Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) — Youth Employment Program

📋 Eligible Entities - Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Canada - Canadian corporations and partnerships - Sole proprietors and self-employed individuals - Not-for-profit organizations engaged in industrial R&D activities - Businesses must be primarily engaged in the conception or creation of new products, processes, or services - Must have fewer than 500 employees (typical SME threshold) ### 💰 Funding Details - Grant amount: Up to 50% of eligible salary costs for the hired graduate - Maximum funding: Typically $15,000–$20,000 per position (varies by province/program year) - Repayability: Non-repayable grant (not a loan) - Matching requirement: Employer covers minimum 50% of salary costs - Employment term: 6 to 12 months - Salary range covered: Based on prevailing wage rates for the graduate's role and region - No cost-sharing beyond salary: Grant covers only eligible labor costs ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - Graduate salary (primary eligible expense) for work on: - Research and development (R&D) projects - Engineering design and development - Multimedia content creation and development - Market analysis and feasibility studies - New product development - New process development - Employment-related costs (if specified in your province's guidelines): - Employer contributions (CPP, EI, benefits as per employment contract) - Project-specific costs: Salaries only; equipment, materials, or subcontracting typically ineligible ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Eligible graduate criteria: - Age: 15 to 30 years old at time of hire - Must be a Canadian resident or permanent resident - Post-secondary graduate (diploma, degree, or equivalent certification) - No prior work experience in R&D role with the same employer (first-time hire requirement) - Project requirements: - Project must have clear R&D, engineering, multimedia, or market analysis component