Net Zero Accelerator Initiative

Net Zero Accelerator Initiative is sponsored by Government of Canada (via Strategic Innovation Fund). Part of the Strategic Innovation Fund, this initiative accepts applications on an ongoing basis. Its investment pillars include decarbonization of large emitters, industrial transformation, and clean technology and battery ecosystem development.

Net Zero Accelerator Initiative - Strategic Response Fund Net Zero Accelerator Initiative - Strategic Response Fund From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada The NZA program has been sunset and is no longer accepting applications as of November 4, 2025. To determine if you can apply for SRF funding, check your eligibility .

The Net Zero Accelerator (NZA) was an initiative that invited forward-looking Canadian companies to contribute to Canada's global leadership efforts by meeting its ambitious target of reducing GHG emissions by 40 to 45% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.

The NZA supported the Government of Canada's strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy , to deliver a stronger economy that thrived in a low-carbon world to the benefit of all Canadians.

With up to $8 billion in funding to support large-scale investments in key industrial sectors across the country, the NZA ensured that Canada: remained competitive in a net-zero economy reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions The NZA had been in high demand since its launch in 2020. The Strategic Response Fund prioritized projects that could deliver near-term emissions reductions to help meet the 2030 target.

The following NZA investment pillars were chosen to maximize the impact of program investments: Decarbonization of large emitters Focusing on near-term emissions reduction — Under this pillar, investments aimed to help Canada's largest emitting industrial sectors such as oil and gas and heavy industry (steel, aluminum, cement, mining and mineral processing and chemicals) dramatically reduce their current domestic GHG footprint faster and with less financial risk.

This pillar primarily supported Canada's 2030 climate goals, while aligning with 2050 objectives. With the right investments, this pillar helped preserve thousands of jobs across Canada for decades to come.

Investment principles for the decarbonization of large emitters Supported Canada's 2030 emissions reduction target, while remaining in line with the net-zero by 2050 goal Prioritized developed technologies that could be used by 2030 Prioritized projects that had additional or quicker benefits than would have been achieved without NZA investment Provided meaningful reductions in domestic GHG emissions, with strong preference given to those with quantifiable and direct GHG reductions Industrial transformation Helping established industries transition to the net-zero economy — Under this pillar, investments were aimed at ensuring that established industrial sectors remained successful and competitive in the net-zero global economy of the future.

Given the objective of achieving net zero within less than three decades and rapidly increasing global competition in developing clean-growth sectors, Canada's industrial base in key sectors such as automotive transportation, aerospace and electricity (or electrification) needed to shift quickly towards net-zero models.

Investment principles for industrial transformation Helped to move sectors away from GHG-intensive activities Helped sectors research, develop and adopt new processes and products with low carbon intensity, for Canadian and international markets Prioritized proposals that were part of a group of coordinated projects and had sector-wide impacts Support projects that showed significant potential to generate medium- to long-term GHG impacts Clean technology and battery ecosystem development Capitalizing on net-zero opportunities by fostering emerging sectors — Under this pillar, investments were aimed at capitalizing on emerging clean economy opportunities, establishing Canada as a global clean tech leader and promoting the development of clean technologies such as hydrogen; carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS); and a made-in-Canada battery ecosystem.

Investment principles for clean technology and battery ecosystem development Supported disruptive technologies that significantly and positively changed how a sector worked from a GHG emissions perspective Prioritized investment in emerging clean technologies that had shown to have market potential Supported creation of a domestic battery ecosystem and supply chain in Canada Supported projects that showed significant potential to achieve medium- to long-term GHG impacts Our investment decisions under each pillar were guided by these core investment principles: Build a balanced portfolio — Make sensible investments across all of the pillars to advance both 2030 and 2050 climate goals Maximize leverage — Bring together funding partners from a range of public and private sectors and highlight projects with a higher share of private investment Work with provinces and territories — Support investments that are aligned with provincial and territorial decarbonization priorities and consider regional environmental, industrial and economic needs Other investment decision considerations included a project's ability to: deliver on intended outcomes create and maintain high-skill, long-term employment in Canada develop supply chains and intellectual property opportunities promote Canadian global competitiveness