What is NRC IRAP — Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist)?
NRC IRAP — Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist) is delivered by National Research Council Canada as a grant. Funding is typically variable — part of $244.2M envelope. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Variable — part of $244.2M envelope |
|---|---|
| Cost share | Typically up to 50-80% of eligible costs (ITA-negotiated) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant |
| Delivered by | National Research Council Canada |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open — rolling via ITA |
| Last verified | May 2026 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Defence, dual-use tech, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, advanced materials, communications, surveillance, AI
- Employee count: min 1, max 500
- Eligible activities: R&D on dual-use or defence-relevant technologies meeting Canadian Armed Forces capability needs. Must demonstrate both commercial viability AND defence relevance.
Watch out for
Over 500 employees; no defence or dual-use technology angle; non-incorporated; no commercial viability path; purely academic research
Deadlines & how to apply
Launched January 9, 2026 by Minister Joly. $244.2M envelope (starting in 2025-26). Route: if you already receive IRAP support, contact your ITA; new applicants start via 1-877-994-4727 or the NRC IRAP portal. Dual-use focus makes this a layer on top of Core IRAP, not a standalone. Continuous intake — no fixed application deadlines.
How NorthGrants helps with NRC IRAP — Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist)
Most business owners read about NRC IRAP — Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist), 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.