Funding, News and Announcements

The IRAP Science and Technology Assistance Program supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in strengthening their competitiveness and fostering growth through innovation. This initiative connects companies with university researchers, providing streamlined access to scientific and technical expertise.

1. Who administers the program?
The program is managed by the Dalhousie Office of Commercialization & Industry Engagement (OCIE), with funding provided by the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

2. How much funding is available per project?
Each short-term project is eligible for $5,000 in funding, which can be used to support the salaries of the researcher and any supervised students or technicians(no materials/supplies are covered).

3. How can researchers get involved?
Whether you're looking to learn more, be matched with an industry partner, or already have one in mind, reach out to Aishwarya Shrestha, Program Coordinator at OCIE, at A.Shrestha@dal.ca to get started.

4. What are the project timelines and deadlines?
Projects must be completed within two months of the official start date. Projects officially begin upon receiving a “green-light” email from OCIE. All projects must be completed by February 15, 2026.

5. What are the eligibility criteria for companies?
Eligible industry partners must:

• Be incorporated as a for-profit business
• Be headquartered in Canada
• Have 500 or fewer employees

6. What is the expected outcome of the project?
The university researcher(s) will deliver a confidential report outlining their findings and recommendations, which will be shared with the company.