Deadline Date: March 16, 2026
The AReNA is currently accepting applications to support companies in Quebec to develop, accelerate, and commercialize technologies related to RNA-based therapies.
The program aims to stimulate the development of technological processes, products or services that promote the growth of RNA therapies in Quebec by supporting companies from proof of concept to pre-commercialization; it targets optimization of manufacturing processes for RNA therapies including synthesis, purification and formulation, improvement or prediction of biological and physicochemical properties, development of new RNA delivery methods beyond lipid nanoparticles, and advances in mRNA, RNAi, antisense and other RNA-based therapeutic modalities.
This call for proposals is open to Quebec startups, SMEs and large companies active in biopharmaceutical technologies. Collaboration with other companies or public research centres is encouraged for startups and SMEs and becomes mandatory for projects led by large companies. The initiative seeks to position Quebec companies in a high-potential niche capable of addressing both national and international needs.
The program offers a maximum grant of $300,000 per project, which can reach $350,000 if the project is carried out in collaboration with the DePTAQ network. Each funded project must be completed within a maximum duration of 18 months.
Eligible projects must focus on research and innovation activities that contribute to the development of technologies supporting RNA-based therapies. The proposed technology must demonstrate commercial potential and involve the development of a new product, service or process, or a significant improvement to an existing one. The innovation must present a decisive advantage over current national or international market solutions, involve technological or business risk or uncertainty, and require dedicated research and development efforts.
To qualify, companies must be legally constituted under federal or Quebec law, registered with the Quebec Enterprise Registrar, have their head office in Quebec, and employ a majority of their workforce within the province. Companies with fewer than 249 employees worldwide are considered startups or SMEs, while those with more than 250 employees are considered large companies.
Certain entities are not eligible, including companies directly or indirectly controlled by a provincial, federal or municipal government, majority-owned subsidiaries of state-owned enterprises, businesses under creditor protection or bankruptcy legislation, companies listed in the Register of Companies Ineligible for Public Contracts, those that have failed to meet previous obligations related to financial assistance from the Ministry or Investissement Québec, companies whose ethical conduct could compromise the integrity of the government, those listed as ineligible under the Ministry’s responsible financing policy, and holding companies.
For more information, visit AReNA.
