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

• Expression of Interest (EOI) form
• International Consortium Project Proposal (ICPP)
• Draft international consortium agreement
• Signed NRC Research Security Requirements Attestation form
• Cash-flow projection for the Canadian SME(s)

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.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Academic principal investigator salaries and NRC researcher salaries (excluded from eligible salary costs).
• Minor equipment purchases over $10,000 (only purchases up to $10,000 are eligible).
• Costs incurred by organizations hired only on a fee-for-service basis (e.g., consultants, subcontractors, service providers) as “project partner” costs.
• Funding requests for Canadian collaborators that exceed the amount requested by the Canadian SME(s).

Eligible geographic areas

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

• NRC IRAP screens submissions and may contact the Canadian applicant to request additional information.
• NRC IRAP evaluates Canadian submissions through an NRC evaluation team (including the applicant’s NRC IRAP representative, the NRC National Program Office, and the NRC IRAP International Office).
• Canadian and German national funding bodies evaluate applications independently, then share results and make a final joint project selection.
• Selected participants are invited to proceed to national funding body proposals, due diligence, and to sign legally binding funding agreements with their respective national funding body.
• If required, the consortium must execute and submit an international collaborative research agreement before funding approval.

• 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.