The Innovation Research Assistance Program (IRAP) is an initiative administered by the National Research Council (NRC). Its primary goal is to promote and expedite the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by offering them a wide range of innovation services and financial support.

Under the umbrella of NRC IRAP, funding is made available to assist research and development projects at different phases of the innovation cycle. This enables businesses to receive the necessary resources and funding to advance their innovative ideas and bring them to fruition.

Although IRAP funding has been available for several years, a new funding program focused on intellectual property (IP), commonly known as IP Assist, was introduced in 2022.

IP Assist Program eligibility

To initiate the process, SMEs are to contact NRC IRAP by calling 1-877-994-4727. This initial step involves a pre-screening call, which typically lasts around 20 minutes. During this call, an IRAP representative will pose a series of high-level inquiries to assess the SME for eligibility. These questions pertain to the following criteria:

  • Is the business incorporated and profit-oriented, operating as a SME in Canada?
  • Does the company have 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees?
  • Does the business have plans to pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes in Canada?