Strengthening Canada's leadership in AI innovation and adoption
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that has the potential to transform the economy across all industries in Canada. Responsible development of AI holds tremendous economic potential in terms of commercialization, innovation, productivity and competitiveness, and has the potential to generate a range of social and environmental benefits for Canadians.
The global race to scale up and adopt AI is on, and Canada is at the forefront of this technology. As part of Budget 2024, the Government of Canada has allocated $200 million to Canada's regional development agencies (RDAs) to help bring new AI technologies to market and help accelerate AI adoption in critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, clean technology, manufacturing and other sectors of regional importance.
The Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) provides support through two streams:
AI productization and commercialization will help AI start-ups and growing firms scale up and address common challenges on their journey from lab prototypes to real-world applications, including securing growth capital, hiring the right people, managing data, and navigating regulatory frameworks.
Adoption of AI applications across critical sectors will address the AI adoption lag among Canadian businesses and help enhance productivity, growth and competitiveness. Support will focus on addressing challenges faced by SMEs, such as skills gaps, AI integration complexities, and compliance with regulatory and industry standards.
To find out more, visit your local RDA website:
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Quebec
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
Northern Ontario
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor)
Southern Ontario
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
Prairie provinces
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
British Columbia
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)
Note: Dates for the opening of application intake may vary. Please visit your RDA website for more information.