Short answer
In 2026, a Quebec small business looking to fund a digital assessment, a CRM or an artificial intelligence project should look at four active programs: component 1 of Investissement Québec’s ESSOR program (a non-repayable 50% contribution, up to $20,000 for a digital assessment and plan), the Quebec government’s Digital Transformation Offensive (support delivered by partner organizations), DEC’s Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (an interest-free repayable contribution of up to 50% of authorized costs) and NRC IRAP (advice and R&D funding for a new technology product). The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), which many people still search for, has not accepted new applications since February 19, 2024. None of these programs directly pays for a basic business website: they mostly fund studies, advisory support or innovation projects. Always confirm your eligibility with the program’s organization before starting any work.
The short answer: four verified programs
The table below summarizes the programs we checked on their official pages on October 1, 2026. It is not an exhaustive list: other funding exists depending on your region and industry. Programs change often, and eligibility depends on your business and your project; only the organization that runs the program can confirm it.
| Program (organization) | What it funds | Type and rate | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESSOR, component 1 (Investissement Québec) | Feasibility studies (1A), digital assessment and plan, system selection (1B), plan implementation (1C) | Non-repayable, 50% of eligible expenses; 1A: $50,000 per project; 1B: $20,000; 1C: $50,000 | Businesses with an establishment in Quebec; 1B and 1C: 250 employees or fewer, revenue of at least $2.5M |
| Digital Transformation Offensive (Government of Quebec) | Awareness and support delivered by partner organizations | Not a grant paid to the business: you access an advisory service | Small businesses in all industries, depending on the organization |
| Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (DEC) | Developing and commercializing an AI solution, or adopting and integrating AI in an SME | SMEs: interest-free repayable, up to 50% of authorized costs; NPOs: generally non-repayable, up to 90% | SMEs and NPOs that support SMEs; until March 31, 2031 |
| NRC IRAP (National Research Council Canada) | Advice and R&D funding for innovative technology products or services | Depends on the project, after a conversation with an advisor | For-profit companies incorporated and operating in Canada, 500 full-time equivalent employees or fewer |
| CDAP (federal) | Closed | No new applications | Closed to new applications since February 19, 2024 |
Facts taken from the official pages of Investissement Québec, Québec.ca, DEC (Canada.ca) and the NRC, consulted on October 1, 2026. General information only: not tax advice and not a promise of eligibility.
CDAP has ended: what you need to know
The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP, PCAN in French) offered a grant for a digital adoption plan and an interest-free loan from BDC. BDC states that since February 19, 2024, CDAP no longer accepts new applications for its “Boost Your Business Technology” stream. Only businesses with a grant agreement signed before that date remained eligible for the 0% interest loan of up to $100,000.
According to hellodarwin, the program ended on March 31, 2025. If a vendor offers in 2026 to “prepare your CDAP application”, be careful: there is nothing left to apply for. The programs below do not replace it one for one; each has its own rules.
ESSOR component 1: digital assessment and digital plan
Component 1 of the ESSOR program, run by Investissement Québec for the Government of Quebec, funds the preparation of a project rather than the project itself. For digital work, sub-component 1B covers digital assessments, digital plans, implementation plans and system selection (for example, choosing a CRM or a business management system). Sub-component 1C then supports implementing a digital plan that came out of 1B.
The contribution is non-repayable, at 50% of eligible expenses. Eligible expenses are mainly professional fees paid to external consulting firms, specialized information and travel costs under government standards. The program ends on March 31, 2027, and the application starts with an online prequalification. Investissement Québec’s pages are mostly in French.
- Worked example: a digital assessment billed $30,000 by an external firm could receive at most $15,000 (50%). At $50,000 in fees, the contribution is still capped at $20,000.
- Software licences are not among the published eligible expenses: component 1 mainly pays for outside expertise.
- Do not start the work before confirming with Investissement Québec the date from which your expenses become eligible.
| Sub-component | Purpose | Maximum rate | Maximum amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Feasibility studies | 50% | $50,000 per project |
| 1B | Digital assessment, digital plan, implementation plan, system selection | 50% | $20,000 for the duration of the program |
| 1C | Implementing an action plan and a digital plan (from 1B) | 50% | $50,000 for the duration of the program |
According to Investissement Québec, only businesses with 250 employees or fewer and revenue of at least $2.5M are eligible for sub-component 1B; sub-component 1C follows the same rule. Some industries are excluded: check the program page.
The Digital Transformation Offensive: advisory support
The Digital Transformation Offensive (Offensive de transformation numérique, OTN) is not a grant you apply for to pay a vendor. It is a Government of Quebec initiative that funds organizations, often non-profits or expert networks, to raise awareness and support small businesses in their digital shift.
According to Québec.ca (April 2025), the initiative invested $218 million from 2021 to 2025, including support for 56 projects led by 52 organizations; more than 135,000 businesses were made aware of digital transformation and some 17,000 received specialized support. The government plans $14 million through 2028 to continue it.
In practice, a business accesses it through one of the funded organizations, whose projects are announced on Québec.ca. It is a good starting point to take stock before investing, especially if you do not yet know what to digitize first.
DEC’s Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (DEC) runs the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative. It supports two kinds of projects: developing and commercializing AI solutions, or speeding up the adoption and integration of AI in SMEs.
For an SME, the support is an interest-free repayable contribution of up to 50% of authorized costs. It is not free money: you pay it back, but without interest. Non-profits that support SMEs can receive generally non-repayable support of up to 90% of authorized costs. Costs are eligible from the date the application is submitted, and the initiative runs until March 31, 2031.
In July 2026, the Government of Canada announced $13,852,374 for 63 Quebec organizations under this initiative.
- Worked example: for an AI integration project with $60,000 in authorized costs, the contribution could reach $30,000, repaid interest-free under the agreement.
- Apply before you spend, since costs incurred before the application date are not eligible.
NRC IRAP: for a new technology product
The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is for businesses that develop and commercialize innovative technology products or services. It provides advisory services and financial support for R&D activities.
To be eligible, the business must be incorporated, for-profit and operating in Canada, have no more than 500 full-time equivalent employees and aim to generate economic benefits in Canada. IRAP does not fund ongoing operating costs or purely commercial activities: a basic website or a standard CRM is outside its scope. A genuinely new piece of software or AI solution that you plan to sell may qualify.
You start by calling the IRAP contact centre at 1-877-994-4727; an industrial technology advisor then assesses the project with you.
Which program for which project?
Here is a practical reading of the table for the most common small business projects. These are leads to check, not guarantees.
| Your project | Program to check | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Taking stock before digitizing | Digital Transformation Offensive (support) or ESSOR 1B (assessment) | ESSOR 1B: 250 employees or fewer, revenue of at least $2.5M |
| Choosing a CRM or business software | ESSOR 1B (system selection) | Pays for outside expertise, not the software licence |
| Adding an AI agent to your operations | DEC Regional AI Initiative (adoption) | Interest-free repayable, up to 50% |
| Building a software product or AI to sell | NRC IRAP or the DEC initiative (commercialization) | Must be genuinely innovative; talk to an advisor |
| A simple business website | None of the programs in this guide | CDAP, which could help, has ended |
The steps, in order
- Describe the project on one page: problem, measurable goal, budget, timeline.
- Read the official page of the target program and note the criteria (size, revenue, industry, eligible expenses).
- Contact the organization (Investissement Québec, DEC, NRC or the OTN partner) to confirm eligibility before committing to anything.
- Get detailed written quotes from vendors: the organization will want precise costs.
- Check the tax treatment and the stacking of public funding with your accountant.
- Wait for the date from which expenses are eligible before signing or starting.
- Keep every invoice and proof of payment for the claim and the final report.
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting too early: at DEC, costs are eligible from the application date; at Investissement Québec, from the date the organization specifies.
- Confusing repayable and non-repayable: DEC’s AI initiative must be repaid, even if interest-free.
- Assuming a program pays for a basic website: the ones in this guide fund studies, advisory support or innovation.
- Relying on an old list: CDAP still shows up in articles, but it has not accepted new applications since February 19, 2024.
- Paying someone who “guarantees” a grant: only the organization decides.
- Forgetting that programs change: reread the official page on the day you apply.
Where ZeniTech fits
ZeniTech is a web, app, automation and AI agency based in Québec City. We do not prepare grant applications and we do not promise eligibility: the program’s organization decides, and your accountant validates. What we can do is price your project clearly, with published prices in Canadian dollars before tax.
| ZeniTech service | Published price (CAD, before GST and QST) |
|---|---|
| Express website redesign | From $599 |
| Business website | From $3,500 |
| CRM setup | $3,500, then $45 per user per month |
| Automation: simple / complex workflow | $750 / $2,500 |
| AI agents (12 agents, one per industry): setup | $3,000 to $7,500, then $750 to $1,500 per month |
Prices shown on zenitech.dev/tarifs as of October 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a government grant for a small business website in Quebec in 2026?
Not directly among the programs verified in this guide. ESSOR component 1 funds a digital assessment and plan (50%, up to $20,000), the Digital Transformation Offensive offers advisory support, and DEC’s Regional AI Initiative targets AI projects. CDAP, which helped small businesses go digital, has not accepted new applications since February 19, 2024.
Does the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) still exist?
No. According to BDC, CDAP has not accepted new applications for its technology stream since February 19, 2024; according to hellodarwin, the program ended on March 31, 2025. Only businesses with an agreement signed before February 19, 2024 remained eligible for the BDC interest-free loan.
What funding is available to adopt AI in a Quebec small business?
DEC’s Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative supports AI adoption and integration in SMEs with an interest-free repayable contribution of up to 50% of authorized costs. It runs until March 31, 2031, and costs are eligible from the date the application is submitted.
How much can ESSOR pay for a digital assessment?
ESSOR sub-component 1B covers 50% of eligible expenses, up to $20,000 for the duration of the program. It is limited to businesses with 250 employees or fewer and revenue of at least $2.5M. The program ends on March 31, 2027.
Can NRC IRAP pay for my software or app?
Only if it is an innovative technology product or service you are developing to commercialize. NRC IRAP funds R&D, not ongoing operating costs or purely commercial activities. The business must be incorporated in Canada and have 500 employees or fewer.
Do I have to pay this funding back?
It depends on the program. ESSOR component 1 is non-repayable. DEC’s AI initiative is interest-free but repayable for an SME. The Digital Transformation Offensive gives access to support rather than a payment. Read the agreement before signing and check with your accountant.
Can I start my project before I get an answer?
It is risky. At DEC, costs are only eligible from the application date. At Investissement Québec, confirm the date from which your expenses count. An expense made too early can be refused.
Can ZeniTech get a grant for me?
No. ZeniTech does not prepare applications and does not guarantee eligibility. We can price your website, CRM, automation or AI agent project with published prices in Canadian dollars. Eligibility is checked with the program’s organization, and the tax side with your accountant.
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- Investissement Québec: ESSOR, component 1 (in French)
- Québec.ca: Digital Transformation Offensive results, $218M (April 25, 2025, in French)
- DEC: Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative
- DEC: July 2026 announcement, 63 Quebec organizations
- NRC: financial support for technology innovation (NRC IRAP)
- BDC: Canada Digital Adoption Program
- hellodarwin: CDAP ended on March 31, 2025