NRC IRAP AI Assist
Compared with the 242 other application forms we have read
- Scored mainly on how novel the work is. Only 10 lead with that.
- The heaviest thing to produce is a full business plan. 19 ask for that.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $45K–$120K typical (median $75K)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
Moderate — standard application process
Moderate competition — prepare a strong application
Complex — detailed documentation needed
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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
How National Research Council Canada judges your application
What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.
Distilled from 6+ source documents, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-10.
6 of the sources
- NRC IRAP support for SMEs innovating with artificial intelligence nrc.canada.ca
- Financial support for technology innovation nrc.canada.ca
- NRC IRAP service standards nrc.canada.ca
- Support for technology innovation nrc.canada.ca
- Confidentiality of business information - IRAP nrc.canada.ca
- ISED news release: Federal government launches programs to help… canada.ca
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What National Research Council Canada favours
Support for novel AI models and applications◦
“In 2025–2026, we targeted support to high-potential companies developing novel AI models and AI-enabled applications, strengthening Canada's intellectual property base, driving innovation and helping businesses enhance their competitiveness.”
The form
There is no application form: an NRC IRAP industrial technology advisor co-develops the project proposal with you, and the advisory route works by referral only.◦
Judged against
- 1
Is the AI genuinely novel and technically hard?
Show them Describe the model and architecture, why an off-the-shelf model will not do, and the technical uncertainties you will test.◦
In the funder’s words · 1
- The technical aspects of your innovation
- 2
Can this team and business carry it?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
- 3
Will results arrive, safely and ethically?
What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium
- 4
Will it sell and benefit Canada?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
Where applicants fail
“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.”
Premium · the rest of this brief
See all 7 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Premium opens every programme you match.
3 more rules that can reject you · 5 more criteria · 2 more pitfalls
Do you pass?
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
Up to 500 full-time employees
Employ up to 500 people (full-time equivalent)
Technology-driven products or services
Develop and commercialize innovative, technology-driven products or services
Not a ULC, LLC, partnership or co-op
NRC IRAP does not support: unlimited or limited liability corporations (ULCs or LLCs); sole proprietorships or partnerships; cooperatives
Documents to attach
Ticks are kept on this device.
The money
Advisory fee$500 per engagement
SMEs referred by NRC IRAP will be required to contribute a flat fee of $500 per engagement to the organization to cover the cost of services.
Programme envelope$100 million over 5 years
an investment of $100 million over 5 years for the NRC IRAP AI Assist program
What it pays for · 1
- 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.
What it does not pay for · 1
- NRC IRAP does not fund: Day-to-day operating costs; Non-technical or purely commercial activities; Work done outside Canada; Research with limited potential for commercialization
From application to money
- Talk to your ITAContact your ITA for details
- Co-develop the proposalITA co-develops your proposal
- Decision within service standardDecision within 20 or 30 business days
- Advisory engagementUp to 20 hours over 4 months
- Claim your costsPayment within 35 business days
In the funder’s words · 5
- Talk to your ITA
- If you're an existing NRC IRAP client, contact your industrial technology advisor for more information about AI Assist.
- Co-develop the proposal
- The ITA will work with you to develop a project proposal for submission to NRC IRAP.
- Decision within service standard
- Once a complete proposal is in, NRC IRAP's service standard clock starts. (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)
- Advisory engagement
- Each SME engagement will include up to 20 hours over a maximum period of 4 months.
- Claim your costs
- We issue payments within 35 business days of receiving all required documents and a correctly completed claim form.
Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.
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
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 3
Ineligible Expenses 4
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
- 6 more application steps
- 3 more required documents
- 3 eligible expenses
- 4 ineligible expenses
- Intake periods
- Deadline notes
- Ineligible organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow NRC IRAP AI Assist Compares
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about NRC IRAP AI Assist