SMART Cluster's 9th call for proposals – advanced manufacturing

• The project must be a collaborative R&D initiative in advanced manufacturing.
• The project consortium must include at least 2 partners from 2 different EUREKA countries.
• The project must have a planned duration of 2 to 3 years.
• For Canadian applicants seeking funding: the applicant must be an incorporated, profit-oriented Canadian SME (500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees).
• For Canadian applicants seeking funding: the SME must be eligible for NRC IRAP support (including being in operation for at least 12 months before the project proposal deadline and having at least 5 full-time equivalent employees in Canada on payroll).

Who is eligible?

• Canadian incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (up to 500 full-time equivalent employees) applying for NRC IRAP funding
• Organizations active in advanced manufacturing (e.g., advanced manufacturing processes, customer-based manufacturing, digital/virtual/efficient companies, intelligent/adaptive manufacturing systems, person–machine collaboration, sustainable manufacturing)
• Other Canadian organizations (e.g., universities, research institutes) participating on a self-funded basis or as subcontractors, subject to national funding rules

Who is not eligible

• Canadian organizations that are not eligible for NRC IRAP funding (e.g., universities and research institutes) if they cannot secure alternative funding or self-fund their participation.
• Canadian businesses that are not incorporated and profit-oriented SMEs in Canada.
• Canadian businesses with more than 500 full-time equivalent employees.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada (for eligible incorporated Canadian SMEs applying through NRC IRAP).
• EUREKA member countries (project consortia must include partners from at least 2 different EUREKA countries).

• SMART projects must include at least two partners from two different EUREKA countries.
• Projects are expected to run for 2 to 3 years.
• The project budget must be balanced among participants/countries (no single organization or country may account for more than 70% of the total project budget).
• A SMART PO Proposers’ Day for project consortium building is scheduled for October 14–15, 2025.