Critical Minerals Innovation Fund
Also known as: CMIF
Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund covers up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum $500,000 per project for R&D and commercialization of critical-minerals technologies, battery supply chain, deep exploration/mining techniques, and mineral recovery. The 2026 intake runs June 30 to 5 p.m. ET August 25, 2026 via Transfer Payment Ontario. Private-sector businesses apply, alone or leading academic/non-profit collaborations. Combined government funding is capped at 75% of costs.
Key facts
- Amount
- Up to $500,000 Up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum $500,000 per project; one project per applicant per intake round; disbursed in three installments (40% on agreement, 30% on interim report, remainder on final report)
Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.
ontario.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
50% of eligible project costs up to $500,000 per project
- Instrument
- Grant (non-repayable)
- Status
- Intake closed next window not yet announced
- Your share
- Applicant covers at least 50% of eligible costs. Combined federal + provincial government funding cannot exceed 75% of eligible project costs; provincial tax credits and industry programs are allowable toward the applicant share.
ontario.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
- Who qualifies
- Businesses Colleges, universities and research institutions
- private-sector businesses
- business-led collaborations with academic/research institutions or not-for-profits
- Project must occur in Ontario
- Must involve research, development and/or commercialization of innovative critical-minerals technologies
- Streams: battery supply chain; innovative techniques for deep exploration and mining; recovery of minerals; other innovative critical minerals projects
- Cannot receive concurrent funding from other Ontario government programs (limited exceptions)
- Lead applicant is the funding recipient in collaborative projects
ontario.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
- Where
- Algoma District · Cochrane District · Greater Sudbury (single-tier census division) · Kenora District · Manitoulin District · Nipissing District · Parry Sound District · Rainy River District · Sudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury) · Thunder Bay District · Timiskaming District · District Municipality of Muskoka
11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.
When can you apply?
2026 intake: June 30 until 5 p.m. ET on August 25, 2026, closes within days as of last verification
| Cycle | Opens | Closes | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 intake NEW SLUG (critical-minerals-innovation-fund; alt: ontario-cmif). OPEN NOW, closes Aug 25, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET (~8 days from verification), time-sensitive. Applications via Transfer Payment Ontario; province announced $4M+ through this round. Round ordinal not stated on the official page, labelled '2026 intake', not 'Round 2'. |
Jun 30, 2026 | Aug 25, 2026 17:00 | Closed | ontario.ca · Unconfirmed as of Aug 24, 2026; confirm with funder · Auto-checked against official source |
How do you apply?
- Create Ontario.ca login on Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON)
- Register your organization in TPON
- Locate the CMIF funding opportunity
- Download, complete and submit the application form with attachments before the deadline
ontario.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
June 30 until 5 p.m. ET on August 25, 2026
Can you combine this with other funding?
- NOHFC Invest North, Investment: Grow, CMIF projects cannot receive concurrent funding from other Ontario government programs (limited exceptions), so pairing with NOHFC on the same project costs is generally not permitted; combined federal + provincial support is capped at 75% of eligible costs.
Common questions
Is the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund still running?
Yes. Earlier uncertainty about renewal is resolved: Ontario funded 18 projects (~$8M) in the 2025-26 round and opened a 2026 intake running June 30 to August 25, 2026.
How much can I get from CMIF?
Up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $500,000 per project, paid in three installments (40% on signing, 30% at interim report, the rest at final report). One project per intake round.
Can I stack CMIF with NOHFC or federal funding?
Federal funding can be combined so long as total government support stays under 75% of eligible costs, but concurrent funding from other Ontario government programs is generally not permitted (limited exceptions apply).
Who is eligible for CMIF?
Private-sector businesses with a project occurring in Ontario. Businesses can partner with academic or research institutions or non-profits, but the business lead is the funding recipient.
Where else could this money come from?
Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.
-
Ontario Junior Exploration Program
Status unconfirmed same funder (Ontario Ministry of Mines); both for small business, expansion; mining — Up to $200,000
-
INVEST North, Innovation Stream
Open, continuous intake both for small business, expansion and startups & new entrepreneurs; innovation, r and d — Up to $2,000,000
-
NRC IRAP, Innovation Funding
Open, continuous intake both for small business, expansion and startups & new entrepreneurs; innovation, r and d — From $10,000
-
BOOST Program (Innovation Link)
Open, continuous intake both for small business, expansion and startups & new entrepreneurs; innovation — Up to $10,000
Notes on this record
Administered by the Ministry of Energy and Mines. Task flagged status as uncertain; verified 2026-08-17 as active with an open 2026 intake (June 30 - Aug 25, 2026). June 2026 announcement: ~$8M across 18 projects leveraging $12.3M private funding (reported, secondary sources).
Apply
Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there: