ISANS-Business Counselling

Your Business Counsellor provides one-on-one support before, during and after you open your business. Business counselling takes place at ISANS and continues at your place of business after start-up and during business growth. Your Business Counsellor helps you: Make informed decisions Identify available resources Build your professional networks Stay informed of business workshops and events Access free legal and/or accounting services if appropriate Create an action plan Connect with other business service providers, associations and organizations that can benefit you and your business Your Business Counsellor will also provide you with a copy of Connections – An Immigrant’s Guide to Starting a Business in Nova Scotia to help you understand business culture in Nova Scotia.

LAE – SKILLS ONLINENS

Free on-line courses are offered in partnership with the Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour and Advanced Education, the Nova Scotia Association of CBDC’s and Bluedrop. Skill OnlineNS gives every resident of the province access to thousands of FREE online courses on the most important workplace topics to improve their skills and career prospects.

Le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse

The CDÉNÉ provides services to existing and potential businesses and entrepreneurs to support them in the development and success of their business or entrepreneurial initiatives. Our business advisors can:

Help develop feasibility studies and business, marketing and strategic plans
Provide advice on how to start, grow or improve your business
Provide mentorship for new entrepreneurs
Lead professional development sessions
Provide information funding sources and subjects related to entrepreneurship (statistics, demographic data, etc.)
Put you in contact with people and agencies that provide additional services

CDÉNÉ also provides economic immigration services to employers / entrepreneurs in Acadian and Francophone communities.

Learnsphere – Commercialization Consulting and Mentoring

The Commercialization Consulting and Mentoring (CCM) Program provides funds to assist Atlantic Canadian businesses and institutions in the final stages of commercialization. Businesses or institutions may use the funds to hire consultants or mentors to help them get a new and innovative product, technology or process to market. CCM funds can also be used to cover the cost of group learning activities for businesses on the verge of commercialization.

Membertou Entrepreneur Centre

The Membertou Entrepreneur Centre’s business development program includes customized business training and workshops and one-on-one support for new and existing businesses in the Membertou community. Several times a year, orientation sessions are held in Membertou for anyone considering starting a business. A person can then be approved for a training program of up to 12 weeks to assist them in preparing a detailed business plan. The Centre works with Aboriginal Business Canada, Ulnooweg Development Group and other federal, provincial and community economic development agencies on investment capital and funding to new business ventures.

Nova Scotia Co-operatives

Find out how to register a cooperative and learn more about the requirements that you need to follow.

Nova Scotia Department of Business

The Department of Business works with Crown corporations and special operating entities (Develop Nova Scotia, Invest Nova Scotia, and Tourism Nova Scotia) to develop plans, programs and policies that encourage entrepreneurship, help attract venture capital investment and grow sectors of the economy. We also work with other government departments and levels of government, universities, NSCC and the private and social enterprise sectors to create a shared strategy for business growth. working to help make Nova Scotia competitive and business-friendly administering the Invest Nova Scotia fund leading projects including rural internet, Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) and the Halifax Convention Centre accountability reporting on the Nova Scotia Jobs Fund, Nova Scotia Fund, Strategic Investment Funds and Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund

NRC – EUREKA

EUREKA is an international network for market-driven industrial R&D that includes over 40 economies from the EU, Europe, Israel, South Korea, and now Canada. Through Canada’s associate membership in EUREKA, Canadian innovators have a new advantage in accessing technology, expertise, and markets in Europe and beyond. With the goal of increasing competitiveness in world markets, EUREKA brings together small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies, research centres, universities, and other innovators from EUREKA countries to work together on market-driven industrial R&D.

NRC – Research and Development Programming

Learn about how the National Research Council can support your innovation efforts with strategic and collaborative research centres, scientific and technical advisory services, and licensing opportunities. Programs include: Research and collaboration – Research and collaboration centres, international innovation, libraries and data collections, industrial R&D groups Facilities – Unique and specialized research and testing facilities to support private and public sector partners Products and services – Technical and advisory services, software and applications, reference materials, calibration, construction codes Intellectual property licensing – Patent licensing opportunities to develop integrated and market-ready solutions  

NRC – Support for Technology Innovation Programming

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) provides advice, connections, and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market. Programming includes: NRC IRAP – Discover how we can help your small or medium-sized business drive growth through innovation and technology. Advisory services – Learn about our extensive network of resources and the valuable expertise of our industrial technology advisors. Financial support for technology innovation – Find out if your business is eligible for financial support through NRC IRAP and how to connect with us. International collaboration – Read about how we can help your business better compete in the global marketplace.