What is Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)?
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) is delivered by NRC as a grant. Funding is typically up to $10M. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to $10M |
|---|---|
| Cost share | 60–80% of eligible costs |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant |
| Delivered by | NRC |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - Rolling |
| Last verified | May 2026 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Technology-driven industries
- Employee count: min 1, max 500
- Eligible activities: R&D of innovative products/services/processes; clean tech; youth hiring for R&D
Watch out for
Not incorporated; not for-profit; over 500 employees; no tech component; capital expenditures not covered
Deadlines & how to apply
Rolling intake via ITA (Industrial Technology Advisor). IRAP now operates four streams as of 2026: Core, Clean Technology (absorbed SDTC mandate in 2024), AI Assist ($100M/5yr), and Defence Industry Assist ($241M, launched Jan 2026). Full integration into Canada Innovation Corporation (CIC) slated for 2026-27.
How NorthGrants helps with Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
Most business owners read about Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.