Updated June 2026 · Verified against Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly In Kind Est. 2017
Program Federal Active

Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy (ATIGS)

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Maximum Funding
Up to $15K
Ongoing — Launch Export annual cohorts (fall); MEDP continuous
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
In Kind
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
75%
Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy (ATIGS) provides up to $15K. Federal-provincial partnership delivering subsidized export development services to Atlantic businesses. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

33 organizations received this funding in 2025 — 210 awards since 2017. Typical award: $105K. Half of all awards fall between $56K and $156.3K. Top sectors among classified recipients: Religious, civic, professional org, Provincial government, Colleges and professional schools. Top provinces: Nova Scotia 50% · New Brunswick 25% · Newfoundland and Labrador 13%. Covers: ACOA Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy contributions, mostly to Atlantic trade associations, sector bodies and provincial trade agencies rather than individual businesses. Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through October 2026.

The typical Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy award is $105K — the median of 210 awards since 2017. In 2025, 33 organizations were funded.

33funded in 2025
$105Ktypical award
210awards since 2017

Award size distribution. Half of awards fall between $56K and $156.3K, with a typical award of $105K.

Award sizes middle 50% of awards
$56K $105K typical $156.3K
Top sectors Religious, civic, professional orgProvincial governmentColleges and professional schools(of classified recipients)
Top provinces NS 50%NB 25%NL 13%

Named recipients

Recent recipients of the Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy include Mining Association of Nova Scotia (Ingramport, NS, 2026), Digital Nova Scotia (Halifax, NS, 2026) and Atlantic Chamber of Commerce (Windsor, NS, 2026).

  1. 2026Mining Association of Nova ScotiaIngramport, NS
  2. 2026Digital Nova ScotiaHalifax, NS
  3. 2026Atlantic Chamber of CommerceWindsor, NS
  4. 2026Atlantic Association of Community Business Development CorporationsMulgrave, NS
  5. 2026Prince Edward Island BioAlliance Inc.Charlottetown, PE
  6. 2026Innovation PEICharlottetown, PE
  7. 2026LearnSphere Canada Inc.Fredericton, NB
  8. 2026Nova Scotia Association of CBDCsMiddle Musquodoboit, NS
  9. 2026Energy NLSt. John's, NL
  10. 2026Venn Innovation Inc.Moncton, NB
Show 14 more recipients
  1. 2025techNLSt. John's, NL
  2. 2025Opportunities New BrunswickFredericton, NB
  3. 2025OTCNSDartmouth, NS
  4. 2025econextSt. John's, NL
  5. 2025Marine Renewables Canada SocietyDartmouth, NS
  6. 2025Smart Grid Innovation Network Canada Inc.Fredericton, NB
  7. 2025Oceans Advance Inc.St. John's, NL
  8. 2025Department of Industry, Energy and TechnologySt. John's, NL
  9. 2025Food and Beverage Atlantic Association Inc. / Association Aliments et Boissons AIrishtown, NB
  10. 2025Mining Industry NL Inc.St. John's, NL
  11. 2025Lobster Council of CanadaHalifax, NS
  12. 2025Invest Nova ScotiaHalifax, NS
  13. 2025Taste of Nova ScotiaDartmouth, NS
  14. 2019Canada China Business Council / Conseil d'affaires Canada-ChineToronto, ON
See how much each recipient received, and how each award compares to the typical one. Included in Premium ↓

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

See all Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy winners →

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Federal-provincial partnership delivering subsidized export development services to Atlantic businesses. Launch Export: 8-month cohort ($15K value for $250 fee, 8 spots/province). MEDP: tailored European/Indo-Pacific market entry via consultants ($1,250-$2,500 fee). Businesses access expert coaching at a fraction of market cost.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Registered business in Atlantic Canada
  • SME (<500 employees)
  • Exportable product or service
  • For MEDP: a proven record OR strong potential of revenue growth; senior management commitment
  • For Launch Export: desire to expand sales outside Atlantic Canada
Provinces
Nova Scotia New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Newfoundland & Labrador
Industries
All
Business Stage
Growth Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $15K~$15,000 in subsidized services (Launch Export); tailored market entry (MEDP)
Type
Program
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 75% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing — Launch Export annual cohorts (fall); MEDP continuous

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
4/5

Accessible — straightforward requirements

Competition
3/5

Moderate competition — prepare a strong application

Difficulty
2/5

Easy — minimal documentation

Approval Rate
Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Launch Export is one of Atlantic Canada's best-value programs — 8 months of training, coaching, and a trade mission for $250.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win ATIGS

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

Premium 8 steps 4 docs

Application Steps

1 Monitor Intake Announcements (Launch Export) Watch launchexport.ca for annual cohort intake announcements, typically opening in fall. Subscribe to the mailing list to be notified. The 2025-26 cohort intake is closed.

Required Documents 4

✓ Online application (province-specific)
✓ Business registration

Eligible Expenses 7

Ineligible Expenses 4

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

Premium The full guide for this program also covers:
  • 7 more application steps
  • 2 more required documents
  • 7 eligible expenses
  • 4 ineligible expenses
  • Intake periods
  • Deadline notes
  • Ineligible organizations

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 3 partners

Compatible Programs

CanExport SMEs ACOA Business Development Program (BDP) Export Development Canada (EDC)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.

How ATIGS Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth ... ~$15,000 in subsidized services Easy In Kind Ongoing — Launch Export...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Between intakes — the...
Export Development Canada (EDC) Finan... Varies Easy Equity Ongoing
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... Up to 50% of capital costs Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
Business Development Program (BDP) - ... Varies (Repayable Contribution) Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about ATIGS

Free
Can I apply if I'm a sole proprietor?
Yes — sole proprietors qualify if registered in Atlantic Canada, under 500 employees, and have an exportable product/service. MEDP requires revenue growth proof.
What's the typical fee for MEDP?
MEDP fees range from $1,250 to $2,500 for $10K-$30K in services. You pay 4-8% of the service value upfront.
When are MEDP spots filled?
MEDP is continuous until capacity is reached — contact provincial trade offices April-June to secure a spot before fall.
Why do applications get rejected?
Common rejections: not Atlantic-registered, services not exportable, or gaming/real estate ineligible for MEDP (Launch Export spots fill fast).
Can I stack with CanExport?
Yes — CanExport covers up to $75K for market development, stacking with ATIGS for Atlantic exporters. MEDP and Launch Export are complementary.

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