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AI Compute Access Fund - Canada

AI Compute Access Fund

Last Update: July 22, 2025
Canada
Supports Canadian SMEs in accessing advanced AI compute resources

At a glance

Eligible Funding
  • From $67,000 to $3,350,000
  • Up to 67% of project cost
Timeline
  • Open Date : June 25, 2025
  • Closing date : July 31, 2025
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Open

Overview

The AI Compute Access Fund provides up to $5 million in funding to Canadian SMEs to support the development, training, and operation of artificial intelligence models. The program aims to accelerate AI innovation by covering costs associated with cloud-based compute services for eligible research and commercialization activities.

Financing terms and conditions

  • Eligible project costs must range between $100,000 and $5,000,000, for projects lasting up to three years.
  • Funding covers up to two-thirds (2:1) of costs for Canadian, cloud-based compute services, and up to half (1:1) of costs for non-Canadian compute services until March 31, 2027.
  • Effective April 1, 2027, only costs from Canadian compute providers are eligible for support.
  • Total funding from all government sources must not exceed 100% of eligible project costs.

Activities funded

  • Development, training, or operation of AI models using cloud-based compute services.
  • Training AI models to prepare them for commercial launch.
  • Using cloud-based services to provide inference for AI products or services.
  • Modifying, improving, or fine-tuning existing AI models through cloud-based computing.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 2,597,000
Training AI models for personalized agricultural crop yield prediction
$ 3,495,000
Fine-tuning large language models for Francophone legal document review
$ 1,245,000
Enhancing AI support for real-time digital mental health triage
$ 3,150,000
Implementing cloud AI for demand-based energy management optimization
$ 1,790,000
Deploying cloud-based AI for autonomous retail inventory management
$ 4,300,000
Scaling up cloud compute for real-time medical image analysis AI

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be an active Canadian-registered for-profit company developing AI products or services, or a consortium led by such an entity.
  • The applicant must be a registered corporation or limited liability partnership (LLP) with fewer than 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
  • The company must have R&D teams based in Canada and be willing to execute project activities within Canada.
  • The company must be revenue-generating and/or demonstrate investor interest by having secured at least Series A financing.
  • The applicant must have contracts, invoices, or evidence of ongoing arrangements for compute services at the time of application.

Who is eligible?

  • Canadian-registered for-profit companies developing AI products or services
  • Consortiums of organizations with a Canadian corporation or LLP as the project lead applicant
  • Indigenous-owned for-profit businesses (including sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, micro-enterprises, or other unincorporated entities) that are at least 51% Indigenous-owned and controlled

Who is not eligible

  • Companies or subsidiaries that are themselves AI compute service providers cannot offset their own compute costs through this program.
  • Businesses using compute service providers headquartered in, or operating from, countries or jurisdictions under Canadian sanctions, or with national security concerns or regulatory restrictions, are not eligible for funding for those expenditures.

Eligible expenses

  • Payments for service contracts with AI compute service providers (domestic or eligible foreign providers) for compute-related activities.
  • Core compute expenses.
  • Storage costs related to AI compute.
  • Compute-specific licensing fees.
  • AI/ML processing costs.
  • Operational monitoring expenses specific to compute services.
  • Compute-specific security requirement expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

  • Companies registered and operating in Canada.

Selection criteria

  • Market potential of the proposed project.
  • Management capacity and resources of the organization to carry out the project.
  • Financial capacity to complete the project.
  • Technological maturity of the solution presented.
  • Economic, innovation, and public interest benefits for Canada.

How to apply

1

Review eligibility and program details

  • Review the eligibility criteria for the AI Compute Access Fund
  • Gather information on program objectives, eligible activities, and financial support
2

Create account and verify identity

  • Create a 'my Canada Business Account' via the AI Compute Access Fund online portal
  • Verify your identity to access the portal
3

Submit Statement of Interest

  • Submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) through the online portal
  • Provide business information, eligibility confirmation, and a high-level project overview
  • Receive confirmation of eligibility from ISED within 5 business days
4

Submit full application

  • Receive invitation to submit a full application if SOI is approved
  • Prepare and submit a detailed application with project, financial, and organizational details
  • Upload any requested supporting documentation
5

Application under review

  • Wait for application assessment and review by ISED
  • Possible supplementary information requests with a 5 business day response window
6

Accept Contribution Agreement

  • If selected, receive a Contribution Agreement from ISED
  • Review terms and conditions and accept the offer within 30 business days

Additional information

  • Applicants may only submit one application per business number.
  • Decisions regarding funding recipient selection are final and may be subject to review, but ISED makes the final determination.
  • Non-repayable, conditionally repayable, or repayable contributions may be offered, depending on the project's benefits and risk profile.
  • Reporting requirements will include both financial and technical progress updates, as set out in the Contribution Agreement.
Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the AI Compute Access Fund Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the AI Compute Access Fund. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the AI Compute Access Fund?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the AI Compute Access Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the AI Compute Access Fund?

Who is eligible for the AI Compute Access Fund program?

Who can I contact for more information about the AI Compute Access Fund?

Where is the AI Compute Access Fund available?

Are startups eligible for the AI Compute Access Fund program?

Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the AI Compute Access Fund program?

Apply to this program

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