NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Supports Canadian SMEs developing, demonstrating, and commercializing clean technologies. Provides funding for R&D and advisory services through Industrial Technology Advisors. Replaced SDTC (Sustainable Development Technology Canada) programming.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian SME with 500 or fewer employees
- Must be developing, demonstrating, or commercializing a clean technology solution
- Must have a validated proof of concept (not pre-concept stage)
- Must be incorporated in Canada
- Must be willing to work with an NRC Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $100,000–$500,000 typical; larger multi-year demonstrations may reach $1M+
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 80% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time. Unlock with Premium →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThis program inherited SDTC's mandate but runs through the ITA network — meaning your first step is calling 1-877-994-4727 and building an ITA relationship, just like regular IRAP. The critical differentiator: you must have a named commercialization partner before applying, not just a plan to find one. A signed LOI from a customer or strategic partner dramatically increases credibility. Also quantify your environmental benefit with hard numbers (e.g., 'reduces GHG emissions by X tonnes/year at full deployment') — vague green language is a fast rejection. Given the CIC transition uncertainty, prioritize shorter project timelines (12-18 months) over ambitious multi-year proposals until the program's post-CIC structure is clearer.
See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it. Unlock with Premium →
Rejection Pitfalls 10
- Environmental benefit is vague or unquantified — must demonstrate specific, measurable, scalable impact (e.g., GHG tonnes reduced per year)
- No identified commercialization partner — program requires confirmed engagement, not just intent to find one
- TRL below 5 — pure concept or early R&D without demonstrated proof of concept; redirect to core IRAP or NSERC
See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours. Unlock with Premium →
Success Profile
Canadian SME (5-100 employees) in clean energy, decarbonization, sustainable agriculture, water technology, or clean transportation. Technology at TRL 5-6 with a validated small-scale proof of concept. Has a named commercialization partner (ideally with a signed LOI or pilot agreement). Can quantify projected environmental benefit in specific units (GHG tonnes, litres of water treated, hectares protected). Located in Ontario, BC, or Alberta (largest cleantech clusters, most ITA coverage). Seeking to advance from lab/proof-of-concept to pilot-scale demonstration or commercial scale-up over 12-24 months.
See what successful applicants for this program actually look like. Unlock with Premium →
Evaluation Criteria
Assessed by Industrial Technology Advisors (ITAs) on: (1) Technical innovation and genuine novelty — must demonstrate technical uncertainty; (2) Environmental benefit with specific, measurable, scalable impact quantified in units (GHG tonnes, water litres, etc.); (3) Commercialization readiness including named partner engagement; (4) TRL progression plan from 5-6 to 7-8; (5) Team capability — must have both technical and business staff beyond founders; (6) Market potential and path to revenue; (7) Co-contribution capacity (20%+ of salaries, 50%+ of subcontractor costs).
See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus. Unlock with Premium →
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 10
Eligible Expenses 8
- Salaries and wages of employees directly working on the cleantech project
- Mandatory employment-related costs (CPP, EI, benefits) up to 20% of salary
- Subcontractor costs for specialized technical services
- Materials and supplies consumed during development and demonstration
- Equipment rental for testing and demonstration phases
- Travel costs directly related to project activities
- Prototype development and testing costs
- Environmental testing and impact quantification expenses
Ineligible Expenses 6
- Capital equipment purchases (redirected to other programs)
- Costs incurred before ITA approval and agreement signing
- Marketing, advertising, and sales activities
- Routine production or manufacturing costs
- Land and building acquisition or construction
- General overhead not directly tied to the project
Intake Periods
Rolling intake via ITA contact — no formal intake windows. Applications accepted year-round through the ITA network. However, program is in transition toward Canada Innovation Corporation (CIC) by FY 2026-27, which may affect availability. Confirm current status before committing resources.
Deadline Notes
Program established February 4, 2025. New applications expected to open early fiscal 2025-26 (April 2025+). As of late 2025, program is actively funding through ITA network. No formal intake windows — contact 1-877-994-4727 to reach an ITA. Note: program is in transition toward Canada Innovation Corporation (CIC) by FY 2026-27, which may affect availability. Confirm current intake status before committing to project timelines.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Academic institutions (as primary recipients — can be subcontractors)
- Organizations not incorporated in Canada
- Companies with more than 500 full-time employees
- Solo founders without technical and business staff beyond the founding team
- Companies without a validated proof of concept (below TRL 5)
Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare. Unlock with Premium →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How NRC IRAP Clean Technology P... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Alberta Innovates Voucher Program | Up to $100,000 | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Continuous intake |
| Mitacs Accelerate | $15,000 per internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
| CanExport Innovation | Up to $37,500 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Between intakes —... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for