What kind of criteria is used to decide if a firm warrants funding?
David: IRAP is an innovation support program. The first criterion is that the firm’s project proposal must exhibit a direction that indicates potential success along an innovation path that will lead the company to be more competitive. Secondly, we assess if the firm can pay its share of the salary and all non-salary costs? IRAP is a cost sharing program. We do not pay for material, we do not pay for expenses. If the firm has a project that involves some capital outlays and expenses, then they need to demonstrate that they can cover these costs. As the project proposal is being developed, the firm will need to get agreement from the ITA that the funding fits with the IRAP criteria and the agreed-upon direction for the firm. Of course, there are IRAP program forms that need to be filled out. These forms are provided by the ITA and are not available on the NRC website. IRAP is a contribution agreement funding program which is to say that the program provides funding based on a contract.
