Closed
Source verified July 8, 2026
Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative
AI advisory services for Canadian SMEs
Offered by
Funding available
$ 750,000 - $ 10,500,000
Deadline
October 31, 2025
Location
Canada
Overview
NRC IRAP's AI Assist call for proposals seeks Canadian non-profit and post-secondary organizations to support AI adoption for SMEs across Canada, with projects funded at 750,000 to 10.5 million dollars and up to 100% of eligible costs. Eligible work includes knowledge transfer, AI use-case analysis, data quality review, and personalized in-person or virtual engagements.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop team skills
- Increase production or service capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,500,000 $
- Minimum amount : 750,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Transmit AI knowledge through in-person visits or virtual meetings to help SMEs assess AI opportunities.
- Help SMEs define potential AI uses, answer technical and business questions, and estimate costs.
- Advise SMEs on data quality, governance, ethics, privacy, bias, fairness, accountability, and consent.
- Set up, manage, and deliver the project in collaboration with the PARI CNRC and referred SMEs.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Non-profit organizations, including post-secondary institutions.
Who is not eligible
- Projects with a current affiliation with a Named Research Organization (ORN) are not funded directly.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries.
- Overhead, up to 30% of salary costs.
- Professional service fees and subcontractor fees.
- Operating expenses.
- Any portion of costs subject to government refunds, rebates, or credits, including HST, GST, and PST, that is not deductible by the applicant or subcontractors.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Travel and lodging.
- Land acquisition.
- Lease rights and property taxes.
- The deductible portion of costs subject to government refunds, rebates, or credits, including HST, GST, and PST.
- Patent costs, licence fees, and any other cost not specifically included in section 5.5.
Selection criteria
- A CNRC evaluation team scores each declaration of interest and each detailed proposal.
- Submissions are ranked by score.
- Evaluations also consider PARI CNRC investment priorities and strategic investment objectives.
- The highest-scoring DIs and the most promising prequalified proposals are recommended for the next stage or for funding.
How to apply
- Request the declaration of interest form by email at NRC.IRAPctocfp-aapcaoPARI.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
- Return the completed declaration of interest to the same email address by 5 September 2025 at 17 h (HE), using the specified subject line.
- If invited, submit the detailed proposal through the PARI CNRC Innovation Portal (PIP) using the access provided.
Processing and Agreement
- The CNRC informs applicants of DI and proposal results by email or through the portal.
- The CNRC may request an in-person or virtual meeting to complete proposal evaluation.
- Retained applicants negotiate and sign a contribution agreement; funding is paid according to its terms and the project becomes active once signed.
- The program includes a mid-term review, possible corrective actions or termination if unsatisfactory, and periodic project-result reviews by online or in-person meetings.
- Monthly reimbursement requests must include proof of costs and a progress report, and the project ends with a final report and a research-security compliance attestation.
Additional information
- Each candidate may submit only one declaration of interest.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative Program
What is the Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative?
NRC IRAP's AI Assist call for proposals seeks Canadian non-profit and post-secondary organizations to support AI adoption for SMEs across Canada, with projects funded at 750,000 to 10.5 million dollars and up to 100% of eligible costs. Eligible work includes knowledge transfer, AI use-case analysis, data quality review, and personalized in-person or virtual engagements.
How much funding can be received?
Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $10,500,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative program?
To be eligible for the Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative program, you must:
Be a federally, territorially, or provincially incorporated non-profit organization, including a post-secondary institution.
Have at least 3 years of AI consulting experience in generative AI, deep neural networks, and deep learning.
Have an established structure, liability coverage, and a published confidentiality and data-protection policy.
What expenses are eligible under Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative?
Transmit AI knowledge through in-person visits or virtual meetings to help SMEs assess AI opportunities.
Help SMEs define potential AI uses, answer technical and business questions, and estimate costs.
Advise SMEs on data quality, governance, ethics, privacy, bias, fairness, accountability, and consent.
Set up, manage, and deliver the project in collaboration with the PARI CNRC and referred SMEs.
Who can I contact for more information about the Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative?
You can contact National Research Council Canada (NRC) by email at NRC.IRAPctocfp-aapcaoPARI.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or by phone at none.
Where is the Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative available?
The Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative program is available across Canada.
Is the Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Call for proposals from organizations for the AI Assist initiative is a Grant and Funding