Global Incubator Programme - Video Gaming, Canada (Montreal)

This Programme is aimed at companies that have:

• A novel / innovative solution with some commercial traction and customer adoption.
• A strong leadership team ready to dedicate time in Canada at La Piscine to build relationships with advisors, investors, potential customers and decision makers.
• A willingness to adapt and openness to incorporate the feedback and guidance provided by experts in our network.
• An initial Canadian value proposition and a hypothesis about how to enter the Canadian market.

To apply, you must:

• Be a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise
• Be a company with fewer than 250 employees
• Have a focus on video gaming

Innovate UK is committed to improving the diversity of who we support. We welcome applications from under-represented groups in the video gaming sector.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.

We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this GIP’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place.  The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the application deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email (support@iuk.ukri.org) or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Created in 2015, La Piscine’s mission is to catalyze and cultivate the first-ever ecosystem dedicated to the development of entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sectors in Montréal and across Québec. Since its creation, the organization has implemented successful incubation and acceleration programs to accompany the development of creative and cultural entrepreneurs and companies with high growth potential. In addition, La Piscine delivers made-to-measure services to help private sector companies and public institutions mobilize the most innovative cultural and creative industry players to leverage effective and strategic business solutions

La Piscine enables participating UK businesses to engage with a mature and internationally connected innovation ecosystem at the intersection of games, digital creativity and emerging technologies. The organisation’s convening power, ecosystem reach and experience supporting innovation-led companies make it well positioned to deliver high-value market immersion, partnership development and commercialisation support for an international incubator programme.

Canada is one of the world’s leading gaming ecosystems, advanced capabilities with globally recognised expertise. The country is home to major studios, rapidly growing independent developers, and advanced capabilities in areas such as real-time 3D, AI, immersive technologies and virtual production.

Focusing on Canada provides opportunities for UK companies to access strategic partnerships, investment, co-development opportunities, skilled talent networks and North American market pathways. Canada’s strengths in converging creative technologies also create strong alignment with UK capabilities across gaming, screen, music, advertising and immersive content, supporting cross-sector innovation and international growth.

We are looking for businesses with the ambition and commitment to scale globally. The programme is best suited for growth stage companies with validated products or technologies seeking international commercial expansion opportunities. A senior person from the company needs to commit to being involved in all stages of the programme.

The Global Incubator Programme operates on a competitive basis and businesses selected against the criteria listed in the application form are required to actively participate in all three stages. The three stages of the Programme are as follows:

Prepare

A preparation workshop delivered to the entire cohort in the UK. You will be allocated an Innovate UK Innovation and Growth Specialist or Scaleup Director to work with in the UK who will work with you on your strategic action plan for the programme. You will receive an overview of the innovation and sector landscape of the country’s market, a full briefing on the programme and working with La Piscine, and support to better present your business and the value proposition.

Pursue

During the 6-month programme, La Piscine will support companies as they undertake intensive Customer Discovery work. A typical programme will see a visit to the market at the beginning of the 6 months, providing the opportunity to explore hypotheses around technology and market fit, preliminary customer validation and an introduction to ecosystem players. This will be followed by regular virtual sessions with the incubator team, in-market mentors, and industry experts, to do a deep dive into understanding what it takes to be successful in accessing the market. At the end of the 6 months, companies will undertake a second sponsored visit to the market, culminating in a demo day to showcase the achievements of the cohort, and to continue to raise the profile and make connections for the businesses involved.

Exploit

Work with your Innovation and Growth Specialist or Scaleup Director to continue to exploit the programme, building on all the connections, knowledge, and expertise gained.  You will be in a much better position with the necessary understanding and networks to accelerate your global growth and scaling journey.

This Programme is focused on the video games sector, supporting companies developing innovative products, services and technologies within interactive entertainment and digital gaming.

Applicants should demonstrate how their proposition aligns with the mission’s gaming focus and contributes to innovation across the wider creative technology landscape.

We would welcome applications from innovative companies who could be developing technologies across a broad range of use cases including (but not limited to):

• Game engines and development platforms
• Real-time rendering, 3D and graphics technologies
• Audio technologies and spatial audio
• Cross-platform development tools
• Virtual production
• Remote/distributed production technologies

We also welcome applications from businesses operating in adjacent creative industries—including TV, film, screen production, music and advertising—where there is a clear connection to the games ecosystem, transferable innovation, or strong potential for cross-sector collaboration, commercial growth and international market expansion.

• Getting ready for the market: Work with an Innovate UK Innovation & Growth Specialist or Scaleup Director to develop a Strategic Action Plan for the Programme.
• Market analysis & validation: Guided support for a 6-month intensive Canadian customer discovery process to test technology and market fit, conduct preliminary customer validation, and gain a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in Canada.
• Workspace: Flexible workspace at La Piscine available throughout the Programme.
• Masterclasses, workshops and panel speakers: Online group learning insight sessions to assist in all aspects of Canada business formation and scaleup.
• Access to La Piscine ecosystem: Gain access key connections within Montreal and beyond via the La Piscine team.
• Mentoring: Receive country-specific mentoring from trusted industry experts.
• Innovation community: Participate in a vibrant community of creative entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
• Pitching opportunities: Access to investor, corporate and strategic partner networks in during the Programme and at a Final Showcase event in Montreal during February 2027.

Market visits: Two intensive market visits to Montreal are planned as part of this initiative in November 2026 and February 2027. The November visit coincides with Montreal International Gaming Summit (MIGS).

Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation and group airport transfer fees for successful applicants. One representative from each company will be funded.

On acceptance of the offer, a commitment fee of £2,000 will be obtained from each delegate. It will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed work plan. Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all the commitment fees.

To learn more about the Programme, including hearing how this has worked for previous participants we will be holding an Applicant Briefing on Tuesday 21^st July at 4pm.

The application form can be found here.

Key Dates:

• Applicant briefing: Tuesday 21^st July at 4pm (UK time): click here to register for a place.
• Closing date for applications: Friday 14^th August 2026 at 5pm (GMT)
• Shortlist Interviews: 7^th to 11^th September 2026
• Successful Applicants notified: Friday 18^th September 2026
• Virtual Programme Start: Monday 12^th October 2026
• Market Visit: Immersion Week: 8^th to 13^th November 2026
• Incubation Programme (Virtual): 12^th October 2026 to 19^th March 2027

Market Visit: Showcase Week: 21^st to 26^th February 2027