NRC IRAP IP Assist

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) offers a range of services to accelerate the growth of Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises.

The main goal of the IP Assist program is to provide a comprehensive set of IP advisory services and funding.

Key Objectives

  • Increase IP awareness among Canadian SMEs.
  • Help businesses develop a customized IP strategy aligned with their business goals.
  • Provide funding and support to assist businesses in executing their IP strategies.

Benefits and Support​

IP Assist offers three levels of support:

  • Level 1: IP Awareness – Provides access to advisors, resources, and partner organizations to help businesses better understand IP and its importance.
  • Level 2: IP Strategy – Offers connections to IP experts to assist businesses in developing a tailored IP strategy, including analysis of technology, business, and IP landscapes.
  • Level 3: IP Action – Provides funding to execute the actions prioritized in the business’s IP strategy, helping transform innovation into valuable assets.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Businesses must be Canadian SMEs with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
  • The company must be incorporated and for-profit.
  • The business should have a focus on developing and commercializing innovative technology-driven products, services, or processes within Canada.

Application Process

  • To access NRC IRAP’s resources, founders need to become IRAP clients and, once the screening process is concluded, they will be assigned an ITA (Industrial Technology Advisor)
  • Initial contact is made through NRC IRAP by calling 1-877-994-4727.
  • Following the assignment of your ITA, entrepreneurs will be working with them for all IRAP programs, including the IP Assist.

Resources and Support

Further information about the program can be found in our blog post.

If you are interested in learning more about the IP Assist  program, please feel free to connect with us at projects@riahi-ip.com.  We’ll be happy to help you develop and implement an IP strategy tailored to your specific needs and future plans for your business.