What is NRC IRAP AI Assist Program?
NRC IRAP AI Assist Program is delivered by National Research Council of Canada (NRC) as a grant. Funding is typically varies; no published maximum (contribution set with your NRC IRAP ITA). This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Varies; no published maximum (contribution set with your NRC IRAP ITA) |
|---|---|
| Cost share | 50% of eligible labour/subcontract |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant |
| Delivered by | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - Rolling |
| Last verified | 2026-10-05 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All sectors adopting AI or Generative AI
- Employee count: min 1, max 500
- Eligible activities: AI integration into products/services; GenAI development; deep learning; LLM adoption
Watch out for
Not incorporated; non-tech or non-AI project; over 500 employees; pure consulting
Deadlines & how to apply
Backed by $100M (Budget 2024) for SMEs building or integrating generative AI / deep learning into core products and services. Access through your IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor; must qualify as an IRAP client (incorporated, for-profit, 500 or fewer FTE). NRC's 2026-27 Departmental Plan confirms AI Assist continues in 2026-27. The Aug 2025 national call was for delivery-partner organizations, not SMEs.
How NorthGrants helps with NRC IRAP AI Assist Program
Most business owners read about NRC IRAP AI Assist Program, see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building a complete application that answers what the program asks for.
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.