The Ontario Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund (LSSUF) is a funding program designed to help Ontario-based life sciences companies accelerate the commercialization and scale-up of innovative healthcare products and technologies. Administered by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the program provides up to $2.5 million per project to support businesses that are ready to move beyond development and expand their market presence.
The fund focuses on strengthening Ontario’s life sciences sector by helping companies scale manufacturing, navigate regulatory approvals, commercialize products, and increase adoption within healthcare systems.
Key Details
Funding Amount: Up to $2,500,000 per project
Application Period: June 22, 2026 to August 4, 2026
Program Administrator: Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Sector Focus: Life sciences and human health innovations
Who Is It For?
The program is intended for Ontario-based, for-profit life sciences small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are developing innovative human health products and technologies.
Eligible applicants must:
Be a for-profit business operating in the life sciences sector
Have between 5 and 500 employees
Be based in Ontario or have plans to establish operations in Ontario
Be developing a human health innovation at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 or higher
Have a working prototype or market-ready product
Have a clearly defined regulatory pathway
Have secured financing for the proposed project
What Can the Funding Support?
Funding may be used for activities that help companies move from late-stage development to commercialization, including:
Expanding manufacturing and production capacity
Completing final product development activities
Regulatory testing, validation, and approval processes
Building commercialization and distribution infrastructure
Preparing products for procurement opportunities
Supporting healthcare system adoption and market entry initiatives
Scaling operations to meet growing market demand
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are generally assessed based on:
The strength and innovation of the technology or product
Commercialization readiness and market potential
The company’s ability to scale and execute the project
Economic benefits to Ontario, including job creation and investment attraction
The likelihood of successful regulatory approval and market adoption
The overall impact on Ontario’s life sciences ecosystem
Why It Matters
The Ontario Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund aims to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization by helping promising life sciences companies grow within the province. By supporting market-ready businesses with funding for manufacturing, regulatory approvals, and commercialization activities, the program seeks to create jobs, attract investment, strengthen Ontario’s healthcare innovation ecosystem, and accelerate the adoption of new health technologies.