IRAP: Non-Repayable R&D Funding for Canadian Tech SMEs
Developing new technology is expensive, and most of that cost is the salaries of the technical people doing the work. For a small or mid-sized company, carrying those salaries through a project with real technological uncertainty can be a heavy load.
The Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) provides non-repayable contributions to Canadian tech SMEs to help cover those costs. The program is open, with continuous intake and no fixed deadline.
What is IRAP?
IRAP is run by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and is Canada's largest direct R&D grant program. It provides non-repayable contributions to Canadian tech SMEs for innovation projects, covering eligible salary costs of technical employees working on the project. It funds 3,362 firms annually, with $414M+ in total contributions.
As of 2026, IRAP operates four streams: Core for general R&D, Clean Technology (formerly SDTC), AI Assist for generative AI, and Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist) for dual-use projects. Every project is handled with an assigned NRC Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA).
IRAP at a glance
| Detail | IRAP — Industrial Research Assistance Program |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | $50K – $500K |
| Program type | Grant |
| Level | Federal |
| Where it applies | Canada-wide |
| Status | Open |
| Deadline | Continuous intake — no fixed deadline. Apply any time through your NRC Industrial Technology Advisor; first payment typically lands 4–6 months after initial ITA contact. |
| What it funds | R&D / Proof of Concept, Prototype / Product Development, Hiring Technical Staff |
| Industries | All sectors, including Software & IT, ECE, Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, Biotech & Agriculture, Material Science, Life Sciences, Equipment Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive |
| Company stage | Startup, Growth, Expansion |
| Payment model | Reimbursement |
| Matching funds required | No |
| Competition level | Moderate |
How much funding is available?
A typical first-time grant is $75,000–$200,000. The maximum is up to $500,000 for established IRAP clients.
IRAP pays on a reimbursement basis: your company spends on eligible costs, and the program reimburses a share of them. The rates differ between your own salaried staff and contractors.
- Eligible salaries: reimbursed at 80%
- Eligible contractor fees: reimbursed at 50%
- Typical first-time grant: $75,000–$200,000
- Maximum: up to $500,000 for established IRAP clients
Who is eligible?
Your company
- An incorporated for-profit SME in Canada with fewer than 500 full-time employees
- No minimum revenue requirement: pre-revenue startups are eligible
- You must work with an assigned NRC Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA)
The project
- A technology development project with genuine technological uncertainty, not routine development
- Clear commercial potential for the resulting technology
The costs
- Eligible: salaries of technical staff, sub-contractors, and materials directly related to R&D
- Not eligible: capital equipment, facilities, routine operations, or sales/marketing
When and how to apply
IRAP is open and has continuous intake with no fixed deadline. You can apply any time through your regional NRC office, working with your NRC Industrial Technology Advisor.
Plan your cash flow around the timeline. The first payment typically lands 4–6 months after your initial contact with an ITA, and funding comes as reimbursement of costs you have already incurred.
The status of IRAP — Industrial Research Assistance Program in EVAMAX Grant AI™ is currently Open. Grant AI™ re-checks it against the official program page, so look there for the latest before you start an application.
Is IRAP right for you?
IRAP suits incorporated tech SMEs with fewer than 500 full-time employees, from pre-revenue startups to growing firms, that are working on technology with genuine uncertainty and clear commercial potential. It is strongest for projects driven by technical salaries, which are reimbursed at 80%. Watch the exclusions: capital equipment, facilities, routine operations and sales/marketing are not covered, and because payment is by reimbursement with the first payment typically 4–6 months after initial ITA contact, your company needs to fund the work up front.
Next steps: look up IRAP — Industrial Research Assistance Program in EVAMAX Grant AI™ to see its live status and other programs that fit your company, or talk to EVAMAX about building your application.
Program details are from the EVAMAX Grant AI™ record as of October 8, 2026. Programs change — confirm current terms on the official program page before you apply.