Outreach Initiative grants and contributions program

NRC IRAP to be integrated into the new Canada Innovation Corporation (CIC)

Learn more

On February 16, 2023, the Government of Canada announced that the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) will be integrated into the new Canada Innovation Corporation (CIC). The CIC will be a new, operationally independent organization solely dedicated to supporting business R&D across all regions and all sectors of the economy.

The transfer of IRAP will happen after an interim period of approximately 24 months, during which IRAP will remain part of the NRC. During this period, every effort will be made to ensure continuity of program delivery for clients and operational stability for staff. Existing funding agreements will continue and new agreements can be signed.

IRAP employees will continue to work directly with clients, under a business-as-usual approach, to ensure a smooth transition. Please contact your IRAP representative directly if you have questions or are seeking more information.

The NRC's Outreach Initiative provides grant funding to support non-profit organizations or charities for a variety of science- or innovation-based initiatives or projects.

Eligible activities, projects or initiatives include support for science- or innovation-based conferences, workshops, symposia, or other outreach activities aimed at better promoting outreach to, and engagement with, Canadians, including those from under-represented groups interested in STEM.

"The NRC was a crucial Shad partner. Your financial grant assisted with the costs of offering the month-long, online STEM immersion to 600 youths. In addition to the incredible contribution by your astronomy and astrophysics team members, the NRC's involvement made a strong and positive contribution to the program. Shad participants learned about the extensive NRC capabilities and research areas across the country, exposing opportunities for future collaboration and employment. IRAP's mandate and capabilities in helping small and medium enterprises access, develop, exploit and apply technologies to create new products, services and industrial processes to stimulate innovation was also discovered by participants."

Shad Canada

Assessment of your request

Your request for an Outreach Initiative grant will be assessed based on:

  • contribution to the expansion of the pool of research excellence
  • contribution to promoting the development of evidenced-based science policy
  • impact and value of proposed outreach initiative
  • inclusion of under-represented groups

To encourage the submission of a diverse and wide range of proposals, consideration may be given to applicants who have not previously received funding through the program, and/or initiatives that benefit wide-reaching events throughout Canada and that are deemed NRC priorities.

Application period:

Applications are accepted on a semi-annual basis. Applications must be submitted between April 1 and May 9; or between September 1 and October 10.

How to apply

To apply, contact the NRC Stakeholder Relations group to receive the application form and the application guide.

If your application is successful, you will be responsible for:

  1. administering the funds as set out in the funding agreement
  2. reporting on results once at the end of your project, allowing the NRC to collect performance measurement data

Contact us

NRC Stakeholder Relations group: NRC.StakeholderRelations-Relationsavecintervenants.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca