NRC IRAP IP Assist: Up to $100,000 for IP Strategy and Protection
Proprietary technology is only worth as much as your company's ability to identify it, protect it and bring it to market. NRC IRAP IP Assist provides Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with advisory services and funding support for intellectual property (IP) strategy and protection.
The program helps tech companies identify, protect and commercialize their IP assets, covering patent searches, freedom-to-operate analyses and IP strategy development. Funding ranges from $5,000 to $100,000. The program is open, and applications are being accepted.
What is IRAP IP Assist?
IRAP IP Assist is a federal grant, available Canada-wide, for SMEs that have or are developing proprietary technology with commercial potential. It combines advisory services with funding support.
The work it covers is IP strategy and protection: patent searches, freedom-to-operate analyses and IP strategy development. The grant is paid as a reimbursement.
IRAP IP Assist at a glance
| Detail | NRC IRAP — IP Assist |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | $5K – $100K |
| Program type | Grant |
| Level | Federal |
| Where it applies | Canada-wide |
| Status | Open |
| Deadline | No fixed deadline on record |
| What it funds | R&D / Proof of Concept, Commercialization / Market Launch |
| Industries | All sectors, including Software & IT, Medical Devices, Life Sciences, ECE, Advanced Manufacturing |
| Company stage | Startup, Growth, Expansion |
| Payment model | Reimbursement |
| Matching funds required | No |
| Competition level | Low |
How much funding is available?
Funding ranges from $5,000 to $100,000. Three funding levels are available, and the level open to your company depends on its IP maturity and company stage.
The grant is paid as a reimbursement, and matching funds are not required.
Who is eligible?
- Your company must be a Canadian SME with fewer than 500 employees.
- You must have, or be developing, proprietary technology with commercial potential.
- You must work with an NRC Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA).
- Three funding levels are available, depending on IP maturity and company stage.
When and how to apply
IRAP IP Assist is open and accepting applications. The program has no fixed application deadline.
Working with an NRC Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) is a requirement of the program. Which of the three funding levels applies depends on your IP maturity and company stage.
The status of NRC IRAP — IP Assist 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 IP Assist right for you?
IRAP IP Assist suits startup, growth and expansion-stage Canadian SMEs with fewer than 500 employees that have, or are developing, proprietary technology with commercial potential and want to identify, protect and commercialize it. Competition for the program is low, and matching funds are not required. Watch for two things: you must work with an NRC Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA), and the amount available depends on which of the three funding levels fits your IP maturity and company stage.
Next steps: look up NRC IRAP — IP Assist 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 13, 2026. Programs change — confirm current terms on the official program page before you apply.