One of the hardest steps for a technology company is the first real deployment — getting a paying customer to run your product in their operation so you have proof it works at scale. British Columbia's Integrated Marketplace, run by Innovate BC, is built specifically to fund that step.
It cost-shares real-world pilots of commercially-ready BC innovations inside approved “testbeds” — large operators (ports, airports, health authorities, forestry, mining) that agree to host and co-fund demonstrations. An Early-Stage Demonstration Call has offered up to $2.5 million, and the broader program is backed by roughly $11.5 million from the Province plus $9.9 million from PacifiCan.
For a cleantech or industrial-tech company chasing its first anchor customer, this is a rare kind of funding. Here is how it works.
What it funds
Eligible costs cover the real expense of running a pilot: incremental salaries, goods and services, software and hardware, shipping, installation, and site improvements. Projects must be 12 months or less and address one of four outcomes — decarbonization, productivity, competitiveness, or health & safety.
The defining feature: an adopter (the testbed operator or customer) must co-fund the pilot. That requirement is a feature, not a hurdle — it forces a real customer relationship, which is exactly what makes the resulting proof point credible to the next buyer and the next investor.
The seven testbeds
Pilots run inside approved testbeds — large BC operators that host demonstrations:
- Prince Rupert and Vancouver Fraser ports
- YVR (Vancouver International Airport) aviation
- Healthcare
- Forestry and emergency management
- Mining and critical minerals
- Marine and coastal
If your technology fits one of these operating environments — and can move the needle on emissions, productivity, competitiveness, or safety — it is worth exploring.
Who qualifies
The program pairs two parties: a BC-based solution provider with a commercially-ready innovation, and an adopter operating within one of the testbeds who will host and co-fund the pilot. The solution has to be ready to demonstrate in the real world — this is not R&D funding for something still on the bench.
Timing — verify before you plan
Program funding runs through March 2028, and intake has been offered on a rolling basis, but the structure has been revised over time and may change again in 2026. Confirm the current intake and call details on the Innovate BC page before you build a plan around it. If the fit is there, the payoff — a funded pilot with a real customer — is worth the diligence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the BC Integrated Marketplace?
It is an Innovate BC program that cost-shares real-world pilots of commercially-ready BC innovations inside approved testbeds — ports, aviation, healthcare, forestry, mining, and marine operators who host and co-fund demonstrations. It targets decarbonization, productivity, competitiveness, or health and safety outcomes.
How much funding is available?
The program is backed by roughly $11.5M from the Province plus $9.9M from PacifiCan, and an Early-Stage Demonstration Call has offered up to $2.5M. There is no single fixed per-project cap published on the main page — confirm the current call details.
Who can apply?
A BC-based solution provider with a commercially-ready innovation, paired with an adopter operating in one of the seven testbeds who agrees to host and co-fund the pilot. Projects must be 12 months or less.
Is the program still open?
Program funding runs through March 2028 and intake has been rolling, but the structure may be revised in 2026. Verify the current intake status on the Innovate BC page before applying.
Chasing your first anchor customer in BC?
We help BC innovators identify the right testbed, structure a fundable pilot with an adopter, and pair Integrated Marketplace with SR&ED and federal cleantech programs.
Book a free 30-minute consult →