Updated June 2026 · Verified against National Research Council Canada guidelines
✨ New Program Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Est. 2025
Grant Federal Active

NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program

National Research Council Canada
Maximum Funding
$100,000–$500,000 typical; larger multi-year demonstrations may...
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Mixed (Advance + Reimb.)
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
80%
NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program provides up to $100,000–$500,000 typical; larger multi-year demonstrations may reach $1M+. Supports Canadian SMEs developing, demonstrating, and commercializing clean technologies. The program covers up to 80% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Approval odds: ~20–30% (GrantCompass analysis)
Eligibility check

Can you win this grant?

Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.

Takes about 20 seconds. We use this program’s real eligibility rules.

Want your full match picture across 850+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →

Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

103 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 103 awards since 2025. Typical award: $983.7K. Half of all awards fall between $478.2K and $2.23M. 100% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top sectors among classified recipients: Semiconductor and electronic component, Custom computer programming, Drilling oil and gas wells. Top provinces: Ontario 35% · Quebec 20% · Alberta 19%. Covers: NRC IRAP Clean Technology sub-stream contributions (named prog_name variant, distinct from core IRAP firm contributions). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program award is $983.7K — the median of 103 awards since 2025. In 2025, 103 businesses were funded; 100% were for-profit companies.

103funded in 2025
$983.7Ktypical award
103awards since 2025
100%for-profit

Award size distribution. Half of awards fall between $478.2K and $2.23M, with a typical award of $983.7K.

Award sizes middle 50% of awards
$983.7K typical $2.23M
Top sectors Semiconductor and electronic componentCustom computer programmingDrilling oil and gas wells(of classified recipients)
Top provinces ON 35%QC 20%AB 19%
103 companies received this grant in 2025. See the 40 most recent — and how much each received. Get Premium — $39/mo
or unlock just this grant — $19

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

See all NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program winners →

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

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)
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Clean Technology Technology Manufacturing
Business Stage
Startup Growth

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
First-Timer
Not rated

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

Competition
High
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Approval Rate
~20–30%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Premium See your real odds on this program — and exactly what it takes to win it.
What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program

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

$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
Get Premium — $39/mo or just this Playbook — $19 one-time

How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

Premium
Insider Tip

This 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.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Rejection Pitfalls 10

  • Environmental benefit is vague or unquantified — must demonstrate specific, measurable, scalable impact (e.g., GHG tonnes reduced per year)
+9 more pitfalls
Premium See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.

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.
Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
10 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Premium covers all 850+ for $39/mo.
Get Premium — $39/mo Every program · Application workspace · 30-day money-back
or just this Playbook — $19 one-time

Application Playbook

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

Premium 5 steps 10 docs

Application Steps

1 Contact NRC IRAP Call 1-877-994-4727 to reach an Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA). Describe your cleantech innovation and its environmental benefit. The ITA will assess whether you're better suited for core IRAP or the cleantech stream.

Required Documents 10

✓ Certificate of Incorporation (Canada)
✓ CRA Business Number

Eligible Expenses 8

Ineligible Expenses 6

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Applying for NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 7 partners

Compatible Programs

SR&ED Tax Credit (ID 4) Innovate BC / BC Fast Pilot Alberta Innovates Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) MITACS Accelerate/Elevate CanExport Innovation (ID 6) Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Investment Tax Credit
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.

How NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
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 Between intakes — last...
OCI Critical Industrial Technologies ... Up to $1,000,000 Hard Reimbursement Challenge-based rolling...
Mitacs Accelerate $15,000 per internship unit Easy Advance Payment Ongoing
CanExport Innovation Up to $37,500 Moderate Reimbursement Upcoming — the...

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free
Grant

ECO Canada — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

50–70% wage reimbursement, up to $7,000 per placement —... · Federal
 Grant

Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP)

Up to $5,000 per BEV/FCEV; up to $2,500 per PHEV (2026... · Federal
 Grant

ERA Strategic Energy Management Initiative — Capital Retrofits (SEMI)

Up to $1,000,000 per parent company per intake... · Provincial

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program

Free
Can sole proprietors apply?
No. Must be incorporated in Canada with 500 or fewer employees. Sole proprietors must incorporate before applying. Requires a commercialization partner with a signed LOI, not just a plan.
What's the realistic award size for first-time applicants?
$100,000–$500,000. BC Fast Pilot (joint IRAP/provincial) projects averaged $125,000–$200,000. Larger projects with strong partnerships may reach $500,000–$1,000,000.
Do I need a commercialization partner before applying?
Yes. Must have a signed LOI or pilot agreement with a named partner. Applications without confirmed engagement fail immediately. Partner must be a customer or strategic collaborator.
Why do most applications get rejected?
Vague environmental impact (e.g., 'reduces emissions' without tonnage), TRL below 5, or no commercialization partner. Must demonstrate specific, measurable benefits and have a validated proof of concept.
Can I stack with SR&ED?
Yes. IRAP-funded salary costs are excluded from SR&ED base, but other eligible R&D expenses generate credits. Combined federal support can offset 60%+ of project costs.

Browse More Funding

Federal Grants Clean Technology Grants Technology Grants Manufacturing Grants Explore All Programs Take the Quiz