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IDEaS Competitive Projects — Turning urban data into real-time insight through AI
AI solutions for urban situational awareness
Last Update: June 23, 2026
Funding available
$ 250,000 - $ 5,000,000
Timeline
- Open Date : June 4, 2026
- Closing date : July 14, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
IDEaS Competitive Projects supports AI-based solutions for urban situational awareness and anomaly detection in Canada. It funds development, design, or prototype validation for individuals, academia, non-profits, government organizations, and industry.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
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 $
Timeline
- Open Date : June 4, 2026
- Closing date : July 14, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Public administration
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Develop AI-enabled modules that ingest and process multiple heterogeneous data sources.
- Perform real-time analysis to identify anomalous patterns or potential threat indicators.
- Build and validate a prototype in various environments.
- Use existing urban infrastructure as a distributed, passive sensing network.
Documents Needed
- Consult the Solicitation Guide available on CanadaBuys.
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
Selection criteria
- Solutions are assessed throughout the funding period and at the end of each component.
- Promising projects may be considered for additional phases of funding.
- Solutions may be considered for other IDEaS funding elements based on criteria established by the individual element and challenge.
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?
IDEaS Competitive Projects supports AI-based solutions for urban situational awareness and anomaly detection in Canada. It funds development, design, or prototype validation for individuals, academia, non-profits, government organizations, and industry.
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.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is July 14, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
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 solution must be at the appropriate technology readiness level for the funding component.
The proposal must address the specific challenge.
The solution must use at least two heterogeneous data sources.
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 multiple heterogeneous data sources.
Perform real-time analysis to identify anomalous patterns or potential threat indicators.
Build and validate a prototype in various environments.
Use existing urban infrastructure as a distributed, passive sensing network.
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 or by phone at none.
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.