About the Canada Digital
Adoption Program (CDAP)
Boost Your Business Technology
Applications for the Boost Your Business Technology grant are currently closed
The Canada Digital Adoption Program’s (CDAP) Boost Your Business Technology grant is fully subscribed and is not accepting new applications at this time. If your grant agreement has not expired, you can access the CDAP portal. Find more information below and continue to check back here or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
The CDAP Grow Your Business Online grant remains open for applications.
Boost Your Business Technology grant gives you:
- up to $15,000 to develop a Digital Adoption Plan
- up to $100,000 in 0% interest loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to implement your plan
- up to $7,300 to hire a skilled youth to implement the technologies that can propel your business forward
Confirm Boost Your Business Technology grant is right for your business
Use the CDAP grant assessment tool to see if your business qualifies.
You can get funding through this grant if your business*:
- is Canadian-owned
- is a sole proprietor or a business incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province or territory
- is a for-profit
- has 1 to 499 employees
- has had at least $500,000 in annual revenue (but no more than $100M in 1 of the previous 3 tax years)
* Complete eligibility criteria can be found in the program guide.
Apply to this grant in 4 easy steps!
- Step 1: Create your account
- Step 2: Confirm your eligibility
- Step 3: Work with a digital advisor to develop your digital adoption plan
- Step 4: Submit your claim to receive your grant payment
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Create your CDAP account
Start your digital transformation journey with CDAP by creating a My Canada Business Account.
- Step 1: Create a CDAP Account using one of these three options:
- Option 1: Using your email address (recommended)
- Option 2: Using the GCKey Sign In feature
- Option 3: Using the Interac Sign In service
- Step 2: Verify your email
- Step 3: Verify your identity using one of these three options:
- Option 1: Verify your identify online (recommended)
- Option 2: In person visit to a Canada Post Outlet
- Option 3: Request an identity verification appoint with a CDAP officer
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Eligibility Verification
With CDAP, you can confirm your business eligibility in real-time using your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Business credentials.
Please note: You will need to login to the CRA website with your business credentials. After you login, you will be redirected to the CDAP portal.
- Step 1: Provide consent to use your Canada Revenue Agency business information for eligibility verification
- Step 2: Login to the CRA website using My Business Account credentials
- Step 3: Eligibility confirmed — Congratulations!
- Step 4: Provide relevant business information to complete your application
- Step 5: Sign the CDAP grant agreement, provide banking information and acquire access to the Digital Advisor Marketplace
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Additional benefits
Digital Needs Assessment (DNA)
BDC 0% interest loan
Funded Work Placement
Fast-Track for businesses who already have a Digital Adoption Plan
Grow Your Business Online
Grow Your Business Online grant gives you:
- up to $2,400 to setup e-commerce
- Access to a network of more than 11,000 e-commerce advisors
Apply now
How it works
Eligibility
Costs covered
e-Commerce advisor
FAQ
- Step 1: Read the eligibility criteria to make sure the program is right for you.
- Step 2: Connect with your local service provider.
- Step 3: Apply for the grant with help from your service provider.
Learning resources
These articles and blog posts from BDC will help you get a head start on adopting new digital tools.
Digital marketing
E-commerce
Improving operations efficiency (and profitability) through digital investments
Investing in digital and technology to generate business and improve productivity
Contact information
Contact us
Commitment to inclusion
The Canada Digital Adoption Program upholds Innovation Canada’s commitment to providing inclusive programs and cultivating a workplace that is both diverse and inclusive so that we can best support the businesses we serve.
Work with a Digital Advisor to create a Digital Adoption Plan (DAP)
Immediately upon signing the CDAP grant agreement, your business will have direct access to our marketplace of digital advisors to help you develop a Digital Adoption Plan (DAP) tailored to your business needs. You can consult our Finding a digital advisor page to learn more about how to use the Digital Advisor Marketplace.
- Step 1: Browse the Digital Advisor Marketplace OR confirm your preferred digital advisor is registered on the DA Marketplace (if you already know who you want to work with)
- Step 2: Contact, interview and hire the Digital Advisor that best meets your needs
- Step 3: Work with your preferred Digital Advisor to develop a Digital Adoption Plan for your business
- Step 4: Finalize the elements of your Digital Adoption Plan and receive an invoice from your Digital Advisor for completed work
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Submit your grant claim and collect your grant payment from CDAP
After finalizing your Digital Adoption Plan (DAP) with your preferred digital advisor, you can submit your claim for payment to CDAP. Visit our DAP Requirements page to ensure your DAP meets all the requirements.
When ready to submit, login to the CDAP Applicant Portal to:
- Step 1: Upload your Digital Adoption Plan
- Step 2: Upload the invoice you received from your Digital Advisor
- Step 3: Provide final cost (inclusive of taxes)
- Step 4: Provide the name of the Digital Advisor firm that helped you create your Digital Adoption Plan
- Step 5: After reviewing the information submitted and confirming they meet CDAP’s requirements, the program will issue the grant payment within 30 days of receiving your claim
Please note that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) conducts periodic audits of applicant funding to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in the program guide and grant agreement. In the event of an audit, you will be required to comply with any requests for additional information or documentation. Please work with your Digital Advisor to maintain records of your engagement.
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Let’s Revolutionize Your Business in the Cloud Era
Additional benefits
When you are ready to move forward with your digital adoption plan, apply for a 0% loan of up to $100,000 from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to implement the plan.
Eligibility
You’re eligible to apply if you have completed a digital adoption plan:
- As part of CDAP and have received your grant payment OR
- Under another recognized digital adoption program and submitted it to CDAP
Note: Applicants must meet BDC’s creditworthiness and eligibility criteria for the 0% interest loan. Completing your Digital Adoption Plan does not guarantee approval for the BDC Loan.
Loan amount
- Business revenue of $500,000 to $5 million as of the closing date of its last fiscal year-end : loans between $25,000 and $50,000
- Business revenues over $5 million as of the closing date of its last fiscal year-end: loans between $25,000 and $100,000
- While you may apply for a 0% loan for multiple businesses, note that you are limited to a maximum loan of $200,000 per borrowing group.
What does it cover?
The BDC loan covers items directly related to the digital adoption plan. Some examples are:
- Acquiring IT equipment
- Installation of new technologies
- Updating and/or expanding IT equipment
- Training staff on onboarded technologies
- Materials and support services directly related to onboarding the technology
- Further advisory services on your digital adoption plan
Terms
- The loan has a 5-year term with 12-month capital postponement (total of 6 years)
- There are no fees
- You have 6 months from the completion of your approved plan to make a loan request
- You must meet BDC credit worthiness requirements
You can receive up to $7,300 as a wage subsidy to hire a talented youth with the skills your business needs to achieve its digital adoption goals. You can apply for more than one wage subsidy to hire multiple youth.
This wage subsidy funding is administered by Magnet, Canada’s only Digital Community Workforce System housed within the Toronto Metropolitan University. Through Magnet, you can connect to youth across more than 122 post-secondary institutions and receive personalized assistance with hiring the right talent for your business.
Eligibility
You’re eligible if you have completed a digital adoption plan:
- As part of CDAP and have received your grant payment OR
- Under another recognized digital adoption program and submitted it to CDAP
Even if you already have a Digital Adoption Plan, you can still benefit from CDAP.
Get on the fast track to:
- Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) loan; and,
- Funded Work Placement
Using our fast-track option, your business can still benefit from a 0% interest loan of up to $100,000 to pay for new technology and/or a funded work placement to help implement your plan.
You may be eligible if you have a plan, created in the last 24 months, from one of the programs below:
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency: Digital Acceleration Pilot
- BDC Advisory Services
- Digital Acceleration Fund (Prince Edward Island)
- Digital Boost 2.0 (New Brunswick)
- Digitalization Competence Center (DCC)
- National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
- Programme Audit Industrie 4.0 / ESSOR – Volet 1B (Quebec – website in French)
There are a few conditions in order to utilize multiple funding programs to offset the cost of the digital adoption plan:
- Businesses must review and meet the eligibility criteria of both programs
- Businesses must work with a digital advisor that is recognized by both programs
- The total of the combined grants cannot exceed the amount invoiced by the digital advisor.
Contact us today to learn more.
Grow Your Business Online
Grow Your Business Online grant gives you:
- up to $2,400 to setup e-commerce
- Access to a network of more than 11,000 e-commerce advisors
- Step 1: Read the eligibility criteria to make sure the program is right for you.
- Step 2: Connect with your local service provider.
- Step 3: Apply for the grant with help from your service provider.
Use the CDAP grant assessment tool to see if your business qualifies.
You can get funding through CDAP if your business:
- is a for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and co-operatives)
- is registered or incorporated
- is consumer-facing (sells goods and services directly to end consumers)
- has at least one employee (other than the owner) OR had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year
- commits to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months
- agrees to participate in follow-up surveys, share data about the experience, and have its name published as a grant recipient
Your business is not eligible if it is:
- a corporate chain, franchise or registered charity
- a representative of a multi-level marketing company
- a brokerage firm, such as real estate agents, investment advisors, insurance agents, etc.
- a business that is engaged in online reselling or drop-shipping reliant on third-party suppliers
- a wholesale or distribution business and manufacturer (unless you sell directly to consumers)
How can you use your grant?
- To develop a new e-commerce website or add functionality to your existing site (e.g. online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments, search engine optimization (SEO))
- Redesign of an existing site is not eligible
- To install an e-commerce platform (including subscription fees/costs)
- To hire a consultant to help with digital marketing strategies for your e-commerce store that could include activities such as social media advertising.
- Your grant cannot be used solely for digital marketing or social media advertising; such uses must be tied to an overall e-commerce implementation plan and not a standalone item
- To track and manage inventory and sales, market to customers, offer discounts, maintain a loyalty program, or increase cyber security using e-commerce software
- To pay up to 20% of the total cost of hardware and software
Eligible costs must be directly tied to the sale of goods and services online.
As an advisor, you will help local small businesses assess their digital needs and develop their
e-commerce strategy. You will receive training to help you:
- understand CDAP grants
- learn the capabilities of e-commerce solutions
- understand the basics of cyber security
You can apply if you:
- have graduated from high school and are planning on pursuing a post-secondary education
- are currently pursuing post-secondary education
- have recently graduated from a post-secondary institution
⦁ How do I reset my password?
To reset your password, go to the login page and click on the “Forgot Password” link. Follow the instructions to reset your password via email or SMS verification.
⦁ Can I access my account from multiple devices?
Yes, you can access your account from multiple devices. Just log in using your credentials, and your account information will be synced across all devices.
⦁ What should I do if I encounter an error while using the platform?
If you encounter an error, please try refreshing the page first. If the issue persists, contact our support team with details about the error message and the actions you were performing.
⦁ How can I upgrade my subscription plan?
To upgrade your subscription plan, go to your account settings and select the subscription or billing section. From there, you can choose a higher-tier plan and follow the prompts to complete the upgrade.
⦁ Is there a mobile app available for this service?
Yes, we offer a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices. You can download it from the App Store or Google Play Store and log in using your existing account credentials.
⦁ What payment methods do you accept?
We accept various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers. You can choose your preferred payment method during the checkout process.
⦁ How do I cancel my subscription?
To cancel your subscription, navigate to your account settings and find the subscription or billing section. From there, you can select the option to cancel your subscription and follow the prompts to confirm.
⦁ How do I update my contact information?
To update your contact information, go to your account settings and find the profile or personal information section. From there, you can edit your contact details and save the changes.
⦁ What security measures do you have in place to protect my data?
We take security seriously and implement various measures such as encryption, secure authentication, and regular security audits to protect your data from unauthorized access or breaches.
Learning resources
- 7 steps to create a website that works for your business Article
Want a tireless salesperson who works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? Start by designing a website for your business.
- Create an e-commerce strategy for your business Article
Crafting a clear strategic plan to take your business online will help you drive more sales.
- How to combine a bricks-and-mortar store with e-commerce Article
Do you know the “20/80 rule”? Discover that and more in this guide to combining your bricks-and-mortar store with e-commerce.
- E-commerce – Grow your global presence Article
- A step-by-step guide to starting an online store for your small business Blog Post
- Digital procurement: 4 ways to boost efficiency and save money Article
Save money and time by using digital procurement software to handle your inventory management.
- 3 pillars of a successful digital transformation Blog Post
Create a digital corporate culture in your company and get the best value from your tech investments.
- How to use technology to improve your profits Article
Discover in this guide to the commonly used tech tools the different areas of your business that can be automated, from doing payroll to managing supply chains.
- Developing a digital business culture Success story
Learn how this aluminum window-maker is gaining new momentum by adopting digital technology, automation on the shop floor and a radically different company structure.
