AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program

Q: How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program is a Researchers And Facilities

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program?

AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program is funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Q: Who is eligible for the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program program?

To be eligible for the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program program, you must: • The applicant must be a for-profit organization based in Canada. • The project must address AI compute needs for Canadian researchers and industry. • The applicant must demonstrate capacity to leverage Canadian technology and secure funding.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program?

You can contact Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) by email at aiscip-picsia@ised-isde.gc.ca.

Q: Where is the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program available?

The AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program program is available across Canada.

Last Update: July 31, 2025

Canada

Supports Canadian AI innovation with advanced national computing infrastructure

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Receipt of requests is now closed

Financing Type

Researchers And Facilities

Partnering and Collaboration

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Manufacturing
Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

The AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program provides up to $705 million in funding to build a Canadian-owned high-performance supercomputing system supporting AI research and industrial R&D. The program aims to enhance national AI infrastructure, promote innovation, foster industry collaboration, and support responsible, secure development of AI technologies in Canada.

Financing terms and conditions

A total investment of up to $705 million is available through the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program for qualifying projects.

Activities funded

Development and deployment of a Canadian-owned high-performance supercomputing system for AI research and industrial R&D.
Expansion of public computing infrastructure to support Canadian researchers and industry.
Collaboration between organizations to foster innovation and enhance AI research capacity.
Integration and testing of Canadian hardware and software as part of a sovereign compute platform.
Initiatives focused on attracting, developing, and retaining AI talent through advanced compute infrastructure projects.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 57,000

Adopting cloud-based accounting systems for improved efficiency

$ 53,000

Developing a multilingual e-commerce platform for artisanal goods

$ 90,000

Launching a vertical farm for local organic vegetable production

$ 100,000

Implementing an energy-efficient HVAC system for manufacturing plant

$ 82,000

Opening a zero-waste grocery store pilot with refill stations

$ 120,000

Retrofitting a historic theatre for enhanced accessibility features

Eligibility

The applicant must be a not-for-profit organization, for-profit organization, academic institution, or consortium.
The project must address the AI computing needs of Canadian researchers and a broad range of industrial R&D sectors.
The proposal must demonstrate expertise and engagement in Canada's AI and public computing ecosystem.
The applicant must show technical, management, and financial capacity to develop, implement, and sustain a large-scale AI computing system in Canada.

Who is eligible?

Not-for-profit organizations
For-profit organizations
Academic institutions
Consortia

Eligible expenses

Costs related to the design, testing, and deployment of high-performance supercomputing infrastructure for AI.
Acquisition and installation of equipment and components essential to the computing system.
Expenses for datacenter operations, including power, cooling, and staffing required for system maintenance and operation.
Personnel costs for highly qualified staff dedicated to building and operating the AI computing system.
Implementation of support services to assist Canadian researchers, such as data management and resource allocation.
Initiatives to test and deploy Canadian hardware and software within the computing platform.
Expenses associated with environmental sustainability, including energy efficiency measures and adherence to environmental best practices.

Eligible geographic areas

No specific geographical areas are mentioned; eligibility applies broadly within Canada.

Selection criteria

Demonstrated expertise in the Canadian AI ecosystem and the ability to support Canada's research and industrial R&D needs.
Technical capacity to deliver and operate a state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable high-performance AI computing system.
Strength of management and leadership, including governance structure and partner roles (if applicable).
Efficient use of funds and potential to attract additional public and/or private funding.
Strategy to develop, attract, and retain top AI talent in Canada.

How to apply

Verify eligibility and requirements

Review eligibility criteria for not-for-profits, for-profits, academic institutions, and consortia
Ensure your organization aligns with the program objectives, including fostering AI research, innovation, and Canadian technology
Evaluate your capacity to meet technical, management, and financial expectations listed by the program

Prepare Statement of Interest

Prepare a non-binding Statement of Interest addressing how your proposal meets each program criterion
Detail expertise, technical plans, management strategy, financial approach, and commitment to Canadian AI talent
Include supporting documentation as appendices if necessary
Respect the submission page limit (maximum 15 pages excluding appendices)

Submit Statement of Interest

Submit the completed Statement of Interest to aiscip-picsia@ised-isde.gc.ca before the deadline
Provide all required details in the email and confirm receipt, if possible

Await review and next steps

Wait for the government review of your Statement of Interest
Be prepared to provide further information or participate in the full proposal stage, if invited

Additional information

The total investment allocated for the program is up to $705 million as outlined in Budget 2024.
Submissions (excluding appendices) must not exceed 15 pages.
Stakeholders may share additional insights about the program beyond the submission deadline.
The initiative aims to drive national AI leadership, innovation, and talent recruitment through large-scale public compute infrastructure.

Contacts

aiscip-picsia@ised-isde.gc.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program. 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 Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program?

How much funding can be received?

What expenses are eligible under AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program?

Development and deployment of a Canadian-owned high-performance supercomputing system for AI research and industrial R&D. Expansion of public computing infrastructure to support Canadian researchers and industry. Collaboration between organizations to foster innovation and enhance AI research capacity. Integration and testing of Canadian hardware and software as part of a sovereign compute platform. Initiatives focused on attracting, developing, and retaining AI talent through advanced compute infrastructure projects.