Biopharmaceutical Investment Program (BIP)

These guidelines, as well as the BIP application form are subject to change from time to time without notice at the sole discretion of the Ministry of Research and Innovation.

The Program

1. Overview

The Biopharmaceutical Investment Program (BIP) is part of the Government of Ontario’s $1.15 billion Next Generation of Jobs Fund strategy to stimulate economic growth and prosperity in Ontario while helping to create the next generation of jobs.

BIP is a $150 million five year discretionary, non-entitlement program to encourage brand name pharmaceutical firms and advanced-stage human health biotech firms (e.g. vaccine manufacturers) to establish and grow their research and development and/or their advanced manufacturing investments in Ontario.

BIP will provide up to 20% of total eligible project costs.  Applications with total eligible project costs of less than $5 million will not be considered (see 10. Eligible & Ineligible Project Costs for further details, including the eligibility date for eligible project costs).

Approved funding will be provided in the form of a conditional grant.  However, the ministry may consider requests for funding in the form of loan (a low interest rate loan, a forgivable interest loan, or a forgivable loan) on a case by case basis.

2. Objectives

• To increase the level of new biopharmaceutical R&D and advanced manufacturing activity undertaken in Ontario, especially in areas of excellence where Ontario can compete and win globally (e.g. oncology, stem cells);
• To expand local footprints, and create a generation of new high value jobs for Ontarians; and
• To increase the value of “deal flow” within Ontario’s growing biotech cluster, and build capacity through major new investments in public research institutions (e.g. universities, teaching hospitals).

3. Eligibility Criteria for Application Consideration

Eligible Company:

The Biopharmaceutical Investment Program will consider applications from companies:

• whose primary source of business comes from patented products that have received marketing approval by way of a Health Canada New Drug Submission or the equivalent submission in the United States, the European Union or Japan; and
• which holds at least one patented human health drug product approved for sale in one or more of the following markets:  Canada, the United States, the European Union, and/or Japan. Other markets may be identified by the ministry from time to time.

Eligible Project:

1. Eligible Projects are those which will undertake incremental R&D and/or a new advanced manufacturing activity related to innovative drugs for human health. 
2. For the purpose of R&D activity under BIP:
   
   
   • innovative drugs are defined as any substance or mixture of substances manufactured for use in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of a disease or disorder in human beings, and that is under patent by the Applicant Company or will be submitted for patenting by the Applicant Company, but does not include any substance or preparation manufactured, offered for sale or sold as, or as part of, a food, drink or cosmetic, or any “natural health product” as defined from time to time by the Natural Health Products Regulations under the Food and Drug Act (Canada);
   • incremental R&D is defined as a level of new R&D investment that exceeds the Applicant’s baseline R&D in Ontario; and
   • the Applicant’s baseline R&D will be its lowest annual R&D investment in Ontario for the previous three years as determined by an external firm on behalf of the ministry which will establish a consistent methodology to review all Applicant’s tax credits requested under the federal government’s Scientific Research & Experimental Development tax incentive program (SR&ED) for the previous 3 years.  Any determination of baseline R&D by the ministry or its agents shall be final.
3. Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) are new manufacturing processes, technologies and materials innovation that are critical to the international competitiveness of Ontario manufacturers. 
   
   
   • Includes materials innovation, production process innovation, and new generation products.
   • Advanced manufacturing employs techniques and machines combined with the application of information technology and microelectronics such as robotics, vision systems for precision machining, remote handling of process equipment, computer aided design and computer integrated manufacturing. 
   • The range of technologies supplied is broad, with some designed for continuous process industries, while others are enabling technologies such as machinery, tool, die and mould. 
   • Advanced manufacturing also includes process development and scale-up activities for commercialization of a product, filling, formulation, packaging and other manufacturing processes.
4. Eligible Projects must be situated at facilities within Ontario and undertaken by companies that operate or will operate, by virtue of the Project, in Ontario, and all BIP funding must be invested in Ontario.
5. Eligible Projects will have minimum total eligible project costs of $5M over the term of the Project, (which, if approved, would receive a maximum contribution from Ontario of 20%, being in the case of minimum project size, a maximum of $1M), though MRI will favour larger investments to maximise the benefit to Ontario. The ministry may consider a package of related investments as a single Project.

Companies that participate in the BIP will not be precluded, for the purposes of BIP, from accessing other Ontario Government funding programs for which they may be eligible. Companies should confirm the stacking rules of any other programs to which they may apply for funding.

4. What Is Specifically Excluded From Eligibility?

Costs not eligible for BIP funding are outlined in Appendix B and include, but are not limited to, the following.

• Medical devices R&D and/or medical devices manufacturing
• Non-human health products R&D and/or manufacturing
• Human non-medical products (e.g. products that are not/would not be prescribed by a medical practitioner)
• Business restructuring or regular capital reinvestment
• Advertising and marketing activities

5. Contact Information

The ministry has implemented a client-centered, “one-window” portal to work with companies in the development and submission of Expressions of Interest (EoIs) and Full Applications, and all communications between the Applicant or its agent and the Government of Ontario in respect of the Application shall be conducted solely with the designated officials of the Ministry of Research and Innovation, Outreach, Promotion and Business Development Branch, as follows.

Biopharmaceutical Investment Program (BIP)
Pharmaceutical Innovation Secretariat
Outreach, Promotion and Business Development Branch
Ministry of Research and Innovation
18th Floor, 56 Wellesley St. W.
Toronto, ON  M7A 2E7
Tel: 1-800-819-8701 (North America)
00-800-46-68-27-46 (U.K. and Europe)
00-800-46-68-27-46 (Japan (ITJ))
0061-800-46-68-27-46 (Japan (KDD))
E-mail: info@2ontario.com
Web: www.ontario.ca/innovation

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