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Artificial Intelligence Grants and Funding in the Canadian Prairies for 2026

Across the Canadian Prairies, organizations can access a broad portfolio of artificial intelligence grants, tax credits, and non-repayable contributions. Federal programs combine with regional and provincial initiatives to support R&D, pilot projects, commercialization, and workforce training in AI. This directory explains the funding landscape for startups, SMEs, large enterprises, non-profits, and academic–industry collaborations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

31 programs available
  • Government of Alberta logo
    Grant and FundingOpen

    Other Initiatives Program (OIP)

    Government of Alberta, Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE)
    Supports urgent, community-focused projects benefiting the public interest
    Eligible Funding
    • Varies by project
    Eligible Industries
    • Educational services
    • Health care and social assistance
    • Arts, entertainment and recreation
    • Other services (except public administration)
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyEnvironment and ClimateConstruction and Renovation Human ResourcesBusiness BuyoutInnovationDigital Transformation
    Alberta, Canada
  • Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) logo
    Other SupportPartnering and CollaborationOpen

    Prairie Agtech Validation Program

    Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN)
    Supports prairie agtech validation with producers and research experts
    Eligible Funding
    • Varies by project
    Eligible Industries
    • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
    • Professional, scientific and technical services
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyInnovationDigital Transformation
    Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) logo
    Grant and FundingLoans and Capital investmentsOpen

    Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) in the Prairie Provinces

    Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), Government of Canada
    Support for responsible AI commercialization and adoption
    Eligible Funding
    • From $250,000 to $5,000,000
    • Up to 0.9% of project cost
    Eligible Industries
    • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
    • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
    • Manufacturing
    • Information and cultural industries
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyHuman Resources
    Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • EmployAbilities logo
    Grant and FundingOpening Soon

    Learn 2 Earn

    EmployAbilities
    Paid employment training and job support for Edmonton youth with barriers
    Eligible Funding
    • Varies by project
    Eligible Industries
    • Educational services
    • Health care and social assistance
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)Human Resources
    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Genome Alberta logo
    Grant and FundingClosed

    Genomics Data Connect: Accelerating Agriculture Innovation

    Genome Alberta
    Supports collaborative genomics and AI research using Alberta agricultural datasets
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 250,000 $
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyInnovation
    Timeline
    • Closing date : April 13, 2026
    Alberta, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed

    Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Tech for Healthy Aging

    Alberta Innovates
    Supports technologies for healthy aging
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 300,000 $
    • Up to 50% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyInnovationDigital Transformation
    Timeline
    • Open Date : October 12, 2024
    • Closing date : November 8, 2024
    Alberta, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Grant and FundingClosed

    Alberta Innovates — Digital Innovation in Clean Energy (DICE)

    Alberta Innovates
    Funding for digital clean energy technology development
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 250,000 $
    • Up to 50% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyEnvironment and ClimateInnovationDigital Transformation
    Timeline
    • Open Date : November 27, 2023
    • Closing date : February 1, 2024
    Alberta, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed

    Alberta Innovates — Health Innovation Platform Partnerships Program

    Alberta Innovates
    Supports Alberta health innovation platforms
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 200,000 $
    • Up to 75% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyInnovationDigital Transformation
    Timeline
    • Closing date : June 1, 2023
    Alberta, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Grant and FundingClosed

    Alberta Innovates — Health Innovations

    Alberta Innovates, Government of Alberta
    Funding for health solutions in Alberta
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 200,000 $
    • Up to 75% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)InnovationDigital Transformation
    Timeline
    • Closing date : August 31, 2021
    Alberta, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed

    Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program

    Alberta Innovates, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
    Funding for Alberta academic-industry technology collaboration
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 150,000 $
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyInnovationDigital Transformation
    Timeline
    • Closing date : November 6, 2025
    Alberta, Canada
  • Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) logo
    Grant and FundingClosed

    Crop Damage Compensation

    Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC)
    Compensation for wildlife-related crop losses
    Eligible Funding
    • Up to 100% of project cost
    Eligible Industries
    • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)Environment and Climate
    Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Government of Alberta logo
    Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed

    Emerging Innovators Challenge

    Government of Alberta, Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)
    SME-led clean technology funding in Alberta
    Eligible Funding
    • From $250,000 to $5,000,000
    • Up to 50% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyEnvironment and ClimateInnovationDigital Transformation
    Timeline
    • Closing date : December 14, 2023
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • Genome Canada logo
    Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed

    Genome Prairie — Precision Health Initiative

    Genome Canada, Genome Prairie
    Supports precision health genomics projects in Canada
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
    • Up to 45% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)Innovation
    Timeline
    • Open Date : June 1, 2025
    • Closing date : June 30, 2026
    Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed

    mCannabis

    Alberta Innovates
    Funding for cannabis-based pain research
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 300,000 $
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)Innovation
    Timeline
    • Closing date : June 1, 2023
    Alberta, Canada
  • Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) logo
    Loans and Capital investmentsClosed

    Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) — Regional Relief and Recovery Fund – Women’s Enterprise Initiative Stream

    Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), Government of Canada
    Financing support for pandemic-affected businesses
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 60,000 $
    Eligible Industries
    • All industries
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)Construction and Renovation Human ResourcesDigital Transformation
    Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) logo
    Researchers And FacilitiesGrant and FundingClosed

    RDAR — Irrigation Targeted Call

    Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR)
    Funding for irrigation research in Alberta
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 500,000 $
    • Up to 80% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyEnvironment and Climate
    Timeline
    • Open Date : June 6, 2024
    • Closing date : August 15, 2024
    Alberta, Canada
  • Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) logo
    Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingExpert AdviceClosed

    Reshaping Energy Systems

    Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), Government of Alberta
    Funding for Alberta energy system innovation
    Eligible Funding
    • From $250,000 to $10,000,000
    • Up to 50% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyEnvironment and ClimateInnovationDigital Transformation
    Timeline
    • Closing date : June 15, 2023
    Alberta, Canada
  • McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health logo
    Grant and FundingClosed

    SPARC Ignite Grants

    McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health
    Funding for new bone and joint health research collaborations
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 20,000 $
    Eligible Industries
    • Professional, scientific and technical services
    • Health care and social assistance
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)Innovation
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed

    Support for technological entrepreneurship

    Alberta Innovates
    Support for technological entrepreneurship in Quebec
    Eligible Funding
    • Varies by project
    Eligible Industries
    • Professional, scientific and technical services
    • Educational services
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyInnovation
    Alberta, Canada
  • TECHNATION (TECHNATION) logo
    Wage Subsidies And InternsClosed

    TECHNATION — Calgary Wage Subsidy Program

    TECHNATION (TECHNATION)
    Wage subsidies for tech skill development in Calgary businesses
    Eligible Funding
    • Up to 80% of project cost
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyHuman Resources
    Timeline
    • Open Date : September 1, 2024
    • Closing date : April 30, 2025
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) logo
    Grant and FundingClosed

    Wildlife Damage Claims

    Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC)
    Wildlife damage compensation and prevention support
    Eligible Funding
    • From $150 to $5,000
    • Up to 100% of project cost
    Eligible Industries
    • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)Environment and ClimateConstruction and Renovation Innovation
    Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingArchived

    Alberta Innovates — Agri-Food and Bioindustrial Innovation Program

    Alberta Innovates
    Funding for agri-food and bioindustrial innovation
    Eligible Funding
    • Maximum amount : 500,000 $
    • Up to 75% of project cost
    Eligible Industries
    • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
    • Construction
    • Manufacturing
    Types of eligible projects
    CommercializationArtificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyEnvironment and ClimateConstruction and Renovation InnovationDigital Transformation
    Alberta, Canada
  • Alberta Innovates logo
    Grant and FundingArchived

    Alberta Innovates — Land and Biodiversity Program

    Alberta Innovates
    Support for sustainable land and biodiversity innovation
    Eligible Funding
    • Varies by project
    Eligible Industries
    • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
    • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
    • Utilities
    Types of eligible projects
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)TechnologyEnvironment and ClimateInnovationDigital Transformation
    Alberta, Canada

Frequently asked questions about AI grants in the Canadian Prairies

Find clear answers about artificial intelligence grants, eligibility, stacking with tax credits, and application steps across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

What AI grants are available in Alberta for startups?

Alberta startups can explore Alberta Innovates grants and vouchers for prototypes and pilots, NRC IRAP AI funding for R&D, and PrairiesCan streams for scale-up. Many also use Mitacs internships and the SR&ED AI tax credit. City-focused options are common for Calgary and Edmonton, including Industry 4.0 and digital adoption micro-grants. Consider cluster programs such as Scale AI for supply chain applications.

How do I get AI funding in Saskatchewan for agriculture projects?

Start with Innovation Saskatchewan programs such as the Agtech Growth Fund or SAIF for applied agri-tech R&D and pilots. Align with federal options—NSERC Alliance AI, NRC IRAP, and Protein Industries Canada for agri-food. Prepare letters of support from farm or processor partners and outline precision agriculture KPIs. helloDarwin can connect you with experts to structure eligibility, stacking, and application documents.

Are there non-repayable AI grants in Manitoba for SMEs?

Yes. Manitoba’s Innovation Growth Program can co-fund product development and commercialization, while federal programs like NRC IRAP and Mitacs provide non-repayable support. Many SMEs also leverage digital adoption AI micro-grants and training subsidies to build capabilities before pilot-to-scale. Always review stacking rules with SR&ED.

Which federal programs fund AI research collaborations in the Prairies?

NSERC Alliance funds university–industry AI collaborations, and NRC IRAP supports SME-led R&D with advisory services. Mitacs adds graduate internships, and CFI may support AI infrastructure at institutions. For thematic challenges, Innovative Solutions Canada offers AI calls. Align your TRL and partner roles to each program.

Can AI grants be combined with the SR&ED tax credit?

Yes, many organizations stack AI grants with SR&ED claims by separating cost categories and respecting program-specific stacking limits. Maintain time tracking, statements of work, and audit-ready documentation. Seek guidance early to avoid double counting and to optimize non-dilutive funding.

What sectors in the Prairies receive priority for AI funding?

Priority areas include agri-tech and protein processing, energy and clean tech, advanced manufacturing, health data and medical imaging, and logistics and supply chain optimization. Municipal smart city initiatives and rural broadband analytics also see support. Tailor your application to regional strengths and partners.

How can helloDarwin help with an AI grant application in the Prairies?

helloDarwin simplifies AI grant discovery and eligibility through a hybrid model: expert consulting plus a SaaS platform for program matching and tracking. Our advisors clarify stacking with SR&ED, draft fundable work plans, and prepare audit-ready budgets. This streamlined approach reduces friction from intake to reporting across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

What documents are required for AI grant applications?

Typical bundles include a technical statement of work, project plan with milestones, detailed budget, resumes of key staff, letters of support, IP and data governance policies, and privacy/ethics documentation. For collaborations, add partnership agreements and knowledge mobilization plans. Maintain consistent cost allocations for stacking.

Are there AI training grants for Prairie employers?

Yes. Employer training grants, digital adoption programs, and voucher-style supports can fund AI upskilling in data engineering, MLOps, and responsible AI. Many firms combine short courses with pilot budgets to accelerate adoption without disrupting operations.

How do Prairie SMEs fund AI pilot projects with fast turnaround?

Consider voucher or micro-grant pathways, municipal or regional innovation funds, and challenge calls with short cycles. NRC IRAP can fund time-bound R&D sprints, while Mitacs adds talent quickly. helloDarwin’s experts and SaaS platform help shortlist fast-moving intakes and assemble compliant, milestone-based proposals.

Explore related grant directories