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Digital Health Innovation Fund
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Canada
Supports collaborative digital health innovation and data-driven research
Partnering and Collaboration
Grant and Funding
Overview
The Digital Health Innovation Fund offers up to $25 million to support collaborative research programs that leverage a national data sharing and AI-enabled platform to advance precision medicine. Eligible activities include developing health research use cases, promoting commercialization potential, and facilitating data-driven collaborations among Canadian SMEs and other organizations.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product
Eligible Funding
- Minimum amount : 1 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : October 1, 2025
- Closing date : November 15, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 499 employees maximum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Higher Education
- Research
- Hospitals and Rehabilitation
- Other Health Services
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Business Associations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- LGBTQ+ community
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- National
- International
Activities funded
- Advancement of health research projects leveraging a national digital data platform.
- Development and implementation of artificial intelligence or data-driven solutions to improve patient outcomes, with a focus on fields such as oncology and neurology, but open to other health domains.
- Design and execution of collaborative research initiatives involving multiple Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and health data providers.
- Pilot studies that use secure and interoperable data-sharing technologies to enable new research or product development in healthcare.
- Commercialization planning and activities for health research-based intellectual property developed through use of the platform.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 1,400,000
Integrate AI for monitoring adverse drug reactions in seniors
$ 1,500,000
Enhance neurological disorder diagnosis via multi-institutional AI research
$ 2,000,000
AI-powered drug discovery for rare pediatric neuromuscular diseases
$ 1,200,000
Develop interoperable AI system for remote cardiac monitoring
$ 1,720,000
Create data-driven digital pathway for oncology patient navigation
$ 1,875,000
Pilot AI platform for early detection of pediatric brain tumors
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a private-sector or public organization based in Canada, such as an academic, health, or research institution, independently owned business, multinational enterprise (MNE), non-governmental organization (NGO), or granting agency.
- The project team must include at least two (2) Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), each with fewer than 499 employees.
- The project must include a data provider willing to share health data through the Digital Health and Discovery Platform (DHDP), with project activities carried out in Canada.
- Applicants who are not currently members of the DHDP Network are required to obtain membership before becoming eligible for funding.
- The project must demonstrate technical feasibility and financial capacity, be carried out in Canada over an 8–12-month period, and align with the fund’s objectives for data-driven health or AI research.
Who is eligible?
- Private-sector organizations, including independently owned businesses
- Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 499 employees
- Multinational enterprises (MNEs)
- Public organizations such as academic, health, and research institutions (and their foundations)
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and granting agencies operating in Canada
Eligible expenses
- Expenses for data readiness, including data mapping to the OMOP data model and data curation for use on the Platform.
- Onboarding support for data providers related to platform integration.
Eligible geographic areas
- Businesses and organizations from across Canada
Selection criteria
- Economic, innovation, scientific merit, and potential health and social benefits of the project.
- Benefits to the health and digital sectors in Canada.
- Technical feasibility and technological advancement demonstrated by the project.
- Potential for commercialization, including a comprehensive commercialization plan covering market opportunity, regulatory strategy, pilot protocol, IP strategy, and commercialization steps.
- Contribution to network outcomes such as publications, R&D investments, job and business creation, and intellectual property generation.
How to apply
1
Review the funding opportunity
- Consult the Request for Applications on the funding opportunities page
- Review program details and eligibility requirements before proceeding
2
Submit Expression of Interest
- Complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) survey
- Indicate if Matchmaking Assistance is required to form an eligible project team
- Submit the EOI by the specified deadline
3
Participate in webinars and Q&A
- Attend information webinars and Q&A sessions if desired
- Access recordings and submit questions for clarifications
4
Submit Letter of Intent
- Prepare and submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) that includes required team composition, project summary, data use case, commercialization plan, budget, pilot protocol, and evaluation plan
- Ensure that at least two SMEs are represented in the LOI
- Reference LOI guidelines and templates provided on the funding page
5
LOI review and invitation
- Await review of the LOI for eligibility and alignment with program objectives
- Selected teams receive an invitation to submit a full application
6
Submit full application
- Prepare and submit a full application in accordance with the provided requirements and guidelines
- Include detailed project plan, budget, and documentation
- Submit before the application deadline
7
Application review and feedback
- Await assessment of the full application by the Selection Review Committee
- Committee evaluates proposals based on scientific, technical, and commercialization criteria
- Applicants receive feedback as appropriate
8
Receive funding decision
- Receive notification regarding funding decision
- Successful applicants are informed of next steps and funding start date
Additional information
- Project teams can request matchmaking assistance to help form eligible collaborations via the Expression of Interest survey.
- Applicants must obtain DHDP Network membership if not already members to be eligible for funding.
- Underrepresented and disadvantaged groups are strongly encouraged to apply in order to promote diversity and representation.
- Regular webinars and Q&A sessions are organized as part of the application process, with recordings and resources made available.
Contacts
dhdp@tfri.ca
