NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program

NRC IRAP Standard R&D Contribution

Provides Canadian innovators with hands-on guidance for technology-led projects and commercialization planning.

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is Canada's largest and longest-running innovation assistance programme for SMEs, with an annual budget of approximately CA$414 million. The Standard R&D Contribution is the flagship stream, providing non-repayable contributions to technology-driven Canadian businesses undertaking applied R&D and commercialisation projects. Contributions typically cover 60% to 80% of eligible project costs, primarily technical labour and subcontractor fees. First-time applicants generally access CA$75,000 to CA$200,000; companies with established track records have received multi-year awards exceeding CA$1 million in total. The programme is sector-agnostic: eligible technologies include AI, biotech, agritech, medtech, advanced manufacturing, quantum, robotics, semiconductors, cleantech, and more, provided the project creates economic benefits for Canada.

Eligibility requires applicants to be incorporated, for-profit Canadian businesses with up to 500 full-time equivalent employees. Applicants must have a CRA business number, an up-to-date business plan, recent financial statements, and a clearly defined R&D project with a concrete plan for commercialisation in or from Canada. Universities, not-for-profit organisations, and research institutes are not eligible for the Standard Contribution as lead recipients. NRC's Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation program supports up to 75% of eligible expenditures, with stacking from other Canadian government sources permitted up to 100% of total eligible costs. Indirect costs are eligible up to 10% of eligible project costs.

There is no public application portal for the Standard Contribution. The entire process is mediated by an Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) assigned to the company by the NRC IRAP contact centre (1-877-994-4727). The ITA conducts technical, business, and financial due diligence; develops the project scope; and submits the funding recommendation internally. The relationship starts with advisory support and referrals — being assigned an ITA does not guarantee funding. Project approval typically takes three to six months from the initial ITA engagement. Applicants strengthen their position by demonstrating clear commercial demand, a credible technical team, and a plan for net new job creation or increased innovation capacity within Canada.