Unlocking Capital for Life Sciences.
Funding support for clinical trials, biotech research, and medical-device development with stronger evidence planning.
Life sciences companies in Canada benefit from some of the highest SR&ED claim values due to the intensive R&D nature of drug development, medical devices, and biotech. Mitacs Accelerate provides subsidized research talent, while IRAP funds pre-commercialization innovation. Quebec's FSISSS program specifically targets health technology innovation.
Primary Programs
SR&ED + Mitacs
Median Recovery
$650,000 per SME
Key Parameters
Matching Funding Programs
Programs commonly accessed by Life Sciences companies in Canada.
Typical Eligible Expenses
Common cost categories that qualify for funding in the Life Sciences sector.
Clinical trial design and execution costs
Laboratory materials and reagents
Regulatory submission preparation (technical components)
Biostatistical analysis and data management
Graduate researcher salaries (Mitacs co-funded)
Check Your Eligibility
Run a free assessment to see which of these programs match your Life Sciences company profile. Takes under 2 minutes.
Start Free ScanLife Sciences Funding FAQ
Are clinical trials eligible for SR&ED?
The experimental components of clinical trials can qualify — specifically the systematic investigation to resolve scientific uncertainty. Routine regulatory compliance work is not eligible, but the underlying research methodology often is.
Can we hire graduate students with government funding?
Yes. Mitacs Accelerate provides $15,000-$30,000 per 4-month research term per intern. The student works on your research project while completing their degree.
Is medical device software development eligible?
Yes. Software embedded in medical devices that involves technical uncertainty in areas like real-time data processing, sensor integration, or regulatory-compliant architectures qualifies for SR&ED.