Funding for bilateral research projects Germany-Canada

Apply by June 19

02.03.2026

Jointlywith the Canadian National Research Council (NRC) / IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Programme), this ZIM program supports bilateral research and development (R&D) projects of small and medium-sized enterprises from Germany and Canada. The 17th call for proposals of the program is currently open.

The projects should develop technologically innovative products, processes or services with high market potential.

Application deadline: June 19, 2026

Funding structure

German partners are supported via the regular ZIM funding guidelines.
The ZIM funding rate can be increased by up to 10 percentage points for transnational projects.
For Canadian partners, the NRC-IRAP funding rules apply, where Canadian SMEs can receive up to 50% of their eligible costs (depending on the program and requirements).

Participation

A bilateral consortium with at least one German and one Canadian SME is required. Additional project partners (e.g. research institutions) are possible, provided they contribute to the project objective.

Technological orientation

The open call is aimed at R&D projects from various technological fields. Market-oriented innovations with a clear growth and commercialization strategy are expected.
For Bavarian SMEs, cooperation with Canada offers several strategic advantages, including risk-reduced internationalization through public funding and the establishment of technological partnerships in highly innovative areas such as AI, cleantech, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. Especially for export-oriented Bavarian companies or technology-driven SMEs, this combination of funding and market development can be a sensible next step.