The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) stream is Ontario's province-wide arm of the Regional Development Program — and one of the largest funding tickets available to a scaling manufacturer. Unlike the regional development funds (which are geographically restricted), AMIC is open to eligible manufacturers anywhere in Ontario.
The core offer is an interest-free loan of up to $5 million covering up to 15% of eligible project costs, with a portion — up to 30% or $500,000 — forgivable if you hit your project targets. Grants are available only in special cases. If you are investing in capital equipment, technology adoption, or workforce upskilling, this is a program to know.
Here is who qualifies, how the money works, and why the November 5, 2026 deadline matters.
How the funding works
AMIC covers up to 15% of eligible project costs, delivered as an interest-free loan (interest-free during the project, repayable over up to four years). Hit your job-creation or investment targets and up to 30% of the loan — capped at $500,000 — is forgiven.
Grants (rather than loans) are reserved for special cases: up to $500,000 for small rural companies, or up to $1.5 million for strategic foreign-direct-investment or highly competitive projects.
Who qualifies
AMIC is aimed at established manufacturers, not early-stage startups. To be eligible you generally need to:
- Have at least 3 years of operating history
- Employ at least 10 people
- Invest at least $500,000 in the project
- Commit to create at least 5 jobs or upskill your existing workforce
- Operate in Ontario in an eligible sector — aerospace, automotive, chemical, information & communications technology, life sciences, or steel
Why the deadline matters
AMIC runs in defined application periods, not continuous intake. Application Period Eight opened June 30, 2026 and closes November 5, 2026, with decisions expected around February 3, 2027. Miss the window and you wait for the next one.
Competitive capital programs like AMIC reward applications that tie the investment to concrete, measurable outcomes — jobs created, productivity gained, capacity added. A vague ‘we will grow’ narrative loses to a costed, milestone-driven plan every time.
How to prepare
Start with the project, not the paperwork: define the capital purchase or technology adoption, quantify the jobs and productivity impact, and confirm your own $500,000+ contribution is in place. Then build the financial model and the milestone plan the reviewers actually score. With a November 5 deadline, the applications that win are usually the ones that started scoping months ahead.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ontario's AMIC program?
The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) stream is the province-wide part of Ontario's Regional Development Program. It provides interest-free loans up to $5M (covering up to 15% of eligible costs), with up to 30% of the loan forgivable on hitting targets, for capital, technology, and skills projects at Ontario manufacturers.
Is AMIC a grant or a loan?
Primarily an interest-free loan with a forgivable portion. Outright grants are available only in special cases — up to $500,000 for small rural firms or $1.5M for strategic FDI/highly competitive projects.
Who is eligible for AMIC?
Generally, Ontario manufacturers with at least 3 years of operating history and 10 employees, investing at least $500,000 and committing to create 5+ jobs or upskill workers, in eligible sectors (aerospace, automotive, chemical, ICT, life sciences, steel).
When is the AMIC deadline?
Application Period Eight opened June 30, 2026 and closes November 5, 2026, with decisions expected around February 3, 2027. Confirm the current intake on the Ontario government page.
Scaling an Ontario manufacturing operation?
We help Ontario manufacturers scope AMIC-eligible projects, build the financial model and milestone plan, and assemble a competitive application before the deadline.
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