Ontario Wet Labs Program (Canada)

The Ontario Wet Labs Program (OWLP) is focused on supporting the development and fit-out of multi-tenant wet lab facilities with capital funding.

A wet lab is a specialized laboratory space designed to meet the unique needs for conducting, testing and refining pre-clinical research while meeting applicable safety and environmental regulations. The unique configuration, services, equipment, and specifications of a wet lab will depend on its intended use. For example, a chemical lab may have a greater emphasis on fume hoods and chemical storage, while a biotechnology lab may have a focus on biosafety cabinets and molecular biology equipment.

Investing in this infrastructure will:

• advance new research to develop more products and services
• retain Ontario talent and intellectual property in the province
• increase access to innovative health solutions for the people of Ontario
• attract additional investment in the life sciences sector
• create more good-paying jobs for the people of Ontario

Funding Information

• For an approved project, the Ministry will fund up to 33% of the eligible project costs up to a maximum amount of $5 million per applicant. No financial disbursements will be made until a funding agreement has been fully executed and the applicant has satisfied all funding conditions, including but not limited to the following, to the satisfaction of the ministry:
  • evidence of project financing
  • proof of insurance
  • applicant being in compliance with all applicable laws and not delinquent in connection with any fees, levies, or taxes owing to the Government of Ontario.

Eligible Project Costs

• Only eligible project costs may be funded under the OWLP. The project costs must meet the following criteria:
  • be incurred on or after the project start date up to and including the project completion date (on or before March 31, 2027)
  • are directly attributable to and necessary for the completion of the project and are not wholly or partially for another purpose
  • are one-time expenditures directly attributable to the development and implementation of the project
  • are not ongoing expenditures associated with programming, ongoing maintenance, or operations
  • are actual cash outlays, net of applicable HST, that must be documented through invoices, receipts, or applicant’s records acceptable to the ministry and are subject to verification by an independent auditor (evidence of payment must be maintained for audit purposes)

Eligible Projects

• Eligible projects must:
  • have an occupant-ready completion date on or before March 31, 2027
  • be located in Ontario and demonstrate that any financing other than under the OWLP will be in place by the project start date
  • meet the applicable safety standards and regulatory requirements for the proposed wet lab facility and use (for example, Containment Level 2 (CL2) for biological facilities)
    • Note: Facilities may also include areas within the larger space that are ‘dry labs’ with research desks, workstations, office or multi-use space that is not subject to a safety standard.

Eligible Activities

• The OWLP offers conditional grants to support eligible project activities, including:
  • facilities and infrastructure
  • equipment and machinery
  • labour (one-time)
  • materials (one-time)
  • specialized expertise
  • permits and fees

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants must meet all the following requirements:
  • be a business or not-for-profit organization (e.g., hospital or post-secondary institution) with a business number designated by the Canada Revenue Agency
  • have been in active business for at least the last two (2) fiscal years and provide financial statements (audited or accountant-reviewed) for that period
  • be located in Ontario
• All applicants must ensure compliance with all applicable laws, including the Accessibility For Ontarians with Disabilities Act (Ontario), and must not be delinquent in connection with any fees, levies, or taxes owing to the Government of Ontario.

For more information, visit Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.