NRCan (Natural Resources Canada)

Supports Canadian resource transitions through finance tools that bridge science outcomes to power, mineral, and forestry deployment.

Natural Resources Canada is the federal department responsible for Canada's power, minerals, and forests portfolios, and it uses its funding tools to move technology from research into deployment. Its work covers low-carbon power research, clean fuels production, critical minerals processing, and forest bioeconomy innovation, with support delivered through contribution agreements and repayable contributions.

Its main routes include EIP, Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways, the Clean Fuels Fund, the Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration Program, the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund, the Forest Innovation Program, the Indigenous Forestry Initiative, the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program, and the Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative. Typical funding ranges from smaller project support such as CAD 1 million under the Indigenous Forestry Initiative to very large infrastructure awards such as CAD 100 million under the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund, while EIP and CMRDD can reach CAD 10 million and CAD 5 million per project.

NRCan is best suited to incorporated Canadian applicants that can show a deployment path and public value in power-system transition, resource processing, or forest innovation. Some routes run on fixed calls, such as EIP, while others accept continuous expressions of interest or continuous intake, which makes the department useful for teams that are ready to match policy priorities with a clear technical and commercial plan.