I'm still thinking about the National Research Council's industrial research assistance program. There needs to be better matching on the innovative technology side, not just on the more conventional research side.
For the other niche that you mentioned, there is another program that has been created for the benefit of small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, which is innovative solutions Canada. However, the very limited scope of that program, which is based on the first-buyer concept, should be expanded. An SME must develop a technological invention, as well as need help and a sign of confidence. It is not a matter of issuing blank cheques, but of doing a rigorous examination and ensuring that public money is well invested. A lot of countries are doing that and I don't see why Canada wouldn't.