will work with me on my digital adoption plan?

MNP has assembled a dedicated team of transformation advisors with extensive experience helping small and medium-sized business achieve their transformation objectives. You’ll work with a senior digital strategist as a primary point of contact. This individual will recruit support from our internal teams as necessary to help develop a tailored and comprehensive transformation plan that’s ready for deployment.

Can MNP apply for funding on my behalf?

You must apply for the grant directly. However, our team can guide you through the process, review your application, provide feedback to maximize your likelihood of success. and answer any questions you have.

I’m not sure how to answer my digital maturity assessment, can MNP help?

Yes! We know some questions may be difficult to answer depending on your experience with and understanding of digital technologies. An MNP advisor would be more than happy to walk you through the assessment and clarify any sections that you may struggle with.

How long will it take to create my digital adoption plan?

You need to submit your digital adoption plan and invoices to the federal government for reimbursement within nine (9) months of being approved for funding. Though, in most cases MNP can help you develop your technology roadmap much sooner — typically within several weeks of signing your engagement contract.

What will I get as part of my digital adoption plan?

Your digital adoption plan is a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities to improve your business by leveraging modern hardware and platforms. Specific deliverables you will receive from MNP include:

  • Current state analysis
  • Post transformation capability report
  • Summary of proposed digital solutions, including a cost / benefit analysis of your top three options and high-level requirements
  • Near- and long-term digital strategy
  • Implementation roadmap, including timelines, costs, and required capabilities

Can I use funding to purchase new hardware and platforms?

No. The Boost Your Business Technology grant is intended to assess your digital maturity and opportunities to increase your competitiveness through digital transformation. Eligible costs are limited to those involved with creating your digital adoption plan, including:

  • Advisor fees, commissions, and charges associated with creating your digital adoption plan
  • Applicable federal and provincial sales taxes associated with fees charged by the advisor

Will MNP implement my digital adoption plan?

Your digital adoption plan will provide a comprehensive roadmap of your priorities, including timelines, budgets, and a cost benefit analysis of relevant platforms and strategies. This would be the end of our engagement from a Canada Digital Adoption Program perspective. However, it is merely the beginning of your overall transformation journey.

We look forward to continuing with you through the implementation phases. Having already formed a deep understanding of your transformation needs, engaging our team will make for a seamless transition from planning to execution. As a full-service firm, we have the people, expertise, and relationships in place to ensure you get the best return on your digital investment.

What do you know about the funded work placement program?

Businesses may qualify for a $7,300 wage subsidy to hire either a current student or recent graduate as part of a digital transformation or adoption initiative. As this is part of the Boost Your Business Technology track, the same eligibility criteria and process to access funds will apply. In most cases, this option would be most beneficial during the implementation phase, after you’ve created a digital adoption strategy.

Can MNP help with the Grow Your Business Online micro-grant?

No. The Canada Digital Adoption program is offering up to $2,400 to 90,000 Canadian small businesses seeking to develop their e-commerce presence. However, this work is typically outside the scope of MNP’s focus, and we are not registered as an e-commerce advisor as part of this grant offering.

I have several companies where I am an owner / director. Can I apply for multiple grants?

Yes. You may apply for each company individually, provided each is a separate legal entity and meets the eligibility criteria.

What do I need to know about the BDC interest-free loan?

To support your digital transformation, you can apply for an interest-free loan of up to $100,000 from BDC, provided you’ve worked with a digital advisor to complete a digital adoption roadmap.

The loan covers expenses related to your plan. Some examples include:

  • Purchasing or updating IT equipment
  • Training staff on new technologies
  • Acquiring new digital devices
  • Engaging additional advisory services for your digital adoption plan

Loan amounts vary based on business revenue, ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 with zero percent interest. The loan comes with a five-year term and a 12-month capital postponement.

To ensure you don’t miss out, apply for the BDC loan within six months of creating your approved digital adoption plan.

Important updates:

In December 2023, the eligibility criteria and limits were updated for the BDC loan, including:

  1. Applying businesses must have at least $500,000 in annual revenue as of their last fiscal year-end closing date.
  2. The zero percent loan is capped at $200,000 per borrowing group. This means grant recipients with multiple businesses with common shareholders or financial statements can only be approved for up to $200,000 in combined loans.

How does the wage subsidy program work?

Employers approved for the Boost Your Business Technology Grant are eligible for wage subsidy funding of up to $7,300 per new hire. This funding helps employers hire young individuals who can assist in implementing new technologies and digital strategies.

To be eligible, youth participants must be aged between 18 and 30 and be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or refugees with the right to work in Canada.

Employers who meet the eligibility criteria can post jobs on the Boost Your Business Job Board or find youth participants through their network or referrals.

Important updates:

In November 2023, updates were made to the wage subsidy program to better serve businesses and youth hires, including:

  1. CDAP businesses can now hire multiple youths and receive up to $7,300 for each hire.
  2. Qualifying youth must be between the ages of 18 and 30, removing the student or recent graduate criteria.
  3. Removal of the minimum 450 working hours requirement, employers will be reimbursed the amount they paid the youth, up to $7,300.