2026 Funding Challenge

Growing Ontario’s Forest Sector & Bioeconomy

Nextfor has launched this funding challenge to support the commercial development, investment and deployment of next-generation forest-based solutions in Ontario, aiming to achieve cost parity with fossil fuel-based equivalents. The challenge supports projects that leverage Ontario’s existing supply of unused forest biomass, underutilized wood fibre and existing mill infrastructure.

Successful projects will investigate the feasibility, capacity, economics, and/or environmental impacts of forest-based technologies and products, driving the development and investment in Integrated Wood Based Biorefineries or production capacity within the existing forest industry.

Eligible projects must align with one or more of the following focus areas:

  • Advanced Wood-Based Materials, Technologies, and Building Solutions
  • Industrial Decarbonization (bioenergy and biocarbon solutions)
  • Precision forestry & data technologies

In addition, project activities should address one or more of the following themes:

  1. Development of Integrated Biorefineries in Ontario
  2. Market Development and Deployment
  3. Commercial Demonstration

Eligible project challenge funding from CRIBE will be a reimbursement of up to 50% of the total eligible project costs (up to a maximum of $100,000).

Application Intake & Fund Availability

This funding challenge is an open call. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed as they are received. The intake period will remain open until the fund is fully subscribed, at which point the challenge will be closed. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals early to ensure consideration.

Process

See details in the funding package linked below.

Please direct all inquiries and responses via email to:

DAYNA GRIFFITHS
Manager – Innovation Programming
Centre for Research & Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE)
Email: RFP@CRIBE.ca
with “2026 Funding Challenge” in the subject line.

Registration

Any party who meets the eligibility requirements can apply, however any application for Nextfor funding requires all perspective project proponents register with Nextfor in order to receive funding application information. Registration is free and can be done through the Nextfor website at www.nextfor.ca/register.

Getting Started

After reading the Request for Proposals (RFP) and Glossary and FAQs documents (linked below), interested parties are asked to submit their proposed project as a PDF via email.

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