How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $1500000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA?

PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA is funded by PROMPT

What are PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA's eligibility criterias?

Companies must be legally constituted under federal or Quebec laws and registered with the Quebec Enterprise Registrar. The company's head office must be in Quebec, with employees or subcontractors primarily working from Quebec. Companies must have 249 employees or fewer and must not be more than 50% owned by other companies.

PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA

Last Update: April 19, 2025

QC, Canada

Funding for Quebec innovative collaborations in AI for ICT

PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $1,500,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : August 13, 2023
Closing date : April 15, 2025

Financing Type

Partnering and Collaboration

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance

Grant Providers

PROMPT

Status

Closed

Overview of the PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA program

Get a non-refundable grant up to $350,000 per partner company to cover up to 50% of the expenses when you partner with at least one other business and a research centre on an artificial intelligence project.

Financing terms and conditions

The PARTENAR-IA grant provides a structured financial support system conducive to fostering collaborative innovation in artificial intelligence. This program prioritizes co-financing and mandates specific financial commitments from both public and private sectors.

Maximum financial assistance of $350,000 per eligible partner company, with a project cap of $1.5 million.
Financial support can cover up to 50% of eligible project costs.
The total government funding can reach up to 75% of the eligible project expenditures.
Private contributions must account for at least 25% of eligible project costs.
The project duration is capped at 2 years.
Management fees of 5% applicable to the total eligible expenses.
Unsubsidized expenses may be eligible for scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax credits.

Eligible projects & activities

This grant supports collaborative research projects in artificial intelligence conducted by consortia of Quebec-based companies, emphasizing innovation and technological advancement. Eligible activities focus on fostering partnerships between businesses and research centers to drive industry innovation.

Collaborative AI research projects involving at least two Quebec-based SMEs or startups.
Engagement with public research centers for service offerings or student placements, covering at least 20% of project expenses.
Recruitment of a minimum of one intern per eligible partner company annually.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 175,000

AI-driven supply chain optimization involving two SMEs and Concordia University

$ 175,000

AI-based energy management in smart grids with Université de Sherbrooke and energy tech SMEs

$ 175,000

AI-enhanced healthcare diagnostics with McGill University and two tech startups

$ 175,000

Smart urban planning using AI technology in collaboration with Laval University and local SMEs

Eligibility criteria of the PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA program

To be eligible for this grant, companies must comply with specific legal, operational, and collaborative criteria.

The company must be legally constituted under federal or Quebec laws and registered with the Quebec Enterprise Registrar.
It must have its head office in Quebec and ensure that its employees or subcontractors work primarily from Quebec.
The company must have 249 employees or less.
It must not be owned 50% or more by other companies.
The projects must involve collaboration between a minimum of two and a maximum of four Quebec-based SMEs or startups.
Each project must include the hiring of at least one intern per year per participating company.
A minimum of 20% of eligible project expenses must come from a public research center's service offering and/or the hiring of an intern tied to such a center.
Each partner company must demonstrate a concrete contribution to resolving technological uncertainty.
Each partner company must also demonstrate tangible outcomes by the end of the project.

Who is eligible?

This Canadian grant is specifically tailored for consortia of Quebec-based companies involved in collaborative research projects in artificial intelligence (AI), alongside a public research center, that fulfill certain business conditions.

Consortia must include a minimum of two to a maximum of four Quebec-based SMEs or startups.
Each partnering company must plan to employ at least one intern per year related to the project's public research collaboration.
At least 20% of eligible expenses must originate from public research center services or internships.
Each partnering company must contribute to resolving technological uncertainties and demonstrate tangible outcomes.

Eligible expenses

Salaries and benefits for personnel directly involved in the project.
Fees for consulting services or external expertise related to the project.
Costs of equipment and materials essential for the project's execution.
Travel and accommodation expenses directly attributable to the project.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is targeted at companies that are legally established and have their headquarters in Quebec. The eligibility criteria are designed to encourage local collaboration and contribute to Quebec's leadership in artificial intelligence.

Companies with their headquarters located in Quebec, Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA program

The grant program has specific evaluation and selection criteria for applicants:

Companies must be legally constituted and registered in Quebec, have their headquarters in Quebec, and their employees or subcontractors must mainly work from Quebec.
Projects must involve a minimum of two Quebec companies and a maximum of four companies, with the project aiming to hire at least one intern per year for each partner company, among other requirements.

How to apply to the PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA program

Initial contact

Contact a counselor from the PARTENAR-IA program.
Fill out the contact form so that the PROMPT team can reach you quickly.

Preparation of the file

Develop a project proposal that meets the program's requirements in terms of collaboration and innovation in artificial intelligence.
Include the expected contributions of each partner and the role of the public research center.
Document the financial aspects, including the overall budget and expected private contributions.

Submission of the request

Submit the complete file according to the guidelines received during the initial contact.
Ensure that the application includes all required elements and meets the criteria outlined by the program.

Follow-up

Receive a response from the funding organization regarding the status of your application.
Provide additional information if necessary, according to the agency's instructions.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The grant is subject to a management fee of 5% on eligible expenses.
Non-subsidized expenses may qualify for tax credits, such as the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit.
The total government funding, including this grant, can cover up to 75% of eligible project expenses.
Minimum 25% of project expenses must come from private contributions.
The maximum duration for funded projects is two years.