Monday, May 4th – Friday, August 21st 2026

The deadline for both companies and participants to apply is April 10th, 2026. Companies must have a participant (employee) candidate by this date to move onto the selection committee.

Must be a for-profit entity located in the districts of Nipissing, Timiskaming, Parry Sound or Muskoka.

Must be an innovative company that is creating economic value and growth through new or significantly improved products, processes, or services. SDPP is not applicable to businesses operating as distributors, resellers, or wholesalers.

This is a competitive program. All company & participant applications are subject to a competitive review process.

Must not have participated in SDPP in 2024 or 2025.

Each company applicant can hire one individual through this funding. The individual must be a new or recent hire, not previously having worked for the company.

Yes, it is the responsibility of the company to find a participant match by the application deadline. IION can aid in the promotion of the position.

Participants cannot be related to the directors, officers, or managers of the organization.

Participants cannot have participated in the prior IION YEPP, EDP or SDPP programs.

Participants must be a new or recent hire.

Participants must be over the age of 18.

There are no schooling restrictions- they do not need to be a recent graduate or returning to school to participate.

All participants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, have an interest in innovation and growing personally and professionally.

Participants must agree to complete the paid 16-week placement and participate in the 4 mandatory virtual professional development workshops and the 3-day mandatory retreat.

Participants must be located within the districts of Nipissing, Timiskaming, Parry Sound or Muskoka.

Participants must be a new or recent hire

Please feel free to contact us to determine if your participant is eligible.

The participants are expected to be full-time T4 employees of the company, working at a minimum of 37.5 hours a week for 16-weeks.

The participant must complete 600 hours of placement beginning May 4th with completion between August 21st and Aug 28th.

A company and participant pair are considered a match once both company and participant applications are received by IION. Matches must be made before the April 10th deadline to be considered by the selection committee.

There are 4 mandatory virtual professional development workshops in which the participant must participate. These will be done virtually through the Zoom platform.

May 4th Ignition Day 8:30am-12:30am

July 9th Emotional Intelligence 8:30am-11:30am

July 16th Critical thinking 8:30am-11:30am

August 21st Wrap-up 8:30am-11:30am

June 8th, 10th and 11th at the *Canadian Ecology Center (CEC), 6905 Highway 17, Mattawa ON

*Retreat location is tentative, based on the CEC/Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park reopening date, alternative location is Nipissing University, North Bay

Yes, the company must treat these activities as paid time at work.

Approved companies will receive a wage subsidy of $7,800 ($13/hour for 37.5 hours per week for 16 weeks) to help offset costs of the participant’s wage.

The funding is disbursed 50/50. The first payment ($3,900) will be disbursed mid placement, the second half of the funding ($3,900) being disbursed at the end of the placement when the final reporting documents have been submitted to IION.

The company must contribute a minimum of $2,760 ($4.60/hour) over the duration of the program, to meet the provincial minimum wage requirements.

Over the 16-weeks, the participant must be paid a minimum of $10,560 (in regular hourly wages).

Successful companies must submit pay stubs throughout the program to show proof of payment.

The company is responsible for the mandatory employment-related costs (CPP & EI and any other work-related fees, insurance, etc.).

It is highly recommended that the participant contact their professors about the placement to see if there is a possibility for credits.

SDPP may be completed between August 21st and Aug 28th 2026, which allows for an added week to complete missing experiential hours.