Business innovation and growth support, 2023

Released: 2026-03-04

In partnership with the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Business Innovation and Growth Support (BIGS) statistical program collects and produces information on financial and service-based support provided to businesses by the federal Government of Canada through various program streams.

BIGS data are now available for the 2023 reference year.

From December 2024 to November 2025, federal departments and agencies provided administrative data on program streams for the 2023 reference year, which cover the support provided to businesses from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

In 2023, the federal government provided innovation and growth support valued at $6.4 billion to over 47,000 businesses through 166 federal programs. Both funding (+8.5%) and the number of businesses (+8,000) increased from 2022, while the number of programs (-6) decreased slightly.

Ontario (41.0%) received the largest proportion of BIGS among provinces in 2023, followed by Quebec (19.1%).

Increase in number of non-employer beneficiaries

Historically, small- and medium-sized enterprises, defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, have made up the majority of BIGS beneficiaries. Further, the number of enterprises with 0 to 4 employees that received support increased by over half in 2023. Indeed, the number of BIGS beneficiaries in this category increased 65.5% to 13,914 in 2023, and this includes an increase in non-employer enterprises (+48.6%).

Around one-fifth of BIGS beneficiaries with 0 to 4 employees in 2023 were operating in the professional, scientific and technical services sector (3,011 enterprises), up from 2022 (+51.6%).

Chart 1 
Business innovation and growth support by employment size, 2023

Chart 2 
Business innovation and growth by revenue size, 2023

Chart 3 
Business innovation and growth support by industry sector, 2023

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).