NRC’s Industrial Research Program (IRAP) provides technical and business innovation advising, financial assistance, and industry connections to over 10,000 SMEs annually. Known as one of Canada’s best funding programs, IRAP offers financial assistance under 4 subprograms. This presentation covers: -What is IRAP and what funding opportunities are available -Who is eligible and what qualifies -How to prepare a successful IRAP claim -New updates and deadlines -How it works with the SR&ED program

1. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT IRAP
FUNDING - Including SR&ED
Presented by Ron Matheson, Advisor – Concierge Service at National
Research Council and Jeff Christie, Partner - Boast Capital
November 26, 2015

2. OUTLINE
I. Overview of the Concierge Service
II. IRAP Program
III. Q&A
IV. SR&ED

3. Ronald.matheson@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

4. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Supporting SME growth
through innovation and technology

5. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 5
NRC MISSION
• Working with clients and partners, we provide innovation support, strategic
research, scientific and technical services to develop and deploy solutions to
meet Canada’s current and future industrial and societal needs.
•
NRC-IRAP MISSION
• Accelerate the growth of SMEs by providing them with a comprehensive suite
of innovative services and funding
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 5

6. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 6
Delivered by a network of over 400 professionals located in more than 100
communities across Canada

7. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 7
How we serve
• Provide advisory services
• ITAs, Concierge Advisors (new)
• Offer strategic, competitive, business
intelligence
• Promote networking and linkages
with potential partners in Canada
and abroad
• Enable non-repayable financial
assistance

8. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 8
How to
become a client
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 8

9. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 9
If your company meets all of the following criteria:
• small-or medium-sized firm (fewer than 500 full-time
employees)
• located in Canada
• incorporated and profit-oriented
• want to grow through development and commercialization
of innovative, technology-based products, services, or
processes in Canada
Your company may be eligible for support
1. Eligibility

10. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 10
2. Meeting at your company’s site
An Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) will visit you at your location
to better understand
• Your business structure (ownership, management, etc.)
• Your business strategy
• The nature of your activities (products/services, clients, competitors…)
• Available resources (human, material, etc.)
You will
• Discuss how NRC-IRAP can help you achieve your business goals
• Learn more about the variety of NRC-IRAP services and programs
• Oversee the conditions for financial contribution support

11. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 11
3. Project definition
• Definition of the business opportunity
• Identify the client’s needs
• Decision to “buy” vs. “develop” new technology
• Define the project’s objectives, resources, timelines,
deliverables, etc.

12. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 12
4. Proposal for financial support
Your proposal must:
• Provide an overview of your business
• Contain a clear description of the activities necessary to
achieve your project
• Identify clear and measurable objectives
• Elaborate a realistic budget that is coherent with your
project’s activities and resources
• Identify other sources of financing, if necessary
Your ITA will provide you with an online template

13. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 13
5. Proposal evaluation
Project assessment:
• Understanding the business opportunity
• Evaluating the firm and its capabilities
• Assessing the project content and technical risk
Determining the financial contribution level for all costs:
• What activities are required to accomplish the project?
• What are the expected results?
• What is the overall cost of the project?
• What portion of the project does NRC-IRAP support?
• Are the project costs reasonable?

14. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 14
6. Project management and follow-up
Your ITA will work with you from start to finish:
• Offer support throughout the life of your project
• Ensure you reach your ultimate technical and business
objectives
• Follow-up to ensure you maximize the commercial benefits
resulting from your project

15. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 15
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Aerospace
Agriculture & Food
Construction & Related
Energy and Environment
Health & Life Science
ICT (Digital Economy)
Manufacturing & Materials
Others
Our clients by industry sector
Year 2012-2013

16. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 16
Impact
FINANCIAL
NRC-IRAP $1 $10 revenue for the firm
ROI
NRC-IRAP $1 $12 economic impact
JOBS
8,500 high quality jobs supported yearly
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 16

17. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program 17
Who to contact?
Ron Matheson – Edmonton Centre Concierge Advisor:
Tel: 780 429-6363, ext 227
Email: Ronald.Matheson@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Karl Miller – Calgary Centre Concierge Advisor:
Tel: 403 299-8014
Email: Karl.Miller@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

18. OVERVIEW OF THE SR&ED
PROGRAM

19. WHAT IS SR&ED?

20. APPLICABLE INDUSTRIES

21. QUALIFYING CRITERIA
Must meet three criteria to qualify for SR&ED:
1. Technological Challenges
2. Technological Uncertainty
3. Technical Content or Iterations

22. ELIGIBILITY
The CRA’s 5 questions:
1. Was there a scientific or a technological
uncertainty that could not be removed by
standard practice/engineering?
2. Did the effort involve formulating a hypothesis
specifically aimed at reducing or eliminating the
uncertainty?
Continued…

23. ELIGIBILITY
3. Was the adopted procedure consistent with the
total discipline of the scientific method,
including formulating, testing, and modifying the
hypothesis?
4. Did the process result in a scientific or
technological advancement?
5. Was a record of the hypothesis tested and
results kept as the work progressed?

24. SR&ED BENEFITS

25. WHO CAN CLAIM?
SMEs = defined as generating less than $500K taxable
net income in the prior fiscal year.

26. SR&ED BENEFITS
Return rates for SME CCPCs:

27. SR&ED BENEFITS
Return rates for non-CCPCs:

28. CRA REQUIREMENTS

29. TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION
CRA requires that SR&ED documentation must:
§ Have been documented at the time the work was
completed
§ Highlight technical obstacles or challenges
§ Be dated

30. TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION
§ Most important thing is to document the technical challenges/
obstacles as the work progresses.
§ Capture: the problem and the iterations undertaken to
attempt to resolve the problem
§ What are the different hypotheses and how was each
hypothesis tested?

31. TIME TRACKING

32. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

33. WHEN TO CLAIM?
18 Months Past Fiscal Year End
§ Current Claim = Within 6 mo
§ Amended Claim = Within 7 to 18 mo

34. TURNAROUND TIMES
From receipt of a complete claim:
§ CCPC Current Claim – 4 months
§ CCPC Amended Claim – 8 months
§ Non-CCPC Claim – 12 months

35. CRA REVIEWS
CRA Review ≠ Tax Audit
Multiple types of Reviews:
§ Desktop
§ Financial
§ Technical & Financial
§ First Time Claimant Advisory Service (FTCAS)

36. JEFF CHRISTIE
PARTNER
403 589 2809 | jchristie@boastcapital.com
BoastCapital.com | @BoastCapital | @ChristieLuge