IRAP Youth Employment Initiative: Wage Subsidies for STEM Graduates
Hiring for innovation and R&D work is expensive, especially for a smaller tech company paying a new graduate while they learn the role. The NRC IRAP Youth Employment Initiative helps cover that cost with a wage subsidy for recent STEM graduates aged 30 or under.
The program subsidizes 50-80% of wages for up to 12 months, with funding from $15,000 to $50,000. It is open, with continuous intake and no fixed deadline.
What is IRAP Youth Employment Initiative?
The IRAP Youth Employment Initiative is a federal wage subsidy delivered through the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). It helps Canadian tech SMEs hire recent STEM graduates aged 30 or under into innovation roles.
It is separate from regular IRAP project funding. Your company can access it even without an active IRAP project, which makes it a possible entry point for firms that have not worked with IRAP before.
The program is aimed at companies at the startup, growth and expansion stages, in fields including software and IT, ECE and advanced manufacturing, and it is open to all industries.
IRAP Youth Employment Initiative at a glance
| Detail | IRAP — Youth Employment Initiative |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | $15K – $50K |
| Program type | Grant |
| Level | Federal |
| Where it applies | Canada-wide |
| Status | Open |
| Deadline | Continuous intake — no fixed deadline. Apply through your NRC Industrial Technology Advisor; placements are typically approved within 4–8 weeks. |
| What it funds | Hiring Technical Staff |
| Industries | All sectors, including Software & IT, ECE, Advanced Manufacturing |
| Company stage | Startup, Growth, Expansion |
| Payment model | Reimbursement |
| Matching funds required | No |
| Competition level | Low |
How much funding is available?
The program subsidizes 50-80% of a graduate's wages for up to 12 months. Funding ranges from $15,000 to $50,000.
Funding is paid as a reimbursement, so your company pays the wages first and is reimbursed for the subsidized share. There is no formal matching requirement.
- Subsidy rate: 50-80% of wages
- Duration: up to 12 months
- Funding range: $15,000 to $50,000
Who is eligible?
Your company
- Must be a Canadian tech SME with fewer than 500 employees
- Must work with an NRC Industrial Technology Advisor
The graduate
- Must be a recent STEM graduate aged 30 or under
- Must be underemployed or unemployed
The position
- Must be an innovation or R&D-focused role
When and how to apply
The program is open, with continuous intake and no fixed deadline. You apply through your NRC Industrial Technology Advisor rather than through a separate public portal.
Placements are typically approved within 4–8 weeks. Because funding is paid as a reimbursement, your company covers the wages and is then reimbursed for the subsidized share.
The status of IRAP — Youth Employment Initiative 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 Youth Employment Initiative right for you?
The IRAP Youth Employment Initiative suits Canadian tech SMEs with fewer than 500 employees that plan to bring a recent STEM graduate into an innovation or R&D-focused role. Competition is low and you do not need an active IRAP project, but you do need to work with an NRC Industrial Technology Advisor. Check that your candidate is aged 30 or under and currently underemployed or unemployed, and plan for the 4–8 weeks placements typically take to be approved.
Next steps: look up IRAP — Youth Employment Initiative 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.