Program Objective   

The Atlantic Canada Aerospace & Defence Association (ACADA), with the support of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is providing support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Aerospace, Defence, and Security industries for Digital Adoption projects.

ACADA’s Digital Adoption Program (“the Program”) is designed to assist Atlantic Canadian SMEs to identify digital gaps or to implement digital adoption. Adopting and investing in digital best practices can help boost business capacity and improve operational efficiency and productivity.

The Program is intended to support SMEs that have already taken advantage of the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), or those that are not eligible for the Program. ACADA’s funding is meant to augment the resources available through CDAP, not replace nor duplicate.   

Eligible Companies   

To qualify for the Program, companies must meet the criteria outlined in the Program Guidelines. 

Project Costs   

Approved projects will be cost-shared between ACADA and the SME. The maximum project cost eligible for support is $18,000, with the SME responsible for 35% of the total cost. 

Eligible projects:

  • Process automation and optimization
  • Managed service provider analysis and consultation
  • Skills development and training
  • Implementation of cybersecurity best practices
  • Cybersecurity and data protection consulting advice
  • Digital marketing projects
  • Improve user experience for online customers
  • Other project deliverables aligned with Program guidelines (to be approved by ACADA).

Program Timeline 

Application Period: December 11, 2025 to January 16, 2026 – EXTENDED

Selection: January 23, 2026

Project Completion: March 31, 2026 or March 31, 2027

Project completion deadlines are set to align with funding requirements, with some projects required to be completed by March 31, 2026, and others by March 31, 2027. SMEs may apply to either timeline based on their project needs and the schedule specified in their approved Statement of Work.

Read Full 2025-26 Eligibility Guidelines HERE

For more information about the program, please contact us at info@ac-ada.ca