Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) — Financial Assistance

• Business plan or pitch deck
• Recent company financial statements
• Details on business ownership structure
• CRA business number
• Résumés or profiles for management and technical team members

Who is eligible?

• Innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in any industry in Canada
• Canadian SMEs developing or commercializing clean technologies
• Canadian SMEs planning to hire recent post-secondary graduates for innovation roles

Who is not eligible

• Unlimited liability corporations (ULCs)
• Limited liability corporations (LLCs)
• Sole proprietorships and partnerships
• Cooperatives

Eligible expenses

• Project-related R&D salaries and wages
• Contractors and subcontractors supporting the innovation project
• Staff and materials needed to execute clean technology projects
• Salaries for eligible youth employment strategy placements

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Day-to-day operating costs
• Non-technical or purely commercial activities
• Work carried out outside Canada
• Research with limited potential for commercialization

Eligible geographic areas

• Businesses incorporated and operating in Canada

• Technical aspects of the project and potential impact on the business
• Business, management and financial capacity of the firm
• Likelihood of achieving expected results
• Quality and credibility of the commercialization plan and market opportunity
• Anticipated economic and broader benefits to Canada

• Step 1: Initial Contact
  • A senior executive calls the NRC IRAP toll‑free number to describe the business and innovation needs.
  • The bilingual contact centre gathers basic information and checks minimum program fit.
• Step 2: Engage with a Client Engagement Advisor
  • A client engagement advisor reviews the business information and follows up to understand goals and challenges.
  • The advisor explains NRC IRAP services and may connect the firm to other resources or to an industrial technology advisor.
• Step 3: Work with an Industrial Technology Advisor
  • The industrial technology advisor meets with the company to assess its strategy, innovation plans and capacity.
  • They help identify gaps, recommend strategies and determine whether project funding is appropriate.
• Step 4: Develop and Submit Project Proposal
  • If invited, the firm prepares a detailed project proposal with technical description, commercialization plan and financial details.
  • NRC IRAP reviews the complete proposal and documentation within approximately three months.
• Step 5: Agreement and Claims
  • If approved, the company signs a contribution agreement outlining project scope, budget and reporting.
  • The firm submits monthly reimbursement claims for eligible costs for NRC IRAP to process payments.

• Initial business information is reviewed to determine fit with NRC IRAP and referral to an advisor.
• Industrial technology advisors assess the firm and project, then may invite a formal project proposal.
• Complete proposals are evaluated based on technical merit, commercialization potential, business capacity and benefits to Canada.
• Funding decisions are normally issued within 20 to 65 business days, depending on the requested contribution amount.
• For approved projects, contribution agreements are followed by monthly reimbursement of eligible costs upon receipt of claims.

• Working with an NRC IRAP advisor or being invited to submit a proposal does not guarantee funding.
• Projects are typically carried out within NRC IRAP’s fiscal year, from April 1 to March 31.
• Approved firms must submit monthly reimbursement claims during the project.
• NRC IRAP can be combined with other programs such as SR&ED, with coordination of government assistance.