The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is Canada’s leading innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized businesses.
If you operate an innovative small or medium-sized business in Canada, Business Plan Experts can help you build your innovation capacity and take your ideas to market. We do this through financial assistance, advisory services and connections to the best business and R&D expertise in Canada. It’s a winning model we’ve been using to drive business growth—and Canada’s innovation system—for over 70 years.
Known as one of Canada’s best funding programs, IRAP offers non-repayable financial assistance covering 80% of salaries and 50% of contractor costs under the following subprograms.
- Small Technology Innovation Projects, or the Accelerated Review Process (ARP): Provides grants up to $50K to help firms fund R&D and/or commercialize technology projects.
- Mid-sized Technology Innovation Projects: Provides larger grants up to $10 million that are typically focused on R&D, developing new innovative products, creating original software, etc.
- Youth Employment Strategy Programs: Provides grants up to $30,000/graduate between the ages of 15–30 for a 12-month work placement. You may apply for up to two candidates, but candidates must not be an employee at the time of application submission.