NRC IRAP
This guide is retained as dated editorial context. Confirm a current verified intake with the official program operator before taking action.
Current operational facts
Status
Status under review
Review the official source before relying on availability, timing, or funding amounts.
Timing
Confirm in official guidance
Funding
Confirm in official guidance
Being re-verified; check the official source
Open program operator pageOverview
Program availability is currently unavailable or under review.
The guide below preserves dated structure and source context. It does not represent a current offer, application path, or eligibility decision.
Eligibility context
Hard Gates — Must Have
Incorporated in Canada
Must be a Canadian corporation
500 employees or fewer
Headcount at time of application
Revenue under $50M
Annual gross revenue threshold
For-profit
Not eligible for non-profits or government entities
Soft Gates — Nice to Have
Active R&D spending
Demonstrates innovation capacity
Technical uncertainty
Project must push beyond known solutions
Commercial potential
Clear path to market or revenue
How Much
Current status
Status under review
Timing
Confirm in official guidance
Funding
Confirm in official guidance
Editorial process context
Do not start an application from this guide. Confirm a current intake with the official program operator first.
Contact your local ITA
NRC assigns an Industrial Technology Advisor to your region. They're your first point of contact.
Project scoping meeting
ITA reviews your project for technical uncertainty and commercial potential.
Formal application
Submit detailed project plan, budget, and technical narrative with ITA guidance.
Review and approval
NRC committee evaluates the proposal. ITA advocates for your project.
Project execution
Quarterly check-ins with ITA. Submit expense claims as you go.
Common Mistakes
Applying for routine development
IRAP funds innovation, not feature work. If you already know how to build it, IRAP won't fund it. You need genuine technical uncertainty.
Underestimating the ITA relationship
Your ITA is your advocate inside NRC. Companies that engage early and often get better outcomes than those who submit and wait.
Confusing IRAP with SR&ED
IRAP is forward-looking project funding. SR&ED is backward-looking tax credits. You can and should stack both — IRAP for the project, SR&ED for the tax return.
Program action is unavailable
This program is not currently available for matching. Review the official program operator page for a verified future intake.