INOVAIT Pilot Fund

Q: How much funding can be received?

INOVAIT Pilot Fund Funds up to 3333% of admissible expenses, capped at $150000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Is the INOVAIT Pilot Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?

INOVAIT Pilot Fund is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the INOVAIT Pilot Fund?

INOVAIT Pilot Fund is funded by INOVAIT Canada

Q: Who is eligible for the INOVAIT Pilot Fund program?

To be eligible for the INOVAIT Pilot Fund program, you must: • Open to Canadian corporations, academic institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. • Each project must involve at least two to four Canadian collaborators, including one Canadian SME. • At least one collaborator must be based in a province or territory outside of Ontario.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the INOVAIT Pilot Fund?

You can contact INOVAIT Canada by email at inovait@sunnybrook.ca.

Q: Where is the INOVAIT Pilot Fund available?

The INOVAIT Pilot Fund program is available the province of ON.

Q: Are startups eligible for the INOVAIT Pilot Fund program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the INOVAIT Pilot Fund program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

ON, Canada

Funding for AI-integrated image-guided therapy commercialization projects

At a glance

Eligible Funding

From $100,000 to $150,000
Up to 3333% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : February 5, 2025
Closing date : April 3, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Professional, scientific and technical services
Health care and social assistance

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

The INOVAIT Pilot Fund offers up to $150,000 for collaborative R&D projects focused on integrating AI into image-guided therapy technologies to support commercialization. Eligible activities include industrial research and large-scale technology demonstrations aimed at developing new, technology-driven products or services.

Financing terms and conditions

This grant offers reimbursement-based financing to support collaborative projects in the image-guided therapy sector. Projects can receive financing covering a portion of eligible costs with a specified cap on funding contributions.

Reimbursement of up to one-third (33.33%) of eligible supported project costs.
Administration fee of 5% of the INOVAIT contribution, capped at $7,500.
Total contribution from INOVAIT ranges from $100,000 to $150,000 per project.
INOVAIT mandate requires that at least one-third of the contributions are directed to collaborators based outside Ontario.
Eligibility for other government funding covering up to 75% of eligible costs for Industry Collaborators and up to 100% for Academic Collaborators.
Strict compliance with reporting requirements and financial documentation, including proof of spending.
Quarterly reimbursement claims with a post-period claim and payment schedule.

Activities funded

Eligible projects for this grant focus on the integration of artificial intelligence into image-guided therapy technologies, with a strong emphasis on collaborative R&D aimed at commercialization. The projects must involve Canadian collaborators and enhance the IGT ecosystem.

Development of new technology-driven products or services integrating AI into IGT.
Large-scale technology demonstrations advancing new technologies into product-specific applications.
Research and development activities focused on the discovery of new knowledge supporting AI integration in IGT.
Projects engaging multiple Canadian collaborators including SMEs, with a particular focus on partnerships with organizations outside of Ontario.
Efforts to accelerate the technology transfer and commercialization of intellectual property in AI-enhanced IGT technologies.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the INOVAIT Pilot Fund is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and the collaborative nature of the proposed research project.

The applicant must be a Canadian corporation, academic institution, or not-for-profit organization.
Each project must involve two to four Canadian collaborators and must actively involve at least one Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
At least one collaborator must be based in a Canadian province or territory outside of Ontario.
Industry collaborators that are Project Leads on a selected Focus Fund project are not eligible to apply as either a Project Lead or a Project Participant.
Projects must aim towards commercialization and integrate artificial intelligence or advanced data capabilities into an image-guided therapy technology.
Projects must involve technology development at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1–7, including the integration of technologies developed at TRL 1–7 into products at TRL 8 or 9.
Applicants must request at least $100,000 but no more than $150,000 in contributions from INOVAIT.
All project activities must be carried out in Canada.

Who is eligible?

This competition is open to Canadian corporations, academic institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. Each project must involve two to four Canadian collaborators and must actively involve at least one Canadian small and medium enterprise (SME). At least one collaborator must be based in a province or territory outside of Ontario.Industry Collaborators that are Project Leads on a selected Focus Fund project are not eligible to apply as either a Project Lead or a Project Participant.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain companies and individuals from applying based on specific restrictions. These restrictions ensure the alignment of projects with the strategic goals of the grant.

Industry Collaborators that are Project Leads on a selected Focus Fund project.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses directly related to industrial research and large-scale technology demonstration within the project scope.

Direct Labour costs, including gross wages and salaries for project activities, excluding benefits and administrative tasks.
Subcontractors and Consultants fees for work directly related to the project.
Direct Materials costs, such as raw materials used for project activities.
Equipment costs for those identified as necessary for the project, including purchase and modification costs.
Other Direct Costs related to project-specific software, high-performance computing fees, and patent filing costs.
Indirect Costs (Overhead) not exceeding 15% of total eligible costs.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to organizations and companies within Canada specifically, aiming to encourage regional collaboration outside Ontario. Eligible regions must include at least one collaborator located in a Canadian province or territory that is not Ontario.

Canadian provinces and territories excluding Ontario.

How to apply

Preliminary Registration

Register for an account on the INOVAIT Funding Portal by visiting .
Complete a short eligibility quiz to access the application form.

Download Key Documents

Download the following documents for application preparation:
Guide for Applicants (EN / FR)
Application Questions (EN / FR)
Budget Workbook (EN / FR)
Suggested Expert Reviewers (EN / FR)
Ultimate Recipient Agreement Template (English only)

Attend the Funding Webinar

Register for and attend the informational webinar about the Pilot Fund on February 12, 2025, from 2:30 pm EST to 3:30 pm EST.
Access the recording, which will have English closed captioning and French subtitles.

Prepare Application Materials

Draft a detailed project proposal that aligns with the INOVAIT objectives.
Complete application questions as outlined in the Application Questions document.
Develop a comprehensive budget using the Budget Workbook.

Submit Application

Log into the INOVAIT Funding Portal.
Upload all required documents and complete the application form.
Submit the final application before the deadline of April 2, 2025, by 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time.

Confirmation and Follow-Up

Receive a confirmation email noting the receipt of your application.
Sustain communication for any updates or supplementary information requests from INOVAIT.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

All applications must be submitted through the INOVAIT Funding Portal, and late applications will not be accepted for any reason.
Applicants will be informed of funding decisions in writing after the review period.
There is a Funding Webinar available on February 12, 2025, which can provide additional guidance on the application process.
An administration fee of 5% of the INOVAIT contribution will be charged to each funded project.
All applicants need to commit to sharing relevant clinical and other data within the INOVAIT network unless they provide a valid reason for not sharing.

Contacts

inovait@sunnybrook.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the INOVAIT Pilot Fund Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the INOVAIT Pilot Fund. 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.