Grant
Federal
Active
NRC IRAP AI Assist
National Research Council Canada
Maximum Funding
No published per-project cap — the amount is negotiated with an...
No fixed deadline; intake begins by contacting NRC IRAP directly
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
Varies
NRC IRAP AI Assist provides up to No published per-project cap — the amount is negotiated with an NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA). In the Government of Canada's proactive-disclosure registry, agreements recorded under program name 'Industrial Research Assistance Program – AI Assist' cluster tightly at $75,000, with most between roughly $45,000 and $120,000 and the largest at $300,000. Project-based support for Canadian SMEs developing or adapting generative AI and deep learning solutions, accessed through an NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor. No fixed deadline; intake begins by contacting NRC IRAP directly.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Project-based support for Canadian SMEs developing or adapting generative AI and deep learning solutions, accessed through an NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor.
Eligibility Requirements
- Incorporated, for-profit business operating in Canada
- Employs up to 500 people (full-time equivalent)
- Develops and commercializes innovative, technology-driven products or services
- Ready to create economic benefits in Canada, such as new jobs or increased innovation capacity
- Developing or adapting generative AI (GenAI) or deep learning (DL) solutions
- Solutions must be incorporated into the company's core products and services
- Must work with an NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) — there is no standalone online application
- NRC IRAP does not work with unlimited or limited liability corporations (ULCs or LLCs), sole proprietorships, partnerships, or cooperatives
- Meeting the minimum requirements is only the first step and does not guarantee NRC IRAP support or funding; being invited to submit a proposal does not guarantee funding either
- The relationship typically starts with advice and referrals before any funding is provided
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- No published per-project cap — the amount is negotiated with an NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA). In the Government of Canada's proactive-disclosure registry, agreements recorded under program name 'Industrial Research Assistance Program – AI Assist' cluster tightly at $75,000, with most between roughly $45,000 and $120,000 and the largest at $300,000.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- No fixed deadline; intake begins by contacting NRC IRAP directly
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipStart by contacting an NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor; this is not a standard online application and support is typically a non-repayable contribution.
Evaluation Criteria
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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 IRAP AI Assist
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
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
5 docs
Application Steps
1
Check the minimum requirements Your business must be incorporated, for-profit and operating in Canada, employ up to 500 full-time equivalents, develop and commercialize innovative technology-driven products or services, and be ready to create economic benefits in Canada. NRC states plainly that meeting these does not guarantee support or funding.
Required Documents 5
✓ CRA business number
✓ Business plan
Eligible Expenses 3
Ineligible Expenses 4
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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Stacking partner data not yet available.
Combined Funding Potential
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Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How NRC IRAP AI Assist Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRC IRAP AI Assist | No published per-project cap — the... | Hard | Reimbursement | No fixed deadline;... |
| 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... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Continuous intake (Core... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about NRC IRAP AI Assist
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Is there an application form or a deadline?
Neither. There is no standalone online application and no deadline. A senior executive calls NRC IRAP at 1-877-994-4727, meets a client engagement advisor, and is referred to an industrial technology advisor who identifies which NRC IRAP funding fits.
How much do AI Assist projects actually receive?
NRC publishes no cap. In the federal proactive-disclosure registry, 32 of 64 disclosed AI Assist agreements were exactly $75,000; most of the rest fall between $45,000 and $120,000, and the two largest were $300,000.
Can a sole proprietorship, co-op or non-profit apply?
No. NRC IRAP works only with incorporated, for-profit businesses operating in Canada with up to 500 full-time-equivalent employees. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, and unlimited or limited liability corporations are excluded.
How fast is a funding decision?
NRC IRAP's service standard is 20 business days for a contribution of $50,000 or less and 30 business days from $50,000 to $500,000, once it has a complete proposal. In 2024-25 it met the standard in 84% of cases, averaging 9 and 20 days.
When does the money arrive?
After you spend it. Payment follows a claim form for costs already incurred — NRC IRAP's standard is to pay within 35 business days of a complete, correct claim, and in 2024-25 it averaged 3 days.
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Full Playbook: NRC IRAP AI Assist
7 steps · 5 docs · reviewer insights