Grant
Federal
Active
NRC Applied Quantum Computing Challenge Program
National Research Council Canada (NRC)
Maximum Funding
Grant and contribution funding sized to project scope; exact...
Rolling — contact program team for current call status
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
Varies
NRC Applied Quantum Computing Challenge Program provides grant and contribution funding sized to project scope; exact per-project ceiling not published. A collaborative R&D challenge program run by the National Research Council of Canada from 2022 to 2028, funding applied quantum computing research in partnership with industry and academia. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Eligibility check
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 →
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Free
Program Description
A collaborative R&D challenge program run by the National Research Council of Canada from 2022 to 2028, funding applied quantum computing research in partnership with industry and academia. The program supports the development and adoption of quantum computing algorithms, hardware, and applications across sectors including human health, climate science, and advanced materials. Eligible collaborators — including SMEs, academic institutions, and other government partners — can access grant and contribution funding to defray research costs in joint projects with NRC researchers. The program is delivered mainly through NRC's Digital Technologies research centre, with the Quantum and Nanotechnologies research centre also funding hardware-adjacent projects.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian SMEs, academic institutions, and other eligible organizations
- Must be willing to collaborate with NRC researchers on applied quantum computing projects
- Projects must address applied quantum computing (algorithms, hardware, applications) rather than pure quantum physics theory
- Government agencies and Crown corporations may also participate as collaborating partners
- Project must align with program focus areas: human health, climate change, advanced materials, and other quantum application domains
- International collaborators may be eligible if their participation would result in a benefit for Canada and Canadians; NRC's own funded-agreement record includes international collaborators.
- Businesses must be Canadian small or medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees; companies of 500 or more are generally not eligible for grant and contribution funding under this program.
- The project team must include at least one NRC researcher delivering on the collaborative initiative — if you have no NRC contact yet, NRC states it will try to match you with one for projects aligned with the scope of the call.
- Projects must be completed within 2 years.
- NRC will not directly fund a project where any individual or organization on the team is affiliated with an organization on ISED's Named Research Organizations list.
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Grant and contribution funding sized to project scope; exact per-project ceiling not published
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- Rolling — contact program team for current call status
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
High
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium
See your real odds on this program — and exactly what it takes to win it.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Premium
Insider TipEverything starts with one email.
Premium
See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Success Profile
Premium
See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.
Evaluation Criteria
Premium
See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Premium
The pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win NRC Applied Quantum Computing Challenge Pr...
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Premium covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Premium
7 steps
5 docs
Application Steps
1
Reach out to program team Send an initial inquiry to the NRC Applied Quantum Computing program email to introduce your organization and technology focus. NRC will advise on fit and current collaboration opportunities.
Required Documents 5
✓ Initial expression of interest submitted via program contact email
✓ Technical project proposal describing quantum computing research focus and NRC collaboration plan
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 6
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Premium
Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Premium
3 partners
Compatible Programs
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
Premium
See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
How NRC Applied Quantum Computing Challenge Pr... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
Free
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRC Applied Quantum Computing Challen... | Grant and contribution funding... | Hard | Milestone-Based | Rolling — contact... |
| NSERC Alliance Quantum Grants — SME P... | $100K–$650K | Hard | Milestone-Based | Between intakes for new... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| 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... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about NRC Applied Quantum Computing Challenge Pr...
Free
Can sole proprietors apply?
NRC does not publish an incorporation requirement for this program. The published business test is size, not legal form: Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees. In practice, the project team must also include an NRC researcher, so a solo applicant needs an NRC collaborator to take part.
What's the realistic funding range?
The most recent published call offered up to $400,000 per project in non-repayable grants and contributions over 2 years, from a $4.2M call envelope. No call is currently open — see the next question for current status.
How long does approval take?
Dated calls, not rolling applications. This call for proposals is now closed — the deadline to apply was August 29, 2025. No call is open as of September 2026; contact NRC directly to ask about the next call.
Why do applications fail?
Lack of specific quantum expertise, failure to align with NRC's active research gaps, or proposing pure theory instead of applied quantum computing (e.g., health, climate, materials).
Can I stack with other programs?
Yes — compatible with NSERC Alliance Quantum Grants (different project phases), SR&ED (on unfunded portions), and NRC IRAP (separate R&D activities).
Browse More Funding
Full Playbook: NRC Applied Quantum Computing Challenge Pr...
7 steps · 5 docs · reviewer insights