BDC LIFT
AI-adoption financing at 2.25% — with a Canadian AI integrator
BDC's LIFT program — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology — launched April 2026 with a specific provision: a preferential 2.25% rate when the technology solution comes from a Canadian AI supplier. ReadyIQ is a Canadian AI consultancy structured to meet the program's integrator criteria — BDC makes the final determination on every application.
Loan range
$25K – $5M
Sized to your project
Preferred rate
2.25%
With a Canadian AI integrator
Program status
Live
Intake open as of April 2026
About the BDC LIFT program
LIFT stands for Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology. It is a BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) financing product built to help Canadian SMBs adopt AI. Unlike a standard term loan, LIFT is structured around the AI adoption project — use of funds, timeline, and repayment tie directly to the implementation plan.
The preferential-rate provision exists because BDC wants businesses working with qualified Canadian AI specialists, not attempting adoption alone or through a foreign vendor. BDC decides which suppliers qualify, application by application. ReadyIQ is a Canadian AI consultancy structured to meet the program's integrator criteria — BDC makes the final determination.
Eligibility, final rate, and loan terms are determined by BDC based on your business financials and project plan. We help you build the project plan. BDC makes the credit decision.
Official program page — bdc.ca → · Program details last verified June 10, 2026.
What LIFT covers
What the loan can fund
AI implementation work
Fees paid to a Canadian AI integrator to design, build, and deploy the AI system. This is the core funded activity — and where ReadyIQ fits.
Software and licensing
Subscriptions, API costs, and software licences directly tied to the AI project.
Infrastructure
Cloud compute, storage, and networking costs required to run the AI system.
Training and onboarding
Team training to operate and maintain the AI system after implementation.
How ReadyIQ helps you access BDC LIFT
Scoping the project
We define a clear, fundable AI project — scope, timeline, expected outcomes, and budget — in terms that align with BDC's loan requirements.
Supporting the application
We provide a technical project description and a partner letter confirming ReadyIQ's role as a Canadian AI integrator on the project.
Structured implementation
We execute the project with documentation that meets BDC's reporting requirements: deliverables, milestones, and results.
Parallel SR&ED assessment
Where the project has an R&D component, we flag SR&ED eligibility so you can pursue a tax credit alongside the LIFT loan, reducing net cost further.
Stack LIFT with other programs
Scope your LIFT-eligible project
We define a project that fits BDC LIFT criteria and build the documentation your application needs.