Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist)
Can you win this grant?
Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.
We use this program’s real eligibility rules. 4 short questions follow.
Want your full match picture across 850+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →
Defence Industry Assist most often pays for software and new physical products
34% of 1,241 awards to businesses since April 2023 went to building software or a digital product, and 24% to developing a new physical product.
Where the money went share of 1,241 awards
Building software or a digital product34% 417
Projects of this kind typically received $118K since April 2023.
Developing a new physical product24% 302
Projects of this kind typically received $143K since April 2023.
Studies, plans and outside advice15% 187
Projects of this kind typically received $75K since April 2023.
Real projects funded, in the government’s own words
- The project will facilitate the development of an innovation plan that will determine whether artificial intelligence can be integrated into the firm’s core operations.
- Conduct a feasibility study to explore the potential for commercializing the firm’s technology in the Far North for military applications.
- THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF MODIFTYING OUR AUGMENTED REALITY MOBILE MAINTENANCE SYSTEM FOR USE IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY.
Improving or automating operations12% 148
Projects of this kind typically received $90K since April 2023.
Real projects funded, in the government’s own words
- Research, test, and implement automation and process improvements across key manufacturing steps to increase production efficiency and support scalable growth.
- The project will focus on scaling our production to enable expansion both domestic and foreign while also adding variety to their formats.
- Development to optimize operations at a new fertilizer production plant: potassium sulfate (SOP) and potassium magnesium sulfate (SOPM) from mining residues.
Entering new markets or exporting8% 102
Projects of this kind typically received $50K since April 2023.
Real projects funded, in the government’s own words
- The project involves conducting market research on the defence market for cable-operated robots.
Scientific or lab research4% 55
Projects of this kind typically received $75K since April 2023.
Real projects funded, in the government’s own words
- Developing means and validation of methods relating to fish health and stock risk in aquaculture, through machine learning and AI.
- Other project types 2%adopting existing technology, building or expanding a facility, hiring staff and more
Rare here: buying equipment or machinery (<1%) and building or expanding a facility (<1%). 56% of these projects created something new, rather than buying or expanding something that exists.
Real projects funded in the government’s own words
Building software or a digital product
- To develop and AI first ESL platform based on peer-reviewed pedagogical research.
- Developing an AI Model that will automatically map field boundaries from imagery. Field boundaries are often different than the cadastral boundaries.
Developing a new physical product
- Develop 2 new portable heater systems for off-grid use.
- Reduce the product’s energy consumption, increase its brightness, and improve its resistance to certain vibrations.
Where in a company’s journey it pays
Most staged projects here were at the build something new stage (45%).
- 21%Explore an idea
- 45%Build something new
- 11%Test and prove it
- 1%Launch it
- 3%Grow what works
The other 19% were not staged projects (hiring, advice, events) or did not say.
More about these projects
New, or more of what already works?
The remaining 25% were a mix of both, or the description did not say.
- 4%Leaves a physical asset behind
- 9%Aimed at markets outside Canada
- 9%Claims an environmental benefit
How we know: we read the government’s published description of each award; an AI classifier sorted them, and we hand-checked a sample (92% correct). Individual awards can be misfiled, so read the shares as approximate. 155 more awards had descriptions too vague to sort and are left out. Federal disclosure lists awards above $25,000 only. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Advisory support and, for a subset of companies, R&D funding for Canadian SMEs developing defence and dual-use technologies that address Canadian Armed Forces capability needs — the relationship typically starts with advice, and working with an advisor does not guarantee funding. Delivered through the NRC IRAP network, DI Assist provides both funding and advisory services to help companies scale up, commercialize dual-use innovations, and connect to defence procurement pathways. Focus areas include cyber, space, advanced manufacturing, AI, and emerging defence technologies.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian SME, incorporated, for-profit, operating in Canada
- Up to 500 full-time equivalent employees
- Developing innovative defence or dual-use technologies
- Technology must address Canadian Armed Forces capability needs
- Not a ULC, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship or cooperative — NRC IRAP excludes these corporate forms
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- No published programme maximum. DI Assist draws on the NRC IRAP contribution framework; documented awards reach $943,850 (Tungsten Collaborative, NRC defence annual report 2025-26). IRAP-wide contributions run higher, but no DI-Assist-specific ceiling is published.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- Ongoing — rolling intake through IRAP ITA network
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Moderate — standard application process
Moderate competition — prepare a strong application
Moderate — standard requirements
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipDI Assist is brand new (January 2026) with a large dedicated budget — this is the best time to apply before the pipeline fills up.
Rejection Pitfalls 6
- Technology lacks credible defence or dual-use application — civilian-only innovation should apply to core IRAP
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Everything you need to win Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist)
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 10-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 8-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 10
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 8
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist) Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist) | No published programme maximum. DI... | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing — rolling intake... |
| CanExport Innovation | Up to $37,500 | Moderate | Reimbursement | The 2026 intake window... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Between intakes — the... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist)