BDC loan amount
Up to $100k1
Interest rate
0%
ISED grant
Up to $15K2
What is CDAP?
The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), by the Government of Canada, helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt digital technologies to increase their competitiveness. Eligible businesses will receive a grant2 to build their digital plan, followed by a 0% loan of up to $100,0001 to implement it.

What does it cover?
The loan covers items directly related to the digital plan. Some examples are:
- Acquiring IT equipment
- Installation of new technologies
- Updating and/or expanding IT equipment
- Training staff on onboarded technologies
- Materials and support services directly related to onboarding the technology
- Further advisory services on particular aspects of the digital adoption plan
How to apply
1. Register
Get started on Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) website.
2. Build a plan
Build your digital plan with the help of an ISED-approved partner.
3. Get approved
Submit your plan and invoices to ISED for approval and they'll disburse a grant of up to $15,000 to cover your advisory fees2.
4. Apply with BDC
Once your plan is approved, login to the CDAP portal on ISED’s site to gain access to BDC’s link to apply for a loan of up to $100,0001.
You will be redirected to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's (ISED) website. Loan only available upon completion of an approved digital adoption plan.
Why apply?
Get access to an expert
Cover up to 90% of the cost of hiring a digital advisor2.
Increase your competitiveness
Digitally mature businesses are more likely to export, enjoy high sales growth and make more profit.
12 months capital postponement
Acquire new technology while preserving your cash flow.

Client story
Marketing business goes digital to scale
Susan Robinson is using the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to grow her business.
We're here to help
BDC’s Advisory Services team is one of Canada Digital Adoption Program's (CDAP) network of approved partners. We can show you how to digitize your business and achieve your strategic goals. We provide the tools and knowledge to support your digital adoption initiatives in a hands-on approach.
Ready to boost your business technology?
Start your application online.
You will be redirected to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's (ISED) website. Loan only available upon completion of an approved digital adoption plan.
Frequently asked questions
I want to know more about registering for the Canada Digital Adoption Plan (CDAP)
Stream 1: Grow Your Business Online
BDC is not involved in this stream.
Grow Your Business Online helps small, consumer-facing businesses with yearly revenues under $500k to take advantage of e-commerce opportunities. It provides advisory services as well as micro-grants of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to adopting digital technologies.
Stream 2: Boost Your Business Technology
BDC is involved in this stream.
Boost Your Business Technology helps small and medium sized businesses that require more advanced technology. These businesses will be able to access a grant from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to cover up to 90% of the cost of advisory services to develop a digital adoption plan, to a maximum grant value of $15,000. The business will then have the opportunity to apply for a zero-interest loan from BDC of up to $100,000 per business with a maximum of $200,000 per borrowing group 3, to implement the technology.
Please note that although the loan request is being made under CDAP, applicants must meet CDAP eligibility criteria and BDC credit worthiness requirements to receive a loan offer.
For more information, visit ISED's website
No, the zero-interest loan is only for businesses that are eligible under Stream 2: Boost Your Business Technology.
For the grant: Companies that can demonstrate a minimum of $500K in revenues in the last 3 fiscal years are eligible for the Boost Your Business Technology stream. If they do not meet these criteria, they may apply to Stream 1: Grow your business online.
For the loan: To qualify, companies must have at least $500K of annual income as of the closing date of their last fiscal year-end.
Please note that although the loan request is being made under CDAP, applicants must meet CDAP eligibility criteria and BDC credit worthiness requirements to receive a loan offer.
Yes, you may submit applications to CDAP for multiple businesses. Each business will need to operate separately from the other(s) and have its own digital adoption plan.
While you may apply for multiple businesses, note that you are limited to a maximum loan of $200,000 per borrowing group.3
I want to know more about the digital adoption plan
Yes, BDC is one of the registered service providers on the Digital Advisors Marketplace. If your business is deemed eligible for the Boost Your Business Technology stream, you will have access to a curated list of service providers that are right for you on the Digital Advisors Marketplace. You can then select the service provider that meets your needs.
Please note that selecting BDC as an advisor will not affect your chances of qualifying for a zero-interest loan. All businesses are treated equally, whether they are existing BDC clients or not.
If you have a BDC Systems Selection plan or a digital adoption plan from BDC Advisory Services, or if you have another plan created by a digital adoption program recognised by ISED, you are invited to apply through the CDAP portal for the Boost Your Business Technology stream. During the application process, select the fast-track option and upload your plan. After it is approved, you will be referred to BDC to apply for the 0% loan.
To account for uncertainties and delays caused by the pandemic, existing plans of up to 24 months old are eligible for CDAP.
For the complete list of recognized programs, visit ISED’s website.
You will have 6 months from the time your Digital Adoption Plan is approved by ISED to complete your loan application with BDC. However, if you’ve completed a digital adoption plan through another recognized government program, a System Selection plan or another digital adoption plan from BDC Advisory Services you have 30 days to apply for the loan through the fast-track option.
If you exceed this timeframe, you will be ineligible for the loan.
I want to know more about the BDC zero-interest loan
Zero-interest loan of up to $100,000 with a 5-year term + 12 months capital postponement (total of 6 years). CDAP is a four-year program, so you can apply for the program until 2025.
The amount of the loan is determined by the size of your business. If your annual gross revenues as of the closing date of its last fiscal year-end are:
- between $500,000 and below $5M you can request a loan of between $25,000 and $50,000
- $5M and more, you can request a loan between $25,000 and $100,000
While you may apply for a loan for multiple businesses, note that you are limited to a maximum loan of $200,000 per borrowing group3.
The loan must be used solely for the implementation of a digital adoption plan that is recognized by the CDAP Boost Your Business Technology stream .
Please note that although the loan request is being made under CDAP, applicants must meet CDAP eligibility criteria and BDC credit worthiness requirements to receive a loan offer.
You can create your digital adoption plan, receive the grant that covers up to 90% of advisory services and then decide against the zero-interest loan. Participating in the digital plan portion of CDAP does not oblige you to apply for a loan. If you move forward to implement your plan, you can also source the required funds from your own cashflow or from your regular financial institutions.
The first step before applying for the loan is to have a digital adoption plan that is recognized by the CDAP Boost Your Business Technology stream. If you already have a digital adoption plan that was developed through a recognized government digital adoption program, you may be eligible to proceed directly to a loan application without developing a new plan.
Once your digital adoption plan has been reviewed and approved by CDAP login to the CDAP portal to gain direct access to BDC’s 0% financing form.
Please note that although the loan request is being made under CDAP, applicants must meet CDAP eligibility criteria and BDC credit worthiness requirements in order to receive a loan offer.
No. The loan under this program must be used to implement your digital adoption plan. You must be willing to attest to the use of the funds. Please understand that CDAP can audit you on this point.
The program eligibility is only one step in the process of making the loan request.
Your business may be declined for multiple reasons. For example, it may not have met BDC’s credit worthiness criteria (ex: credit history, etc.).
Please note that although the loan request is being made under CDAP, applicants must meet CDAP eligibility criteria and BDC credit worthiness requirements to receive a loan offer.
Also, as the CDAP zero-interest loan is part of a standard loan application, standard banking practices apply. A declined loan request is reflected in your credit score. This is part of the consent you provide when applying for the loan.
1Loan amount is based on size of business: Business with revenues between $500,000 and less than $5M as of the closing date of its last fiscal year-end can request a loan between $25,000 and $50,000, Businesses with revenues $5M and more as of the closing date of its last fiscal year-end can request a loan between $25,000 and $100,000. While you may apply for a loan for multiple businesses, note that you are limited to a maximum loan of $200,000 per borrowing group. Loan only available upon completion of an approved digital adoption plan. In addition to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's (ISED) approval process, applicants must meet BDC’s credit worthiness and eligibility criteria to get a 0% interest loan. Five-year term loan with the possibility to postpone principal payments for 12 months at the start of the loan.
2Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is responsible for approving digital adoption plans and providing grant money. The grant covers 90% of the eligible cost of the advisory service, up to a maximum amount of $15,000 per SME.
3A borrowing group is defined as a group of clients who have a loan with BDC and are related by common shareholders or financial statements. Examples include: common shareholders, common security or common personal or corporate guarantors. Shared credit accommodations (e.g., where one Client is a co-borrower on a line of credit, a common bank account, etc.).