Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative
Ongoing Program
Accepting Applications
The Program
Overview
Part of the REGI
Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses operate, innovate and compete. Supporting responsible AI adoption and commercialization will improve productivity, grow Canadian companies, strengthen the economy, and help share the benefits and opportunities created by AI across regions and communities.
The Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) provides funding to:
- help businesses adopt and integrate AI to improve productivity, competitiveness and resilience
- help Canadian AI companies bring their products and services to market and scale in Canada and globally
- strengthen the organizations and networks that help businesses adopt and commercialize AI.
As part of AI for All, Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, an additional $500 million over five years is available through the expanded RAII, bringing total federal funding for the initiative to $700 million.
Eligible Clients
- SMEs that commercialize or develop AI technologies or solutions, including start-ups
- SMEs that are ready to adopt AI technologies or solutions
- NPOs that support SMEs in developing, commercializing or adopting AI technologies
- Indigenous-led businesses and NPOs, including individual businesses
Ineligible Clients
- Municipalities
- Public agencies, including health and social services agencies, schools and school boards
Eligible activities
Eligible projects must contribute to one of the two pillars targeted by this initiative:
- To support the development of products and the commercialization of AI by start-ups and growing
businesses, for example:
- Projects that make it possible to demonstrate and/or commercialize AI technologies and solutions (meaning a technology readiness level of 6 or higher)
- Projects that make it possible to develop business activity and strengthen the capacity for AI
- To accelerate the adoption or integration of AI by SMEs, including in critical sectors, for
example:
- Projects to adopt or strategically integrate AI
- Projects that support the AI ecosystem aimed at AI adoption and integration by SMEs
- Other activities may be eligible. Contact us to share your project.
Financial support
For SMEs
- Repayable financial support up to 50% of authorized costs
For NPOs
- Generally non-repayable financial support up to 90% of authorized costs
Costs are eligible from the date the application is submitted.
Funding application
Would you like to submit a project? Here are the steps:
Additional Information
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Responsible AI
Responsible AI is a priority of the Government of Canada. In this regard, CED aims to raise awareness among its potential clients and encourage them to adopt AI responsibly, making it possible to use AI while respecting human rights and democratic values, in addition to fostering inclusive economic growth.
To learn more about responsible AI, check out these tools:
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Additional prioritization criteria
Depending on available funding, priority may be given to the following projects:
- Adoption projects submitted by SMEs, particularly those in sectors aligned with Canada’s National AI Strategy, namely health and life sciences, energy and natural resources, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing and robotics.
- Projects that include the implementation of cybersecurity measures
- Projects that encourage the participation of underrepresented socio-economic groups
- Projects that encourage the transition to environmentally sustainable activities and practices