Updated June 2026 · Verified against National Research Council Canada guidelines
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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%

Named recipients

Recent recipients of the Industrial Research Assistance Program include e-Zinc (Mississauga, ON, 2026), Northern Nutrients (Saskatoon, SK, 2026) and Industries XPAK Inc. (Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC, 2026).

  1. 2026e-ZincMississauga, ON · Manufacturing
  2. 2026Northern NutrientsSaskatoon, SK · Chemical manufacturing
  3. 2026Industries XPAK Inc.Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC · Fabricated metal products
  4. 2026Lovingly Made Ingredients Ltd.Calgary, AB · Other food manufacturing
  5. 2026Les Emballages PickPackGranby, QC · Administrative and support
  6. 2026DataRealm IncWindsor, ON · Data processing and hosting
  7. 2026Environnement LCL inc.Granby, QC · Engineering services
  8. 2026Consultation SitegrowSainte-Julie, QC · Data processing and hosting
  9. 2026Groupe Anderson Inc.Chesterville, QC · Machinery manufacturing
  10. 2026Groupe NovaterraSaint-Hyacinthe, QC · Machinery manufacturing
Show 30 more recipients
  1. 2026AlarmTek Smart Security Inc.Regina, SK · Administrative and support
  2. 2026Invest OttawaOttawa, ON · Business associations
  3. 2026Technologie HypertronicTerrebonne, QC · Engineering services
  4. 2026Bornea Dynamics LimitedOttawa, ON · Federal government
  5. 2026DMT Bioproducts Inc.Aylmer, ON · Chemical manufacturing
  6. 2026Tech-Access CanadaOttawa, ON · Other membership organizations
  7. 2026Dykeview Farms LimitedCentreville, NS · Crop production
  8. 2026Mohawk College of Applied Arts and TechnologyHamilton, ON · Universities
  9. 2026RL Core Technologies Inc.Edmonton, AB · Custom computer programming
  10. 2026Scelta TechnologyWindsor, ON · Software publishers
  11. 2026Melcher Media & Design Inc.Regina, SK · Custom computer programming
  12. 2026CEIMMontreal, QC · Religious, civic, professional org
  13. 2026Granville Biomedical Inc.Mount Pearl, NL · Medical equipment manufacturing
  14. 2026The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc.Saskatoon, SK · Other management consulting
  15. 2026Hadamard AISt. John's, NL · Custom computer programming
  16. 2026E-Plank Technologies IncSaskatoon, SK · Miscellaneous manufacturing
  17. 2026PTAC Petroleum Technology Alliance CanadaCalgary, AB · Business associations
  18. 2026Springboard Atlantic Inc.Halifax, NS · Business associations
  19. 2026Emagix Inc.Halifax, NS · Automatic environment control mfg
  20. 2026FUTURi Power Inc.Vancouver, BC · Manufacturing
  21. 2026NorcadaEdmonton, AB · Semiconductor and electronic component
  22. 2026Eointelligence Ltd.Victoria, BC · Custom computer programming
  23. 2026North Forge Technology ExchangeWinnipeg, MB · Administrative and support
  24. 2026Litus Inc.Calgary, AB · Manufacturing
  25. 2026WyvernEdmonton, AB · Telecommunications
  26. 2026Massload Technologies Inc.Saskatoon, SK · Machinery manufacturing
  27. 2026Canadian UAVS IncCalgary, AB · Professional, scientific, technical
  28. 2026RUNWITHIT Synthetics Inc.Sherwood Park, AB · Software publishers
  29. 2026Matt3rVancouver, BC · Computer systems design services
  30. 2026Rewire DTxVancouver, BC · Publishing industries
See how much each recipient received, and how each award compares to the typical one. Included in Premium ↓

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

See all Industrial Research Assistance Program winners →

What it actually funds

IRAP most often pays for software and new physical products

35% of a random sample of 2,539 awards to businesses since April 2023 went to building software or a digital product, and 23% to developing a new physical product.

Where the money went share of 2,539 awards

  • Building software or a digital product35% 886

    Projects of this kind typically received $100K since April 2023.

  • Developing a new physical product23% 590

    Projects of this kind typically received $117K since April 2023.

  • Studies, plans and outside advice14% 365

    Projects of this kind typically received $30K since April 2023.

    Real projects funded, in the government’s own words

    • Conduct a feasibility study to explore the potential for commercializing the firm’s technology in the Far North for military applications.
    • The project will evaluate different hybridization technologies that can be integrated on board fishing and work boats.
    • The Firm is contracting their preferred IP support vendor to execute on IP commercialization strategy, in association with analysis of 2 key competitors.
  • Improving or automating operations12% 297

    Projects of this kind typically received $75K 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 firm is launching a vast plan to improve the productivity of its workshops and worksites through three projects.
    • This project will enable the automation of a significant portion of the firm’s operations through the addition of software agents that use artificial intelligence.
  • Entering new markets or exporting7% 188

    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.
    • Diversifying into international markets by showcasing innovative lithium and related solutions to Chilean producers.
    • Support an expansion of their AR/VR digital technology platform into the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (with a preliminary focus on Qatar).
  • Scientific or lab research5% 130

    Projects of this kind typically received $75K since April 2023.

    Real projects funded, in the government’s own words

    • This project involves method development and measurement of cheese textural characteristics by sensory panel and instrumentation.
    • Developing means and validation of methods relating to fish health and stock risk in aquaculture, through machine learning and AI.
    • The goal of this project is to test a proprietary in silico platform and vector system to design and validate vaccine formulations targeting Influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
  • Other project types 3%marketing and sales, adopting existing technology, 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

  • Development of a platform to simplify event planning by efficiently connecting organizers and service providers.
  • Develop a chatbot that collects personal memories and enriches them with input from family and friends to create a digital legacy.

Developing a new physical product

  • Develop 2 new portable heater systems for off-grid use.
  • This technology research and development project will focus heavily on engineering, design and development of a prototype mobile live seafood storage container.

Where in a company’s journey it pays

Most staged projects here were at the build something new stage (47%).

  1. 15%Explore an idea
  2. 47%Build something new
  3. 10%Test and prove it
  4. 2%Launch it
  5. 4%Grow what works

The other 22% were not staged projects (hiring, advice, events) or did not say.

More about these projects

New, or more of what already works?

56% created something new18% bought or expanded something that already exists

The remaining 26% were a mix of both, or the description did not say.

  • 3%Leaves a physical asset behind
  • 9%Aimed at markets outside Canada
  • 8%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. 319 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.

What winners did next

What IRAP winners won next

Among the 1,662 IRAP winners who went on to win a different program, 774 (47%) won CanExport SMEs next, typically about 2 years later. That is about 3.9x its rate across all the funding sequences in this data.

You are hereIRAP1,662 won again
Most common next winCanExport SMEs774 of 1,662 · 47%

Other programs the same group won next

Of 1,855 winners of this program who later won something else, 193 won a program excluded from this view (Canada Summer Jobs; Enabling Accessibility Fund; New Horizons for Seniors Program). Shares here are out of the remaining 1,662.

Counts winners of this program who later won a different program, using public government recipient disclosure. It describes businesses that went on to win again, not every past winner: recipients who never won a second program are not a path, and federal disclosure only lists awards above $25,000, so smaller first awards are invisible here. Timing is recorded by year only. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

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 for-profit SME. NRC IRAP does not support unlimited or limited liability corporations (ULCs or LLCs), sole proprietorships or partnerships, or cooperatives
  • 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 the financial capacity to co-fund the project (NRC publishes no cost-share percentage)
  • Practitioners report that IRAP does not fund work started before the contribution agreement is signed; NRC does not state this on any of its published pages
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
3/5

Moderate — standard application process

Competition
3/5

Moderate competition — prepare a strong application

Difficulty
3/5

Moderate — standard requirements

Approval Rate
Processing Time
Budget Trend
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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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How National Research Council Canada judges your application

What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.

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ApplicationNo written form
Judged on7 criteria
Can reject you21 rules
To attach5 documents

Distilled from 6+ source documents on nrc.canada.ca, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-01.

6 of the sources

What National Research Council Canada favours

Fund projects with greatest potential to help Canada succeed◦

“We work with businesses and fund projects that demonstrate the greatest potential to help Canada succeed.”

2 more, in their words

The form

There is no application form to fill in: a senior executive from the business calls 1-877-994-4727, and the project proposal itself is written later with an NRC IRAP industrial technology advisor.◦

Judged against4 questions · 7 criteria

  1. 1

    Is this a real technical problem, not routine development?

    Show them Name the technical unknown the project has to resolve, the approach you will take, and what would count as success.◦

    In the funder’s words · 1
    • The technical aspects of your innovation
  2. 2

    Can this team and this balance sheet finish it?

    What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium

  3. 3

    Who buys this, and how do you reach them?

    What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium

  4. 4

    What does Canada get if this works?

    What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium

Where applicants failin National Research Council Canada’s words

“Important: Meeting these minimum requirements is the first step but does not guarantee NRC IRAP support or funding.”
“Working with an advisor or being invited to submit a proposal does not guarantee funding.”
“NRC IRAP does not support: unlimited or limited liability corporations (ULCs or LLCs) sole proprietorships or partnerships cooperatives”
“Please note that these programs cost-share only a portion of the youth candidate's salary costs. You remain responsible for other expenses, including benefits and overhead costs.”

4 more, in the funder’s words

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16 more rules that can reject you · 6 more criteria · 4 more pitfalls

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Do you pass?21 checks

Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.

Your business

  • Incorporated, for-profit, operating in Canada

    Be incorporated, for-profit, and operating in Canada

  • Employs 500 people or fewer

    Employ up to 500 people (full-time equivalent)

  • Not a ULC or LLC

    NRC IRAP does not support: unlimited or limited liability corporations (ULCs or LLCs)

  • Not a sole proprietorship or partnership

    Sole proprietorships or partnerships

  • Not a cooperative

    Cooperatives

16 more checks

Documents to attach5

Ticks are kept on this device.

The money

R&D project fundingR&D of tech-driven products and services

NRC IRAP provides funding to support the research and development of innovative, technology-driven products and services, and other innovation activities to help your business grow, create jobs, and compete globally.

Youth placement salarySalary cost offset for young talent

The Youth Employment Program offers financial assistance to offset the cost of hiring young talent to work on projects with R&D, engineering, multimedia or market analysis components or to help develop a new product or process.

Paid as reimbursementReimbursement within 35 business days

Once approved, you will need to submit monthly reimbursement claims to NRC IRAP. We issue payments within 35 business days of receiving all required documents and a correctly completed claim form.

Your shareYou cover benefits and overhead costs

Please note that these programs cost-share only a portion of the youth candidate's salary costs. You remain responsible for other expenses, including benefits and overhead costs.

What it pays for · 4
  • NRC IRAP provides funding to support the research and development of innovative, technology-driven products and services, and other innovation activities to help your business grow, create jobs, and compete globally.
  • The Youth Employment Program offers financial assistance to offset the cost of hiring young talent to work on projects with R&D, engineering, multimedia or market analysis components or to help develop a new product or process.
  • Level 3, Action: Provides funding to help your business execute the actions prioritized in your IP strategy
  • AI Assist supports Canadian SMEs in undertaking scientific research, product development, testing and validation of AI technologies, allowing them to incorporate GenAI and DL technologies into their core products and services.

From application to money

  1. Call NRC IRAPCall 1-877-994-4727 for readiness screening
  2. Meet the CEACEA reviews business info and contacts you
  3. Work with an ITAITA assesses technical, financial and management strengths
  4. Proposal with the ITAITA helps develop your project proposal
  5. Funding decisionYouth Employment Program answer within two weeks
  6. Monthly claimsSubmit monthly reimbursement claims to NRC IRAP
In the funder’s words · 6
Call NRC IRAP
A senior executive from the business calls 1-877-994-4727, and the bilingual contact centre decides whether you are ready to meet a client engagement advisor.
Meet the CEA
The CEA will review your business information and contact you to learn more about your operations and your goals.
Work with an ITA
Your ITA will assess your business's technical, financial and management strengths to ensure you are ready to collaborate.
Proposal with the ITA
The ITA will work with you to develop a project proposal for submission to NRC IRAP.
Funding decision
The clock starts only once NRC IRAP has a complete proposal and the documentation it asked for; a Youth Employment Program answer comes back within two weeks. (20 business days for projects with a contribution of $50,000 or less; 30 business days for projects with a contribution greater than $50,000 up to $500,000; 45 business days for projects with a contribution greater than $500,000 up to $3 million; 65 business days for projects with a contribution greater than $3 million up to $10 million)
Monthly claims
Once approved, you will need to submit monthly reimbursement claims to NRC IRAP.

Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.

What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win IRAP

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Initial Contact If you meet the minimum requirements, a senior executive from your business can call NRC IRAP at 1-877-994-4727. NRC's bilingual contact centre gathers details and determines whether you are ready to meet a client engagement advisor (CEA). The CEA reviews your business information, learns more about your operations and goals, and may also refer you to an industrial technology advisor (ITA). There are now two steps before an ITA, and NRC states the ITA referral is conditional.

Required Documents 11

✓ Your CRA business number
✓ A business plan

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 The 2026 intake window...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about IRAP

Free
Can sole proprietors apply?
No. NRC IRAP does not support sole proprietorships, partnerships or cooperatives, and it also does not support unlimited or limited liability corporations (ULCs or LLCs). You need a Canadian for-profit corporation of another form.
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?
NRC assesses businesses year round and publishes no intake windows or budget calendar. Practitioners report that regional budgets are fullest early in the fiscal year and can run short by late fall, so starting the advisor conversation early is experience-based advice, not an NRC rule.
Do I need to have R&D already started?
NRC does not publish a rule about work started before approval. Practitioners report that IRAP funds work from the contribution agreement onward, so treat an early start as a risk and raise the timing with your advisor before you begin.
What's the co-funding requirement?
NRC does not publish a cost-share percentage for IRAP. A contribution covers part of a project's cost, so plan to fund the rest yourself, and ask your advisor what share applies to your project before you build a budget around it.
Will NRC sign our non-disclosure agreement?
No. NRC states it cannot agree to a firm's confidentiality agreements, namely the non-disclosure clauses. Its own advice is to provide only the information NRC requests and to clearly mark sensitive information as Confidential or Protected.

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