Updated June 2026 · Verified against National Research Council Canada guidelines
▲ Growing ✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement Est. 1962
Grant Federal Active

Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

National Research Council Canada
Maximum Funding
Up to $1M
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
80%
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) provides Up to $1M typical (median actual award: $75K) · $10M ceiling for major capital projects. Provides advice, connections and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market. The program covers up to 80% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

2,507 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 17,844 awards since 2010. Typical award: $75K. Half of all awards fall between $50K and $194.9K. The advertised maximum is $1M — most awards land closer to $75K. 99% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top sectors among classified recipients: Custom computer programming, Computer systems design services, R&D in natural sciences. Top provinces: Ontario 30% · Quebec 22% · British Columbia 18%. Covers: NRC IRAP firm contributions (excludes Youth Employment, Green Youth, AI Assist, Clean Technology, Contributions to Organizations sub-streams). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical Industrial Research Assistance Program award is $75K — the median of 17,844 awards since 2010, even though the program advertises up to $1M. In 2025, 2,507 businesses were funded; 99% were for-profit companies.

2,507funded in 2025
$75Ktypical award
17,844awards since 2010
99%for-profit

Most awards fall between $50K and $194.9K, with a typical (median) award of $75K. The program funds up to $1M for the largest projects — about 13 times the typical award.

Where awards land
typical $75K $50K $194.9K
up to $1M

Most awards land between $50K and $194.9K, with a typical award of $75K — and this program funds up to $1M for the largest projects.

Top sectors Custom computer programmingComputer systems design servicesR&D in natural sciences(of classified recipients)
Top provinces ON 30%QC 22%BC 18%
2,507 companies received this grant in 2025. See the 40 most recent — and how much each received. Get Premium — $39/mo
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Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Provides advice, connections and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Incorporated Canadian SME (sole proprietorships, partnerships, and cooperatives are ineligible)
  • 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
  • Project involves genuine technological uncertainty and R&D in Canada
  • Sufficient commercialization plan and market pathway for the innovation
  • Can demonstrate co-funding capacity (minimum 20% of employee wages, 50% of subcontractor costs)
  • R&D work has not yet begun — IRAP cannot fund work started before approval
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $1M typical (median actual award: $75K) · $10M ceiling for major capital projects
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 80% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Good
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win IRAP

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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

IRAP is a relationship program.

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Rejection Pitfalls 6

  • Project lacks genuine technical uncertainty — routine IT or incremental improvements don't qualify
+5 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Initial Contact Call NRC IRAP at 1-877-994-4727 to be connected with an Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) in your region. The ITA will conduct an initial assessment of your business and innovation potential.

Required Documents 10

✓ CRA Business Number
✓ Certificate of Incorporation

Eligible Expenses 5

Ineligible Expenses 7

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

SR&ED Tax Credit MITACS Accelerate/Elevate CanExport Innovation Provincial R&D Tax Credits
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
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How IRAP Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Industrial Research Assistance Progra... Up to $1M Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
Mitacs Accelerate $15,000 per internship unit Easy Advance Payment Ongoing
CanExport Innovation Up to $37,500 Moderate Reimbursement Upcoming — the...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about IRAP

Free
Can sole proprietors apply?
No. IRAP requires incorporated Canadian SMEs only. Sole proprietors, partnerships, and cooperatives are ineligible. Must have legal incorporation status.
What's the typical grant amount?
First-time SMEs typically receive $75,000–$200,000. Average grant size is $94,000 (Emergex data), with per-firm average at $168,000 including multi-project recipients.
When are decisions made?
Applications assessed continuously year-round, but regional budgets are fullest April–May. High-demand regions may exhaust funds by late fall/winter. Apply early in fiscal year for best budget availability.
Do I need to have R&D already started?
No. IRAP cannot fund work begun before approval. Projects must be in planning phase with no R&D completed prior to ITA approval.
What's the co-funding requirement?
Must cover 20% of employee wages and 50% of subcontractor costs. For example, $100k project requires $20k in company cash for wages + $50k for subcontractors.

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