Ontario businesses have access to the richest provincial incentive stack in the country. Between federal programs and Ontario-specific credits, grants, and subsidies, a qualifying Ontario business can realistically access 8 to 15 separate programs — many of which stack on the same investment or expense.
This checklist covers the most significant Ontario-specific grants and tax credits available in 2026, organized by business activity. Federal programs that apply to Ontario businesses are covered separately in our guides on SR&ED and 10 small business tax credits.
Ontario R&D and Innovation Credits
The OITC is a provincial SR&ED credit that stacks directly on top of the federal SR&ED credit. It provides an 8% refundable credit on Ontario-eligible SR&ED expenditures for Canadian-Controlled Private Corporations (CCPCs) with Ontario-based R&D activity. Combined with the federal 35% CCPC credit, an Ontario CCPC can reach an effective rate of up to 43% on eligible R&D spend.
The OBRITC provides a 20% refundable tax credit on eligible payments to eligible research institutes in Ontario for R&D work. Qualifying research institutes include Ontario universities, colleges, and approved research organizations. This is specifically for businesses that contract out R&D work to Ontario institutions — a very different use case than OITC.
Ontario Hiring and Training Programs
Ontario businesses that hire co-op students enrolled in a qualifying co-op program at a recognized Ontario post-secondary institution receive a provincial tax credit of 25% of eligible expenditures, up to $3,000 per placement ($3,750 for small businesses). This credit can be combined with the federal Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) subsidy, creating significant per-student value.
The ATTC provides a provincial tax credit for businesses that employ registered apprentices in eligible skilled trades in Ontario. The credit rate is 25% for large businesses and 45% for small businesses (defined as businesses with Ontario payroll under $400,000). This stacks on the federal Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit, creating a combined federal-provincial incentive for trades employers.
Ontario Business Development Grants
Starter Company Plus is delivered through Ontario Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs) and provides early-stage entrepreneurs with business training, mentoring, and grants up to $5,000 to help start or grow a business. It's available across Ontario through local SBECs. Eligibility requirements vary slightly by delivery organization but generally require an Ontario resident who is 18+ and not a full-time student.
Summer Company is an Ontario government program that provides young entrepreneurs (aged 15–29, enrolled in school) with up to $3,000 in grant funding plus business mentoring to help start a summer business. While this targets younger entrepreneurs, businesses with student-aged owners or partnerships benefit. Delivered through local SBECs.
Ontario Manufacturing and Clean Economy Programs
The Ontario Together Fund supports Ontario manufacturers and businesses to retool, upscale, or adopt new processes. It's been particularly active for manufacturers supporting Ontario's supply chain and pandemic-related production pivots, but continues to fund manufacturing innovation and modernization projects. Applications are competitive and project-based.
The Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit provides a 10% refundable credit on eligible capital investments in buildings, machinery, and equipment used in manufacturing or processing in Ontario. For small and medium-sized manufacturers investing in facility upgrades or equipment modernization, this is a meaningful per-dollar return. The credit was introduced in 2023 and applies to property acquired on or after March 23, 2023.
Ontario Digital and Technology Programs
The Ontario Centre of Innovation administers multiple programs supporting technology development, commercialization, and market development for Ontario businesses. Programs include the Voucher for Innovation and Productivity (VIP), Market Readiness program, and Collaboration for Advanced Research & Learning. Eligibility and funding amounts vary by program and intake.
MaRS in Toronto is one of the world's largest urban innovation hubs. Beyond mentorship and networking, MaRS connects Ontario scale-ups with investor networks, government programs, and enterprise partnerships. While not a direct grant program, MaRS advisory and acceleration programs can be transformative for early-stage technology businesses in Ontario.
Ontario Stacking Opportunities
The real power of the Ontario incentive stack comes from combining programs. A software company in Ontario doing eligible R&D could realistically access:
| Program | Estimated Value | On What |
|---|---|---|
| Federal SR&ED (CCPC rate) | 35% | First $3M of eligible R&D wages |
| Ontario OITC | +8% | Same eligible R&D expenditures |
| Ontario Co-op Tax Credit | Up to $3,750/student | Co-op placements |
| Student Work Placement Program | Up to $10K/student | Same co-op placements |
| Canada Job Grant | Up to $10K/employee | Eligible training costs |
This is not hypothetical. Ontario tech companies regularly access multiple programs simultaneously. The key is knowing what's available and building the documentation and process to claim consistently.
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