CFIN -- FoodTech Next Program

• Canadian incorporated businesses with under $1 million in annual sales (based on the most recent fiscal year)
• Must not have another active CFIN-funded project underway
• Must have a target customer or validation partner who can prove the technology solves a relevant market issue
• Applicants must be CFIN members (membership is free)
• Lead applicants must be tech or software developers who own or will develop the IP being piloted
• Project partners, often from the food industry, must help ensure pilots occur in real operational settings

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Projects must support one of CFIN’s three innovation priorities:

1. Smart Product and Process Development
   • Health, nutrition, and wellness improvements
   • Robotics for productivity and food safety
   • AI, sensors, and machine learning applications
2. Food Ecosystem Sustainability
   • Reducing food waste
   • Enhancing value recovery
   • Green and smart packaging solutions
3. Agile and Safe Supply Chains
   • Logistics and supply chain innovation
   • Consumer/customer analytics
   • Food safety improvements

Projects must also:

• Address post-farmgate supply chain challenges (not primary production)
• Identify a clear pilot or demonstration use case for an uncommercialized technology
• Be at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3 to 7

Eligible costs categories include:

• Direct labour
• Subcontractors and consultants
• Direct materials
• Equipment
• Land, building, and improvement costs
• Other eligible direct costs

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