Canada–Germany 2026 Quantum collaborative industrial research and development call for proposals

• Form a Canada–Germany project consortium that includes at least 1 incorporated Canadian SME and 1 eligible German commercial enterprise.
• The Canadian lead applicant must be an incorporated, profit-oriented Canadian SME (500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees), operating for at least 12 months, with at least 5 full-time equivalent employees in Canada on payroll (T4) by the Canadian registration deadline.
• The project must develop an innovative quantum technology product, process, or technology-based service (quantum computing, quantum sensing, or enabling technologies for quantum) with commercial potential and outcomes expected within 2–3 years after project completion.
• Each consortium partner must make a complementary contribution, with a balanced Canada–Germany effort (no more than 70% of effort/costs borne by any single partner or country) and an agreed plan for intellectual property and commercialization.
• The Canadian SME must be eligible to be an NRC IRAP client and demonstrate the operational and financial capacity to carry out an international multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results.

Who is eligible?

• Incorporated Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing and commercializing quantum technology products, processes, or technology-based services
• Eligible German commercial enterprises active in quantum technology R&D and commercialization
• Canadian universities participating as project collaborators in quantum technology R&D
• Canadian research and technology organizations (RTOs) participating as project collaborators
• Canadian not-for-profit organizations participating as project collaborators

Who is not eligible

• Canadian companies that are not incorporated in Canada.
• Canadian businesses that are not profit-oriented SMEs (for example, Canadian large enterprises can participate only on a self-funding basis and are not eligible to request Canadian funding).
• Canadian SMEs that have been operating for less than 12 months prior to the Canadian registration deadline.
• Project partners (companies or organizations) that are affiliated in any form with entities on Canada’s Named Research Organization (NRO) list (projects with a current affiliation will not be funded by NRC).
• Organizations involved only as fee-for-service providers (consultants, subcontractors, vendors) cannot participate as project partners in the consortium.

Eligible expenses

• Employee salary costs (project-related).
• Contractor fees / professional services invoiced for services rendered directly to the project.
• International travel costs for employees, including travel and accommodation.
• Research support costs (including student stipends, research materials, and minor equipment purchases up to $10,000).
• Indirect (overhead) costs, up to 10% of total eligible project costs.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada (Canadian incorporated SMEs).
• Germany (eligible German commercial enterprises).

• Quality and completeness of the file submitted to the national funding organization (all required documents and compliance with due diligence requirements), failing which the consortium’s application may be rejected as incomplete or ineligible.
• Results of the evaluation of the International Consortium Project Proposal (ICPP) by the NRC evaluation team (including in particular the representative of the NRC IRAP of the applicant company and representatives of the relevant offices).
• Joint selection of projects after national evaluations: the combined results of the evaluations are shared among funding organizations, then a joint Canada–Germany process determines the projects selected.
• Compliance with the NRC’s research security requirements: no affiliation of partners, persons, and participating organizations with any “named research organizations” (attestation required; the NRC does not fund projects with such affiliation).
• Possible priority given to certain Canadian SMEs (for guidance): at least 15 FTEs in Canada, at least one product already commercialized, and/or annual revenue greater than 500,000 CAD.

• Proposed project duration is up to 24 months, with projects expected to start by December 2026 and end no later than December 2028.
• Canada and Germany will perform their evaluations independently, followed by a final joint project selection.
• Consortium partners must be unrelated entities (no direct, indirect, beneficial, or constructive ownership interest between parties).
• Research security requirements apply: Canadian participants must attest that there is no affiliation with entities on Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Named Research Organization (NRO) list, and NRC will not directly fund projects with a current NRO affiliation.