IRAP Funding: Subsidize your technological development with the Industrial Research Assistance Program

With NRC IRAP, Canada funds the development and commercialization of technology and innovative products

The IRAP program from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) provides financial support to eligible Canadian small and medium-sized businesses wishing to boost their research and development efforts. This generous funding program offers direct grants of up to $500,000 (the average amount is $94,000) to support the development and commercialization of innovative products and services.

Once an agreement is signed with the National Research Council of Canada, the IRAP program refunds up to 80% of salaries and 50% of subcontractor costs related to eligible R&D activities. Grant money is disbursed monthly and based on reported project milestones and expenses incurred. A reporting system must be in place, and the NRC may conduct audits to ensure compliance with the agreement.

This non-repayable financial assistance, funded by IRAP, excludes eligible expenses incurred during the upstream planning or post-commercialization phases. The economic impact of these grants is considerable, especially for innovative Canadian businesses planning to scale.

NRC IRAP program grants enable firms to pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative products. The industrial research assistance program empowers entrepreneurs to access government grants and increase their revenue through technology-driven innovation.

The NRC has a wide network of industrial technology advisors throughout Canada and offer their advisory services in addition to funding.

IRAP eligibility criteria

To qualify, your applicant firm must demonstrate a strong research and development project with clearly defined technology guidance and a structured business innovation plan. A detailed project proposal must include technical uncertainties, a robust development plan, a commercialization plan and projections for growth and profit.

You must also prove that your product is likely to commercialize within 18 to 24 months. Unlike other funding to support R&D, the NRC IRAP program focuses on profit by developing tangible results and the impact on the Canadian economy.

Three NRC professionals will be assigned to your file: a technology advisor, a business advisor, and a coordinator. Meetings are key milestones in the processes in Canada and should be strategically prepared.

If your project includes original software or other technologies, you may be eligible for both IRAP and the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credits with an integrated R&D funding strategy tailored to your business objectives and corporate taxes considerations.

The NRC handles many such files each fiscal year, but budgets are very limited, contrarily to the SR&ED program, so proper preparation and timing are important.

Emergex can assist you in your IRAP application process

Avoid wasting time and money. We evaluate your eligibility for the IRAP program before any investment is committed or incurred. Our advisors assess if your project aligns with this leading innovation assistance program run by the National Research Council of Canada.

We help you:

1. Avoid wasting precious efforts and costs: We assess your project from a technological perspective and let you know how likely it is to qualify for the IRAP program before you commit time and money to preparing a visit with the National Research Council of Canada’s industry technology advisors.
2. Position your project strategically: We help you align your work with NRC IRAP’s priorities by showing how your solution contributes to industrial research and enriches the existing knowledge base. This approach maximizes your chances of approval while supporting your plan to pursue growth.
3. Cover all the bases: Our team assists in creating compelling documentation and coaching you ahead of meetings with NRC technology advisors. We also guide you through the required reporting processes in Canada and support you during the project monitoring phase. We can also review your business plan.
4. Optimize the combination of programs: Emergex builds tailored strategies by combining government grants and R&D funding streams such as SR&ED, MITACS, NSERC, and other assistance programs. This lets you maximize your ROI and accelerate your development and commercialization of innovative products or services.

Emergex’s expertise allows companies to accelerate their innovation across any province, including Ontario, and secure up to 10 million dollars in funding through well-planned efforts.

Programs combination

If your R&D funding comes from both the NRC IRAP program and SR&ED, you must coordinate the claims. While SR&ED can cover complementary costs, funding from IRAP must be subtracted to avoid overlaps. Yet, applying to both programs can be strategic when well executed and generate more revenues.

Emergex helps you develop an integrated approach to successfully applying for your optimal mix of grants and tax credits. From development of innovative products to maximizing business innovation and commercialization of technology, we help you plan to pursue growth effectively.

For a free evaluation of your optimal grants and tax credits combination, contact us now.