# CanExport SMEs — Export Development Grants for Canadian Businesses | GrantOps

CanExport SMEs is a Government of Canada program that provides direct financial assistance to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to develop new export markets. The program offers non-repayable contributions of up to CAD $50,000 per market to offset the costs of pursuing new international business opportunities.

GrantOps automates CanExport application preparation, activity reporting, and claim submission — making it faster and easier for Canadian companies to access export funding.

## What is CanExport?

CanExport SMEs (formerly CanExport) is administered by the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) of Global Affairs Canada. It helps Canadian businesses that are ready to export by covering eligible expenses associated with entering new international markets.

The program was created to help Canada diversify its trade relationships and support SMEs in competing globally. It is one of the most accessible government funding programs — relatively simple to apply for, with a straightforward reimbursement model.

## CanExport Funding Details

- **Maximum contribution**: Up to CAD $50,000 per new target market (up to 50% of eligible costs in most cases, 75% for select markets or underrepresented groups)
- **Minimum project cost**: $20,000 (total eligible costs)
- **Non-repayable**: The contribution does not need to be repaid
- **Per-market basis**: You can apply for multiple markets in separate applications
- **Cumulative maximum**: Companies can receive up to $100,000 across multiple CanExport projects over the program's life

## CanExport Eligibility

To be eligible for CanExport SMEs, your company must:

- Be a **for-profit company** incorporated or registered in Canada
- Have **1 to 500 full-time equivalent employees** in Canada
- Have **annual revenue between $200,000 and $100 million** (from Canadian operations)
- Be targeting a **new export market** — a market where the company has not generated more than $100,000 in revenue from the target country in the previous 24 months
- Have a **product or service ready for export** — CanExport does not fund R&D (use SR&ED or IRAP for that)
- Not be an intermediary, agent, or consultant applying on behalf of another company

## Eligible CanExport Expenses

CanExport reimburses a wide range of export development costs:

- **Travel costs** — airfare, accommodation, meals, and ground transportation for business travel to the target market
- **Trade show and conference participation** — booth fees, registration, display materials, and related travel
- **Market research** — third-party market studies, competitive analysis, and sector-specific research for the target market
- **Legal and regulatory costs** — IP protection, product certification, regulatory compliance, and legal fees in the target market
- **Translation and adaptation** — translating marketing materials, websites, and product documentation for the target market
- **Marketing materials** — brochures, catalogs, product samples, and digital marketing assets created specifically for the target market
- **Website and e-commerce** — developing or adapting websites for the target market, including localization
- **Business matchmaking** — fees for trade missions, B2B meetings, and buyer/distributor identification services

## What CanExport Does NOT Cover

- General operating expenses or overhead
- Expenses incurred before the application is approved
- Existing market activities (markets where you already have significant revenue)
- R&D costs (use SR&ED or IRAP)
- Capital equipment purchases
- Salaries of existing employees (only incremental costs)

## How to Apply for CanExport

1. **Check eligibility** — ensure your company and target market meet all requirements
2. **Create an account** on the CanExport online portal
3. **Submit your application** — describe your target market, export strategy, planned activities, budget, and expected outcomes
4. **Review period** — TCS evaluates your application (typically 4-8 weeks)
5. **Contribution agreement** — if approved, sign the agreement and begin your export activities
6. **Submit claims** — file reimbursement claims with receipts and activity reports as you incur eligible expenses
7. **Final report** — submit a final report describing outcomes and lessons learned

## CanExport 2025-2027 Updates

The CanExport program continues to evolve. Recent and expected changes include:

- **Increased focus on market diversification** — the government is prioritizing applications targeting markets beyond the U.S., particularly in the Indo-Pacific, EU, and CPTPP countries
- **Digital export activities** — growing acceptance of virtual trade shows, digital marketing campaigns, and e-commerce development as eligible expenses
- **Underrepresented groups** — enhanced support (higher cost-share ratios up to 75%) for women-owned, Indigenous-owned, and other underrepresented businesses
- **Streamlined reporting** — simplified claim and reporting requirements for smaller projects
- **Integration with TCS services** — closer coordination with Trade Commissioner Service programs and CanExport Innovation

## How GrantOps Automates CanExport

GrantOps makes CanExport applications faster and simpler:

- **Application generation** — auto-generates CanExport applications including market strategy, planned activities, and budget breakdown
- **Activity tracking** — tracks eligible export development activities and expenses as they occur
- **Claim preparation** — compiles receipts, activity reports, and financial summaries for reimbursement claims
- **Deadline management** — monitors application windows, claim deadlines, and reporting due dates
- **Program stacking** — identifies how to combine CanExport with SR&ED, IRAP, and other programs for maximum recovery. For example, a company can claim SR&ED on its core product R&D, IRAP for a specific innovation project, and CanExport for entering new international markets — all simultaneously.
- **5,500+ program matching** — while preparing your CanExport application, GrantOps also surfaces other programs you may qualify for

## CanExport vs. Other Export Programs

| Feature | CanExport SMEs | CanExport Innovation | CanExport Associations |
|---------|---------------|---------------------|----------------------|
| For | SMEs (1-500 employees) | SMEs with R&D partnerships | Industry associations |
| Amount | Up to $50K/market | Up to $75K | Up to $250K |
| Purpose | Market development | International R&D collaboration | Collective export promotion |
| Administered by | TCS | NRC-IRAP | TCS |

## Get Started

- Automate your CanExport applications: https://app.grantops.ai
- SR&ED automation: https://grantops.ai/en/sred/
- IRAP applications: https://grantops.ai/en/irap/
- Browse 5,500+ programs: https://grantops.ai/en/programs/
- Partner Program for advisors: https://grantops.ai/en/grantops-partner-program/