NRC IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program)
NRC IRAP is the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program. It gives non-repayable contributions and advisory services to incorporated, for-profit firms with up to 500 employees that are developing technology-driven products. There are no intake windows: access goes through an Industrial Technology Advisor.
Start an applicationProgram facts
| Type | Grant (non-repayable contribution) |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Incorporated, for-profit firms with up to 500 employees that are developing technology-driven products. |
| Amount or rate | Set project by project with an Industrial Technology Advisor. IRAP does not fund day-to-day operating costs or purely commercial activities. |
| Intake status | Continuous intake. No intake windows. Contact an Industrial Technology Advisor at 1-877-994-4727. |
| Run by | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) |
| Checked on | 8 October 2026 |
| Official page | https://nrc.canada.ca/en/support-technology-innovation/financial-support-technology-innovation |
How it pays
IRAP funding is a non-repayable contribution toward a technology project, agreed with an Industrial Technology Advisor. It is not money for running the business: day-to-day operating costs and purely commercial activities are outside it.
IRAP also offers advisory services, and runs a separate stream that helps firms hire young graduates.
Funding your share while you wait
Because IRAP leaves operating costs out, the business keeps paying rent, payroll outside the project and suppliers on its own while the project runs. When customers pay on 30 to 90 day terms, that is where the pressure shows.
A line of credit carries general working capital; invoice factoring turns unpaid customer invoices into cash. Voxen assesses either on revenue and bank statements. An IRAP agreement is not taken as security.
The Voxen products that fit this program. Ranges are the ones on each product page; every file is assessed on the business's revenue and bank statements.
| Financing | Range | What it covers here |
|---|---|---|
| Line of Credit | Credit Limit: $10,000 – $1,000,000 | Working capital while you wait for a reimbursement or a refund. Draw what the project needs, pay it down when the money arrives. |
| Invoice Factoring | Facility Size: $30,000 – $50,000,000 | Cash from unpaid customer invoices, when slow-paying customers are what makes the wait hard. |
Related programs
| Program | Type | Status | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR&ED tax credit | Tax credit | Continuous intake | 8 October 2026 |
| CRIC tax credit | Tax credit | Open | 8 October 2026 |
| ESSOR | Grant (non-repayable), loan or loan guarantee | Continuous intake | 8 October 2026 |
- SR&ED tax credit (Scientific Research and Experimental Development)
- Quebec tax credit for research, innovation and commercialization (CRIC)
- ESSOR (Investissement Québec)
- More programs for this situation: R&D and innovation tax credits
Not sure which program fits? Ask us
Tell us about the project and we will tell you which programs are worth a look and what financing could carry your share. Voxen does not prepare grant applications; if you want help with one, we can point you to specialists who do that work.
Notice
Voxen Capital is a private financing broker, not a government body. It does not decide, influence or guarantee any grant, credit or government loan, and it does not prepare grant applications. Program details change: check the official page before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does IRAP have application deadlines?
No. There are no intake windows. Access goes through an Industrial Technology Advisor, reachable at 1-877-994-4727.
Can IRAP pay for my day-to-day costs?
No. IRAP does not fund day-to-day operating costs or purely commercial activities. It supports technology development projects.
How big can my company be?
Up to 500 employees, incorporated and for-profit.