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Source verified August 1, 2026
CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals
Collaborative ICT R&D support for Canadian SMEs
Latest source updateLast Update: August 1, 2026Latest change: The national contacts and country-specific funding guidance were updated, including new Canada eligibility and funding rules and a new Wallonia filing step.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 1, 2026
Latest change: The national contacts and country-specific funding guidance were updated, including new Canada eligibility and funding rules and a new Wallonia filing step.
National funding rules and contacts updated
The National Public Contacts & Funding Schemes page now shows updated country contact details, including revised email and phone endpoints, and the Canada section now surfaces new eligibility and funding guidance for this call. The new Canada content adds an SME-only funding rule, a 50% funding rate, and an ineligibility threshold for large companies above 500 FTEs; the Wallonia entry also adds a French-language filing step through the ONTIME platform with same-day cluster submission requirements.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
October 24, 2025
Location
Canada
Overview
CELTIC-NEXT Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 is a collaborative research and development call for eligible Canadian small or medium-sized enterprises in Canada through NRC IRAP. It supports next-generation communications and information and communications technologies for innovative products, services, or processes aimed at commercialization.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 500,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
- 5-500 employees
Audience
- Canadians
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Collaborative research and development project proposals.
- Projects in the field of next-generation communications for the digital society that contribute to a sustainable world.
- Projects that research or develop an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation.
Documents Needed
- CELTIC-NEXT Project Proposal (CPP) Template
- Confirmation Letter/Declaration of Acceptance (CLD) Template, to be signed and submitted by each partner upon proposal submission
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Eligible Canadian small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Who is not eligible
- In Canada, large firms, non-profits, universities and research centers are not eligible for funding.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- EUREKA participating countries
Selection criteria
- Proposals must be close to market and business needs.
- The project must be directed at researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation.
- The project must have a civilian purpose.
- No single organisation or country can be responsible for more than 70% of the project budget.
- The label decision includes technical quality, business relevance and national priority where they exist.
How to apply
- Step 1: Create an account on the CELTIC Proposal Submission Portal
- Register or log in to the portal.
- Step 2: Complete the proposal information form
- Fill in the form to access the project proposal template.
- Step 3: Prepare the proposal documents
- Complete the proposal template and supporting call documents.
- Contact each partner’s national public authority for funding information.
- Return the signed Confirmation Letter/Declaration of Acceptance for each consortium partner.
- Step 4: Submit the proposal online
- Upload the completed proposal through the portal before the deadline.
- Step 5: Follow up after submission
- After a positive label notification, prepare and sign the Project Cooperation Agreement.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by industry experts and public authorities.
- The CELTIC label decision is made in three stages: proposal submission, evaluation, and label decision.
- A positive label does not confirm funding approval.
- Funding negotiations are handled separately by each project partner with the relevant national authority.
Additional information
- Participation requires a consortium with at least two organizations from two different EUREKA countries, including at least one EUREKA Member Country.
- CELTIC-NEXT launches two calls per year for joint research and development projects.
- Applicants planning to participate should inform their IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor early in the process.
- Applicants are encouraged to review recordings and attend related launch and brokerage events to foster collaboration and information exchange.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals Program
What is the CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals?
CELTIC-NEXT Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 is a collaborative research and development call for eligible Canadian small or medium-sized enterprises in Canada through NRC IRAP. It supports next-generation communications and information and communications technologies for innovative products, services, or processes aimed at commercialization.
Who is eligible for the CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals program?
To be eligible for the CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals program, you must:
Incorporated, profit-oriented Canadian SME with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
At least 12 months in operation and 5 full-time equivalent employees in Canada
Developing innovative, technology-driven products, services or processes in Canada with international collaboration capacity
What expenses are eligible under CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals?
Collaborative research and development project proposals.
Projects in the field of next-generation communications for the digital society that contribute to a sustainable world.
Projects that research or develop an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation.
Who can I contact for more information about the CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals?
You can contact National Research Council Canada (NRC) by email at Vance.Pan@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or by phone at 1-877-994-4727.
Where is the CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals available?
The CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals program is available across Canada.
Is the CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals a grant, loan, or tax credit?
CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals?
CELTIC-NEXT – Next Generation Communications Autumn 2025 call for proposals is funded by National Research Council Canada (NRC)