BC Fast
Tech Adoption

Integrated Marketplace: BC Fast Pilot

Delivered in partnership with National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), B.C. Fast Pilot program is a high impact offering under Innovate BC’s suite of Integrated Marketplace commercialization programs.  

The B.C. Fast Pilot program supports B.C.'s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by facilitating the pilot testing of domestic technology innovations in real-world environments. This program helps SMEs measure and prove the value of their solutions through pilot-scale installation and field testing with an early adopter which in turn de-risks the technology for potential customers. 

More Information

Applicants must:

  • Be a B.C.-based, incorporated business; 
  • Have less than 500 employees on payroll;
  • Have developed a prototype and are ready to demonstrate the technology at a customer site; 
  • Have an early adopter or potential customer identified; 
  • Meet the eligibility criteria for financial support from NRC IRAP and;
  • Secure an NRC IRAP ITA (see guidelines for details). 

Priority is given to:

  • Regional B.C. SMEs and pilot implementations/sites in B.C., especially outside the Lower Mainland. 
  • Pilot initiatives in the cleantech sector defined as processes, products, or services that reduce negative environmental impacts through significant energy. efficiency improvements, the sustainable use of resources, or environmental protection activities. 
  • Pilot initiatives involving Indigenous communities or organizations. 
  • Note: Priority areas are favourable, but do not guarantee funding. The overall strength of the project is key.
  • Submit your Expression of Interest by June 3, 2024 at 5:00 PM PST
  • Successful applicants will be invited to provide a full proposal in mid-June 2024
  1. If you do not have an NRC IRAP ITA, you must first connect with NRC IRAP to get assigned an ITA. (Note: The average time to get an ITA assigned may vary from one to several weeks)
  2. Request an “Expression of Interest for BC Fast Pilot” form from your ITA. It is highly recommended that you work with your ITA to fill out the form to ensure all requirements are met. 
  3. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full project proposal. 

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines

FAQ

What are some examples of supportable projects?
  • Design and construction of pilot rig
  • Site preparation
  • Pilot plant commissioning, testing mechanical systems
  • Operation of pilot plant
  • Testing for stability, reliability, durability, component degradation
  • Validation of product features and performance
  • Generating data to design a large scale/commercial installation
  • Preparing reports and documentation
  • Training of end user on the technology
  • Data collection and recording
What can the funds go towards?

BC Fast funding can support SME technical salaries, contractor fees, capital costs, travel and other necessary costs incurred during the Project implementation.

How will project success be measured?

Baseline data will be collected as part of the application process. Projects will be expected to report on critical metrics & KPIs after the pilot to assess success. Examples include:

  • Whether the pilot implementation resulted in a purchase agreement
  • Key benefits to customer/adopter
  • Jobs created
  • New investments and revenues created for B.C. SMEs
Are non-profits eligible?

To be eligible for this program, applicants must be an incorporated, for-profit company in B.C. with the objective to grow and generate profits.

Does my innovation need to be IP-protected to be eligible?

While having an IP-protected innovation is beneficial, it is not a requirement of this program.

Are businesses outside of B.C. eligible?

No, applicants must be registered and operating within B.C. at the time of application in order to be eligible.

What are the anticipated project timelines?

The project should start and the majority of project work be completed by Mar 31, 2024.

Can ideas be pre-vetted before applying?

Applicants should connect with an NRC IRAP ITA as a first point of contact to determine if their innovation is a fit for the B.C. Fast Pilot program. The tentative timeline to get an ITA assigned for your project varies from one to a few weeks, therefore please plan this in advance considering the fast-paced and competitive application window.  

Will last year’s successful applicants be eligible for this year’s consideration?

Yes, if there is a new application, new market, and/or new value defined. Repeat applicants should avoid submitting the same product or the same customer, and there should not be repetition of the activity in the same area.

Are projects outside the priority areas likely to be considered?

This is a competitive process and applications are evaluated against the strength of other applicants. The ability to address one or several priority areas is preferred; however, strong cases that fall outside of these project areas will also be considered.

Success Stories

Since the program started in 2019, $9.9M has been invested into 75 B.C. pilot demonstrations