OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 5, 2026 /CNW/ — Tech-Access Canada, the national network of Canada’s 70 Technology Access Centres (TACs), welcomes Budget 2026’s proposals to expand the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive and renew federal clean technology support. TACs already help Canadian companies test new technologies, validate products and prepare for production. Tech-Access Canada’s proposed Canadian Innovation Pipeline Initiative would give more businesses year-round access to the teams and facilities already doing that work.

TACs already provide contract research services to businesses. Under existing Canada Revenue Agency rules, businesses can claim eligible costs for qualifying SR&ED work that TACs perform under contract on their behalf. The proposed expansion, estimated at $930 million over five years, would extend eligibility to certain commercialisation expenses. These include testing and validation required for initial regulatory approval or certification when directly linked to an eligible SR&ED project. Tech-Access Canada is ready to share its project experience as the agency develops sector-specific guidance.

“A tax credit can help a company recover eligible costs. Somebody still has to pay for the test first,” said Ken Doyle, Executive Director of Tech-Access Canada. “Some of the firms our TACs work with are still building the case for NRC IRAP funding or seeking their first outside investment. That test can be exactly what a customer or investor needs to see before they commit. Canada already has the people, the labs and the equipment. Let’s fund the projects that put them to work.”

The National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is Canada’s leading innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized businesses. Tech-Access Canada estimates that, through their partnership, NRC IRAP has funded approximately 75,000 hours of applied innovation and commercialisation support delivered by TACs over the past decade.

Tech-Access Canada welcomes the proposed renewal of NRC IRAP’s Clean Technology initiative. In the 2026 pilot, TACs moved quickly to complete 54 projects, helping companies advance from real-world prototype demonstration at technology readiness level (TRL) 7 toward commercial deployment at TRLs 8 and 9. TACs and their industry partners still have 161 projects scoped and ready to start as soon as a second round gets the green light.

“The clean technology pilot gave companies a chance to see how their technologies performed under real operating conditions,” said Jennifer Andersen, Vice-Chair of Tech-Access Canada and Executive Director, Applied Research & Innovation at Fleming College. “That evidence helps a business decide whether it’s ready to deploy or where it needs to do more work. We’d welcome the opportunity to extend that support to more companies.”

Since the tri-agency College and Community Innovation program began, the federal government has invested more than $1 billion through it in applied research. Tech-Access Canada thanks the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for administering the program in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The $165 million committed in the 2026 Spring Economic Update will help sustain that capacity.

“Canada’s three granting councils and the Canada Foundation for Innovation have helped build applied research capacity that businesses can draw on across the country,” said Melanie Ross, Chair of Tech-Access Canada and Research Chair at SAIT’s Green Building Technology Access Centre. “We welcome the opportunity to build on those investments and give more Canadian companies access to that expertise.”

Tech-Access Canada estimates that the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has invested $500 million in federal funding for research infrastructure at colleges and cégeps over the past decade. At the College Fund’s 40% federal contribution ceiling, $500 million in capital funding would correspond to roughly $1.3 billion in eligible research infrastructure costs, with provinces, institutions and other partners contributing the balance. Dedicated, predictable infrastructure support for TACs would build on that partnership, keeping specialised facilities and equipment available on demand so TACs can respond quickly as new industry needs emerge.

“A pilot run can show a manufacturer whether a new process is worth scaling before it commits capital or changes its production line,” said Stephen Reaume, Treasurer of Tech-Access Canada and Director of Research at Lambton College. “TACs give smaller firms access to the equipment and expertise to run those trials and make decisions based on the results.”

Tech-Access Canada welcomes the opportunity to work with NRC research centres and federal departments such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. TACs and federal research teams could bring complementary expertise and equipment to company projects, from testing new technologies for fisheries and aquaculture to piloting new processes for food and agricultural businesses.

“When a Canadian company needs specialised equipment or expertise, we can help connect it with the team best equipped to do the work,” said Jean-Philippe Jacques, Vice-Chair of Tech-Access Canada and Director of Innofibre. “Sharing facilities and coordinating equipment purchases can reduce duplication, give companies faster access to the tools they need and make better use of the research infrastructure Canadians have already invested in.”

Tech-Access Canada proposes to deliver the Canadian Innovation Pipeline Initiative through the TAC network. Interactive Visits would help firms decide what’s worth pursuing. Strategic Interactions would help them test and validate their technologies. TRLascend projects would help them demonstrate those technologies at pilot scale and prepare for production or deployment. The proposed $33 million annual investment would support about 3,000 engagements with Canadian businesses each year once fully implemented.

The TAC network already gives companies access to more than 2,100 applied R&D professionals, two million square feet of dedicated applied R&D space and approximately $500 million in specialised equipment. Tech-Access Canada also has intake and project delivery systems in use today. With approval and funding, it could start accepting Pipeline projects within 48 hours. Tech-Access Canada looks forward to working with the federal government on the proposal ahead of the Spring 2027 Economic Update.

Through Commercialisation Canada, Tech-Access Canada will share stories of Canadian companies bringing new products and processes to market with TAC teams working alongside them. Companies bring their ideas and knowledge of their customers. TACs help them test, refine and scale what they’ve developed. This hands-on accompaniment is a Canadian model of collaborative applied innovation and commercialisation that has drawn international attention, including from the OECD. More details will follow.

About Tech-Access Canada

Tech-Access Canada is the national network of Canada’s Technology Access Centres. TACs help businesses solve technical problems, develop and validate products and processes, and adopt new technologies. Companies retain their intellectual property.

SOURCE Tech-Access Canada

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MCAP Inc. (OTC: MCAP), a financial technology company, today reported first quarter of 2026 net earnings of $0.15 per share. Quarterly revenue was $26.7mm resulting in quarterly EBITDA of $5.2mm.

MCAP continues to expand through its investment in customer relationships, application software development, securities execution platforms and diversification of business lines. The Company also seeks additional M&A opportunities that are aligned with the Company’s core competencies in order to increase long-term shareholder value.

About MCAP Inc.

MCAP Inc. is a U.S. based public holding company owning subsidiaries and investments in various companies. The Company’s principal focus is financial technology businesses that conduct business globally. The Company owns, develops, and invests in the electronic market making and execution sector, securities trading technologies, and alternative trading platforms.

Please visit our website: www.mcapmarkets.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. The matters discussed in this news release involve goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE MCAP Inc.

The Feature Breaks Down How Excavation Contractors Research, Plan, and Stake a Site Before Digging Begins.

CONCORD, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — How do excavation contractors prepare a site before digging begins? A HelloNation article answers that question by walking through how excavation contractors research, plan, and prepare a property before equipment ever arrives.

The HelloNation article explains that excavation site preparation typically starts weeks before equipment reaches a property. Contractors review surveys, soil reports, and site conditions first, since that research shapes every decision that follows.

According to the article, a site visit usually comes next, with the contractor walking the property to check slopes, trees, and drainage patterns. These details help determine where equipment can access the site safely.

The article notes that utility lines must be located and marked before any digging starts. Locates are requested through a one-call service, giving utility companies time to mark gas, water, electrical, and sewer lines.

Soil conditions also shape the plan, the article explains, since different soil types drain and compact differently. An Excavation Expert studies these conditions closely, because soil behavior can also affect how well a septic system performs later.

Permits are another early step described in the article, particularly for projects tied to new construction or septic work. Pulling the right permits early keeps a project on schedule and helps it avoid delays once digging begins.

Drainage planning happens alongside this early groundwork, the article explains, since water has to go somewhere once a site is disturbed. Poor drainage planning can lead to flooding or erosion long after the excavation itself is finished.

Equipment access is planned carefully as well, according to the article, since heavy machinery needs room to maneuver without damaging driveways or walkways. The depth and reach of the equipment selected often depends on whether the project involves a foundation, a septic system, or utility trenches.

The article also covers staking, noting that marked boundaries protect trees, gardens, and fences while keeping crews inside the approved work area. K & D Development handles this kind of excavation site preparation as part of standard project planning.

Coordination with other trades matters too, since a delay in digging can push back schedules for framers, plumbers, and electricians. The article adds that weather often shapes timing, as rain and frozen ground can halt work for days.

An Excavation Expert typically builds flexibility into the schedule to manage conditions that are out of anyone’s control, the article explains. Clear communication with homeowners throughout the process helps keep expectations realistic from start to finish.

Material deliveries are scheduled around this stage as well, the article notes, since gravel, pipe, and drainage stone often need to arrive before crews begin digging. Careful excavation site preparation at every step helps protect the schedule and the surrounding property.

The article explains that a final walk-through often happens just before equipment arrives on site. This step confirms that stakes, locates, and erosion control measures are still in place and visible.

Projects that involve excavation can feel disruptive to homeowners, the article notes, so clear updates throughout the process make the experience easier to manage. A contractor who explains the sequence of work helps homeowners feel more confident about what comes next.

How Do Excavation Contractors Prepare a Site Before Digging? features insights from Kenneth Zittel, Excavation Expert of Concord, New York, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation