Companies that are service-only businesses, such as consultants, yoga studios, or advertising agencies, are generally ineligible unless they are developing a new product.
The program does not support grant writers, staffing agencies, or firms focused solely on business development without a technical or product innovation component. The intent is to support product or process innovation, not general business services.
Firms that lack a defined technical challenge are typically not considered for the program. However, exceptions are made if the service company is actively developing a tangible product. Eligibility is ultimately determined by the ITA or CEA.
