NRC IRAP–Germany ZIM Call 17 (Canada-Germany Collaborative Industrial R&D)

Insider Tip

Secure your German partner before registration — you cannot advance to the EOI stage without one. The easiest path is connecting through the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in Germany or the AiF Projekt GmbH, both of which maintain partner-matching networks. The ‘70% rule’ (no single partner contributes more than 70% of total effort) is strictly enforced — plan the workpackage split carefully at proposal stage. Preference factors (15+ employees, prior international product, $500K+ revenue) meaningfully influence selection, so quantify these clearly in your EOI.

Rejection Pitfalls 6

• German partner not confirmed or insufficiently differentiated technologically
• Technology lacks clear commercial potential or IP protection pathway
• Project has defence-specific applications (civilian-only program)

Success Profile

A Canadian technology SME with 15–50 employees, at least one commercialized product generating $500K+ in annual sales, and a concrete technology gap that a German SME or Fraunhofer-affiliated institute can address. Best fit: advanced manufacturing, clean tech, agri-food tech, or health-tech companies with an IP strategy and a clear EU market entry rationale.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications assessed jointly by NRC IRAP (Canada) and AiF Projekt GmbH (Germany) on: (1) technological innovation and differentiation — must be clearly beyond routine engineering; (2) commercial potential within 2–3 years of project completion; (3) complementarity of partner contributions — each party brings unique expertise; (4) applicant capability (track record, team, financial runway); (5) IP and commercialization plan clarity; (6) research security (no Named Research Organization affiliations).

Application Steps

Required Documents 8

Eligible Expenses 5

• Salary and benefits of Canadian employees directly performing R&D project work (80% rate)
• Fees paid to arm’s-length subcontractors and consultants (50% rate)
• International travel costs for Canadian-German collaboration activities (75% rate)
• Materials and supplies directly consumed in project activities
• Equipment costs directly attributable and incremental to the project

Ineligible Expenses 6

• Defence-specific research, weapons systems, or military applications
• Overhead, administrative, and indirect costs not directly attributable to the project
• Costs incurred outside the approved project period
• Capital costs for equipment not incremental to the project
• Expenses covered by German ZIM funding on the German partner side
• Costs for activities failing the ‘no more than 70% effort from a single partner’ rule

Intake Periods

Annual — one call per year, typically opening January–February with registration deadline in March and final proposal deadline in July. Call 17 runs through July 3, 2026; Call 18 expected late 2026.

Deadline Notes

Annual program with one call per year. Call 17 (2026): Canadian SME registration closed March 17, 2026; Expression of Interest deadline March 31, 2026; International Consortium Project Proposal deadline July 3, 2026. Call 18 expected late 2026 — subscribe to NRC IRAP alerts at nrc.canada.ca/en/irap/about/international/ to be notified. New applicants should use Call 17 deadline dates as a planning template for Call 18.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

• Sole proprietorships and partnerships
• Not-for-profit organizations and universities (as Canadian lead; German research institutions may be partners)
• Large corporations with more than 500 employees
• Entities with fewer than 5 Canadian full-time employees
• Organizations affiliated with Canada’s Named Research Organization list

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

Non-repayable contribution with no clawback unless project milestones are materially unmet, funds are misused, or the applicant ceases operations. Contributions are conditional on project completion and reporting compliance.