NRC IRAP

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, NRC IRAP can help you build your innovation capacity and take your ideas to market. They do this through financial assistance, advisory services and connections to the best business and R&D expertise in Canada. Known as one of Canada’s best funding programs, NRC IRAP offers non-repayable financial assistance covering 80% of salaries and 50% of contractor costs under the following subprograms. The total project costs and allocated funding are determined by working with an NRC IRAP Industry Technology Advisor (ITA).

In order to be considered for IRAP funding, you must meet the basic eligibility criteria:

• Be a Canadian SME, incorporated and profit-oriented
• Have 500 or less full-time employees
• Have the objective to grow and generate profits through the development and commercialization of innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services, or processes in Canada.

Mid-sized Technology Innovation Projects

NRC IRAP provides funding to support research and development projects at various stages of the innovation cycle, that are typically focused on R&D, developing new innovative products, creating original software, etc. In 2018‑2019, NRC IRAP was mandated to expand its support to include an increased funding threshold of up to $10 million for larger research and development projects. This increased funding support will make it easier for small and medium‑sized Canadian businesses to access the support they need to grow and expand their companies.

Youth Employment Programs

The Youth Employment Program offers financial assistance (up to $30,000/graduate) to offset the cost of hiring young talent to work on projects with R&D, engineering, multimedia or market analysis components or to help develop a new product or process. The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) delivers this program under the federal government's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to help young Canadians get career information, develop skills, find good jobs, and stay employed. In addition to bringing new ideas to your organization, your participation also helps highly skilled young people transition into today's rapidly changing labour market. 

To be eligible for financial assistance through our youth employment program, your business must be:

• a small or medium-sized business (500 or fewer full-time equivalents)
• incorporated and for-profit
• ready to enhance your innovation capacity and willing to partner with NRC IRAP

The youth internship will last a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months. The candidate must work a minimum of 30 hours per week. The candidate must also be:

• 15 to 30 years of age at the start of the internship
• a post-secondary graduate
• a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or person granted refugee status in Canada
• legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial legislation and regulations
• a first-time participant in a Youth Employment and Skills Strategy work experience program targeted at post-secondary graduates