Canadian Dairy Commission's Matching Investment Fund (MIF)
What is it?
The Canadian Dairy Commission's Matching Investment Fund (MIF) is a three
year, $6 million fund designed to encourage growth and innovation in the
manufacture and use of Canadian dairy products and ingredients. The fund
provides for assistance with a range of product development activities,
on a first-come, first-served basis.
How will my company benefit?
Your project could receive $50,000 for consultations and $250,000 for
product development from the MIF. This funding must be matched in cash
or in kind by your business.
Projects that use milk protein concentrate or skim milk powder may qualify
for higher levels of funding.
If you are a small business (less than 25 employees) with a consultation
project not exceeding $5,000 in costs, you are exempt from the matching
investment requirement. In this case, up to 100 per cent of eligible costs
may qualify for reimbursement.
Who qualifies?
Registered Canadian companies or recognized food technology centres (FTCs)
that develop, manufacture and/or use Canadian dairy products and ingredients
are eligible.
To qualify for funding assistance, a company or FTC must either:
- incorporate a Canadian dairy ingredient in a product formulation where
no dairy ingredient(s) had been previously used
- replace a substitute ingredient in a product formulation with a Canadian
dairy ingredient, or significantly increase the dairy content in an
existing product formulation
- develop/market a new dairy product pursuant to the Domestic Dairy
Product Innovation Program
- develop and market an innovative further-processed product containing
Canadian dairy ingredients, or
- conduct technology/knowledge transfer activities with a demonstrated
benefit for a company or for the Canadian dairy industry as a whole.
What qualifies?
Financial support is available to eligible companies and FTCs for:
- product development consultation in areas such as management and marketing,
dairy and food science, and food processing
- product development activities related to product analysis, trials
and technology transfer, such as adoption of new or existing technologies,
industrial scale tests, retrofitting of facilities, sample preparation
costs, and packaging techniques
Your project must:
- result in a product not currently manufactured in Canada;
- must increase the use of raw milk components (in the case of a dairy
product manufacturer) or Canadian dairy ingredients;
- involve a technical challenge associated with incorporating or developing
a Canadian dairy ingredient; and
- use dairy ingredient(s) made wholly or mainly from milk.
How do I apply?
To apply, download the MIF Program Guide, which includes a Project Summary
Form for initial application, from www.MILKingredients.ca.
The program guide is also available by calling 1-866-366-0676, or emailing
the program administrator at ingredients@agr.gc.ca.
MIF applications will be accepted from August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2012,
subject to available funds.
Where can I find more information?
MiLKingredients.ca
CDC marketing officer Shana Allen is also available to discuss
funding proposals at (613) 792-2035 or by email at shanaallen@agr.gc.ca.
