NRC IRAP, Innovation Funding
by National Research Council, Industrial Research Assistance Program
NRC IRAP funds technology innovation at incorporated Canadian SMEs (under 500 employees), typically $75,000 to $200,000 for first projects, covering up to 80% of salaries and 50% of subcontractor costs. Intake is continuous through a relationship with an Industrial Technology Advisor, but regional budgets are richest April–May and often exhausted by late fall. IRAP's migration into the Canada Innovation Corporation remains in transition.
Key facts
- Amount
- From $10,000 Typical first projects $75K-$200K; up to 80% salary / 50% subcontractor costs; large-scale to multi-million
Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.
nrc.canada.ca · Last verified Oct 2, 2026 · Reported, verification pending
- Instrument
- Conditional contribution
- Status
- Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
- Who qualifies
- Businesses
- business
- incorporated, profit-oriented, <500 employees, doing technology innovation
- relationship with an Industrial Technology Advisor is the real intake
nrc.canada.ca · Last verified Oct 2, 2026 · Reported, verification pending
Can you combine this with other funding?
- INVEST North, Innovation Stream, Federal innovation funding such as NRC IRAP may be stacked, but combined federal and provincial funding may not exceed 75% of eligible project costs.
Where else could this money come from?
Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.
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Critical Minerals Innovation Fund
Intake closed both for startups & new entrepreneurs and small business, expansion; innovation, r and d — Up to $500,000
Guides that cover this program
Apply
Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there: