Open international calls and missions where Canadian SMEs can co-develop and test AI and technology with partners abroad, mostly with funding through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). Selected and kept current by AiNetworking-Canada.
Last checked:
Register by October 15, 2026
An acceleration program that connects Canadian SMEs with partners in Japan’s Keihanna science city to explore co-development and market entry.
Full proposal due October 26, 2026
Industrial R&D projects with European partners on networks, communications and the digital services built on them, including AI-enabled systems.
Project outline due November 26, 2026 (17:00 CET)
Collaborative industrial R&D with European partners on quantum hardware, software and applications.
Project outline due January 21, 2027 (17:00 CET)
Industrial R&D projects with European partners on the electronics and systems that devices, vehicles and AI at the edge run on.
Fall 2026 virtual workshops
Virtual workshops that help an SME build its international co-innovation plan, followed by a one-on-one action plan review a week later. Projects are completed within six months. Ask your NRC IRAP advisor for an expression of interest form.
Source: NRC IRAP International “New Opportunities” bulletin, October 1, 2026. Always confirm the deadline and eligibility on the official NRC page before applying. All NRC IRAP international opportunities
The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is the federal program that gives Canadian SMEs advice and funding for technology innovation. Its international office runs calls and missions with partner countries.
Mainly Canadian SMEs. To receive NRC IRAP funding, a company must first be eligible as an NRC IRAP client. Some calls, such as CELTIC-NEXT and Xecs, also accept other Canadian organizations, but without NRC IRAP funding.
International calls connect Canadian SMEs with credible partners abroad to co-develop, test and validate their technology in new markets. It is a faster, lower-risk way to prove what works and build the evidence needed to grow commercially outside Canada.
For collaborative R&D calls like Eureka CELTIC-NEXT and Xecs, yes: projects are built with partners in participating countries. Partnering missions such as Keihanna are designed to help you find those partners.
We share opportunities like these with our community and connect members who want to find collaborators. Join the community to hear about new calls and meet people working on similar projects.
