Guide · 2026 grants · Quebec SMBs
Grants for a software project in Quebec: what’s really eligible
In short
The main program is Investissement Québec’s ESSOR program (Component 1): 50% of a digital assessment and plan, up to $20,000 (1B), then 50% of implementation, up to $50,000 (1C), for businesses with 250 employees or fewer and at least $2.5M in revenue, until March 31, 2027. Golden rule: don’t sign anything before the application is filed. The C3i credit covers purchased assets, not custom development.
Which programs fund a software project?
| Program | What’s funded | Funding | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESSOR 1A | Feasibility studies | 50%, up to $50,000 per project | Investissement Québec |
| ESSOR 1B | Digital assessment and plan (system selection, including AI) | 50%, up to $20,000 for the life of the program | 250 employees or fewer, revenue of $2.5M or more |
| ESSOR 1C | Implementing the digital plan | 50%, up to $50,000 | 1B plan less than 24 months old; project of 12 months or less |
| C3i credit (Revenu Québec) | Acquired assets: hardware, management software packages | Rates not published on the official page | Not custom development; confirm with your accountant |
| PCAN (Canada Digital Adoption Program) | Digital plan | — | Federal; closed to new applications since February 2024 |
The ESSOR program ends on March 31, 2027, and Investissement Québec can suspend applications without notice: check the status on the official page before building your budget.
The trap that cancels the grant: spending before applying
The ESSOR 1B and 1C guides exclude expenses incurred before the application is filed, including contractual commitments. Signing a quote or paying a deposit before applying can make those expenses ineligible. Also excluded: internal expenses, capital assets and taxes.
The order to follow: get the quotes, file the application, wait for the answer, then sign.
Is custom development eligible?
The 1B guide covers the assessment, the digital plan and system selection. The 1C guide funds implementing the plan, but doesn’t say explicitly whether developing custom software is eligible. Get Investissement Québec to confirm it, in writing, before you commit.
For a small project (under $30,000), the most realistic route is often to start with a 1B assessment, which documents the need and sets up what comes next.
How to prepare an application for a software project
- Describe the problem in numbers: hours lost per week, errors, yearly cost.
- Get a quote broken into stages, with scope, schedule and deliverables.
- File the 1B application (assessment) before any commitment; then the 1C, within 24 months.
- Keep invoices and proof of payment, and stay within the 12-month maximum project length for 1C.