Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) — Financial Assistance

• The applicant must be an incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized business in Canada.
• The business must have 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
• The business must have the objective to pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services, or processes in Canada.

Who is eligible?

• Small and medium-sized Canadian businesses pursuing technology-driven innovation.
• Firms focused on developing and commercializing new or improved technology-driven products, services, or processes.

Who is not eligible

• Unincorporated businesses
• Not-for-profit organisations
• Industries with no technological innovation objectives
• Companies whose main activity is not oriented towards the development of new products or processes
• Companies with more than 500 full-time equivalent employees

Eligible expenses

• 80% of personnel salaries for project-related roles.
• 50% of costs for subcontractors involved in project implementation.

Eligible geographic areas

• All provinces and territories within Canada.

• The project's technical aspects and potential impacts on the business
• The business, management, and financial capacity
• The assessed potential to achieve expected results
• The commercialization plan
• The overall market and commercialization opportunity
• The anticipated benefits to Canada

• The NRC IRAP does not tolerate inappropriate behaviour, aggression, harassment, or foul language towards its employees; conversations exhibiting such conduct will be terminated immediately.
• Feedback regarding service quality can be provided through the NRC IRAP feedback process to aid program improvement.
• Project funding is determined in collaboration with an Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA), whose assessment customizes support and guidance throughout the project.
• Projects funded by IRAP must align with the NRC IRAP fiscal year (April 1 to March 31), and it is recommended to contact an ITA before April 1 to discuss funding cycles.