Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI
AI solutions for urban situational awareness
Latest source updateLast Update: July 23, 2026Latest change: The challenge deadline has changed to now closed, and applicants are directed to a Portal and Solicitation Guide on CanadaBuys for submissions.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 23, 2026
Latest change: The challenge deadline has changed to now closed, and applicants are directed to a Portal and Solicitation Guide on CanadaBuys for submissions.
IDEaS challenge now closed and application route updated
The challenge deadline on the page now states that the CFP opened June 4, 2026, and is now closed. The submission instructions now direct applicants to a new Portal and to the Solicitation Guide on CanadaBuys instead of the previous on-page application path. The eligibility section now explicitly identifies individuals, academia, not-for-profit organizations, provincial/territorial or municipal government organizations, and all industry as eligible, while excluding federal and provincial crown corporations.
Funding available
$ 250,000 - $ 5,000,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Overview
Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI is an IDEaS Competitive Projects challenge for individuals, academia, not-for-profit organizations, provincial, territorial or municipal government organizations, and industry. It seeks AI solutions that repurpose existing urban infrastructure for real-time situational awareness and anomaly detection.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 250,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
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
- Develop AI-enabled modules that ingest and process data from at least two heterogeneous sources.
- Perform real-time analysis to identify anomalous patterns or potential threat indicators.
- Produce machine-readable outputs such as alerts, scores, or flags for operator review.
- Use existing urban infrastructure as a distributed, passive sensing network.
- Build and validate a prototype in various environments.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Individuals
- Academia
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Provincial, territorial or municipal government organizations
- Industry
Who is not eligible
- Federal crown corporations
- Provincial crown corporations
How to apply
- IDEaS is transitioning to a new Portal to receive submissions for this challenge.
- Consult the Solicitation Guide available on CanadaBuys to apply.
Processing and Agreement
- Solutions will be assessed throughout the funding period and at the end of each component.
- Some solutions may be considered for further component funding or for other IDEaS elements.
- IDEaS may showcase solutions that show merit to the larger defence and security community.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI Program
What is the IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI?
Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI is an IDEaS Competitive Projects challenge for individuals, academia, not-for-profit organizations, provincial, territorial or municipal government organizations, and industry. It seeks AI solutions that repurpose existing urban infrastructure for real-time situational awareness and anomaly detection.
How much funding can be received?
IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI Funds up to $5,000,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI program?
To be eligible for the IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI program, you must:
The proposal must address the specific challenge.
The solution must use at least two heterogeneous data sources and perform real-time analysis.
The solution must produce machine-readable outputs and comply with applicable legal, privacy, and data protection requirements.
What expenses are eligible under IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI?
Develop AI-enabled modules that ingest and process data from at least two heterogeneous sources.
Perform real-time analysis to identify anomalous patterns or potential threat indicators.
Produce machine-readable outputs such as alerts, scores, or flags for operator review.
Use existing urban infrastructure as a distributed, passive sensing network.
Build and validate a prototype in various environments.
Who can I contact for more information about the IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI?
You can contact Government of Canada by email at DND.IDEaS-IDEeS.MDN@forces.gc.ca.
Where is the IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI available?
The IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI program is available across Canada.
Is the IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI a grant, loan, or tax credit?
IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI is a Grant and Funding