e-Auto Challenge Program

e-Auto Challenge

Funds Canadian small businesses partnering with researchers on electric transport technology including power batteries and secure comms.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The e-Auto Challenge Program is a National Research Council of Canada (NRC) initiative under the Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program (CSTIP) that funds collaborative R&D between the NRC and Canadian SMEs to accelerate the commercialisation of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) technologies. The 2026 call targets three specific technology streams: advanced power electronics (reliability, wide-bandgap materials, high-temperature applications); safer cold-weather-optimised battery systems (battery management systems, range and performance in cold climates); and post-quantum cryptography for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. Projects must target technology readiness levels TRL 3 through 8 and must align with Canada's net-zero 2050 target.

The total pool for the 2026 call is CA$1.5 million, with anticipated awards of up to CA$400,000 per project as non-repayable contributions over the two-year project life. Only Canadian SMEs with fewer than 500 employees are eligible to lead; universities and not-for-profits cannot apply. Each project team must include at least one NRC researcher. Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent of total eligible costs, and all government assistance combined cannot exceed 100 percent of eligible project costs. The two-stage process requires submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) by 11:59 pm ET on 22 May 2026 (by email to Appel-e-Auto-Call@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca); invited applicants receive notification on 26 June 2026 to submit a full project proposal by 15 September 2026. Final results are announced 1 December 2026, with projects starting 1 April 2027.

EOI evaluation uses six equally weighted criteria: methodology, project team and resources, alignment with scope, addressing a gap, innovation, and economic and social impacts. An NRC collaboration criterion checks whether an NRC lead researcher has been identified and whether NRC assets are leveraged. SMEs without an existing NRC contact may request a match by emailing e-Auto-Auto-e@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca. Equipment over CA$10,000 must be justified as necessary at the EOI stage, and all equipment costs are reviewed before the full proposal is invited.