Open
e-Auto Challenge program
Collaborative support for electric vehicle technologies
Last Update: June 27, 2026
Funding available
$ 400,000
Timeline
- Open Date : June 26, 2026
- Closing date : September 15, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
Le programme Défi « Automobile électrique » du CNRC soutient des projets collaboratifs avec des PME canadiennes pour accélérer la commercialisation de technologies de véhicules zéro émission. Il cible l’électronique de puissance, les systèmes de batteries optimisés et les communications véhiculaires sécurisées, ainsi que certains coûts de recherche, de déplacement, d’équipement et de services contractuels.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 400,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : June 26, 2026
- Closing date : September 15, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 500 employees maximum
Audience
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development of electric vehicle (EV) technologies in low-cost, high-power-density advanced power electronics, safer, cold-weather-optimized battery systems, and safe, secure vehicle communications
- Collaborative projects to accelerate the commercialization of novel zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) technologies
- Projects to advance technologies at mid- to high-technology readiness levels (TRL 3 to 8), from proof of concept to pre-commercialization
Documents Needed
- Expression of interest (EOI) form
- Full project proposal (FPP) templates
- NRC internal project documents such as the NRC workplan and NRC project workbook for the e-Auto Program
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (those with fewer than 500 employees)
Eligible expenses
- Salaries for highly qualified personnel (HQP) working on the project activities
- Consumable materials, supplies, and equipment up to $10,000
- Travel and accommodation required specifically for execution of the project
- Amounts invoiced by a contractor for services rendered relating directly to the project
- Reasonable and necessary costs for research equipment of $10,000 or more, including testing tools, instruments, computer equipment, secure equipment and information technology costs such as for high-performance computers and secure servers
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Purchase of land
- Leasehold interest
- Property taxes
- Any portion of costs subject to refunds, rebates or credits, including HST, GST and PST
- Costs incurred or paid by the NRC
Selection criteria
- Methodology
- Project team and resources
- Alignment with scope
- Addressing a gap
- Innovation
- Economic and social impacts
- NRC collaboration
- Each criterion is equally weighted in the evaluation process, and regional diversity and distribution across streams and strategic areas are also considered.
How to apply
- Request the EOI form by sending an email to Appel-e-Auto-Call@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
- Return the completed EOI form to the same email address.
- Applicants chosen to submit an FPP will be notified and invited to submit an FPP.
- Eligible applicants develop the FPP together with their NRC partner.
- Eligible applicant principal investigators submit the FPP by email to Appel-e-Auto-Call@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, copying the program team at e-Auto-Auto-e@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
- NRC collaborator PIs submit internal NRC project documents such as the NRC workplan and NRC project workbook for the e-Auto Program.
Processing and Agreement
- Expressions of interest will be used to determine applicant and project eligibility and assess alignment with the goals of the call on the basis of the criteria in annex A.
- Eligible applicant projects deemed to have high impact potential on the basis of the EOI will be invited to submit a full project proposal (FPP).
- All FPPs will undergo due diligence and verification, including a peer review process, to determine which projects will be recommended for funding.
- After receiving notice of project approval from the NPO, eligible recipients must enter into a collaborative research and funding agreement with the NRC.
- If this agreement is not finalized within a reasonable timeframe, funding will be reallocated to other projects.
Additional information
- The call for proposals is closed.
- The expression of interest submission deadline was May 22, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET.
- Eligible applicant projects deemed to have high impact potential on the basis of the EOI will be invited to submit a full project proposal (FPP).
- Invitation to submit an FPP is not a funding commitment from the NRC.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the e-Auto Challenge program Program
What is the e-Auto Challenge program?
Le programme Défi « Automobile électrique » du CNRC soutient des projets collaboratifs avec des PME canadiennes pour accélérer la commercialisation de technologies de véhicules zéro émission. Il cible l’électronique de puissance, les systèmes de batteries optimisés et les communications véhiculaires sécurisées, ainsi que certains coûts de recherche, de déplacement, d’équipement et de services contractuels.
How much funding can be received?
e-Auto Challenge program Funds up to $400,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is September 15, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the e-Auto Challenge program program?
To be eligible for the e-Auto Challenge program program, you must:
Applicants must be eligible for funding under this call.
Project teams must include at least one NRC researcher delivering on the collaborative initiative.
Projects must be clearly aligned with the call objectives, the program mandate and the priority areas of the e-Auto Program.
What expenses are eligible under e-Auto Challenge program?
Development of electric vehicle (EV) technologies in low-cost, high-power-density advanced power electronics, safer, cold-weather-optimized battery systems, and safe, secure vehicle communications
Collaborative projects to accelerate the commercialization of novel zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) technologies
Projects to advance technologies at mid- to high-technology readiness levels (TRL 3 to 8), from proof of concept to pre-commercialization
Who can I contact for more information about the e-Auto Challenge program?
You can contact National Research Council Canada (NRC) by email at Appel-e-Auto-Call@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or by phone at none.
Where is the e-Auto Challenge program available?
The e-Auto Challenge program program is available across Canada.