How much funding can be received?

The Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS) - Commercialization Stream aims to accelerate the translation of AI science and research into commercial innovations that generate economic and social benefits for Canadians. The program supports activities such as technology leadership, partnerships for scale, diverse and skilled talent pools, access to innovation, and efforts to position Canada as a global leader in AI applications within the plant-based and agrifood sector. Eligible projects must involve a consortium of at least two members, including a Small or Medium Enterprise, and demonstrate meaningful contribution towards the project goals.

grant_single_labels|projects

Yes, there are several eligible activities for this grant.

Technology leadership projects such as collaborative R&D and prototype development.
Partnerships for scale including linking start-ups with strategic partners and offering business mentoring.
Diverse and skilled talent pools projects like recruitment campaigns and developing industry-linked curricula.
Access to innovation projects providing benefits through investments in assets and specialized technical services.
Global advantage projects enhancing the cluster's market opportunities and international partnerships.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$112,500

Toronto

AI-based recruitment platform for agrifood sector

$180,000

Edmonton

AI system for optimizing supply chain in the agrifood industry

$157,500

Calgary

Developing an AI-driven platform for crop disease detection

$148,500

Ottawa

AI-driven predictive analytics for agribusinesses

$180,000

Vancouver

AI-powered drone technology for precision farming

$135,000

Montreal

AI integration in smart greenhouse systems

grant_single_labels|admissibility

For a project to be eligible for this grant, it must meet several specific criteria.

Be submitted by a consortium of at least two Protein Industries Canada members, with at least one being a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME).
May include academic or research institution(s), though not mandatory.
Each consortium member must contribute meaningfully, either financially or with other resources like IP or market expertise.
At least two members of the consortium must contribute financially to the project, with Protein Industries Canada reimbursing up to 45% of eligible costs.
At least two partners must be Canadian companies or entities with significant Canadian operations; non-Canadian entities can participate with approval.
The project must align with the objectives of Protein Industries Canada and the Global Innovation Cluster initiative.
All projects are required to pay a 4% project administration fee to Protein Industries Canada (waived for Community and Capacity Building Stream projects).
The initiative must be incremental to the regular business of the participating organizations and must not be approved or in progress, ensuring it wouldn't occur at the same scope or scale without the co-investment.
At least one consortium member must represent a target customer or user of the new technology solution in Project Stream and System Stream projects.
Projects must have experienced project management capabilities for complex, multi-party collaborative initiatives.
At least one partner must have demonstrable experience deploying AI technology.
All Ultimate Recipients must be compliant with economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed by the Government of Canada.
The project cannot be a "designated project" or a "project" under applicable federal environmental and impact assessment legislation.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Eligible companies for this grant are those that meet specific criteria set forth by Protein Industries Canada, including being part of a consortium with at least one SME and potentially academic or research institutions. At least two members of the consortium must financially contribute to the project, and the project must significantly align with the objectives and themes of Protein Industries Canada and the Global Innovation Cluster initiative.

Consortium of at least two Protein Industries Canada members, with at least one being an SME
Consortium may include academic or research institutions
Each consortium member must contribute meaningfully, often financially
At least two members must financially contribute to the project
At least two partners must be Canadian entities or approved non-Canadian entities
Project must align with the objectives of Protein Industries Canada and the Global Innovation Cluster initiative
At least one consortium member must represent a target customer or user of the new technology
Consortium must include members with proven project management capabilities for complex projects
At least one partner must have demonstrable experience in deploying AI technology

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

There is no set maximum that a project can receive, although Protein Industries Canada will only reimburse up to 45 per cent of reconciled eligible costs in Project Stream and System Stream projects. Projects can be submitted as multi-year projects, with the expected annual expenses broken down by year in the proposed budget.

Projects eligible for multi-year submission
Reimbursement of up to 45% of reconciled eligible costs for Project Stream and System Stream projects

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

The eligible geographic zones for this grant span across Canada, allowing participation from various regions within the country. Participation from non-Canadian entities is also permissible upon approval.

All of Canada
Non-Canadian entities (with approval)

grant_single_labels|criteria

Yes, the grant outlines evaluation and selection criteria which focus on ecosystem development, technical merit, and commercial application.

Ecosystem Development
Technical Merit
Commercial Application

grant_single_labels|register

Step 1: Initial Call
Review the Project Eligibility Requirements.
Email projects@proteinsupercluster.ca to set up an introductory call.
Step 2: Expression of Interest (EOI)
Complete an EOI form provided after the initial call.
Each consortium member must fill out and sign a “Declaration As To Authorization and Compliance”.
Submit the completed EOI and Declaration forms via email to projects@proteinsupercluster.ca.
Step 3: Review of EOI
Evaluation of EOIs may result in:
Consortium may be invited to proceed to a Full Project Proposal.
Consortium may be invited to proceed to full proposal following satisfactory completion of a Data and AI Readiness Assessment.
EOI may be tabled for additional information.
EOI may be declined.
Step 4: Full Project Proposal
If EOI is approved, consortia will be notified and invited to attend a Proposal Orientation meeting.
Development of the Project Proposal will be collaborative between Consortia Members and Protein Industries Canada staff.
Submit the Project Proposal via email to projects@proteinsupercluster.ca.
Complete the provided Word and Excel templates for the Project Proposal.
Step 5: Project Approval and Agreement
Once the project is approved, sign a Master Project Agreement (MPA).
Provide the last two years of accountant-prepared financial statements and current organizational structure for each consortium member.
Reimbursement can begin once the MPA is signed.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

Here are some additional key points about the grant:

Projects must engage diverse and inclusive teams and ensure meaningful participation of under-represented groups.
Applicants are encouraged to support project development with Protein Industries Canada staff throughout the proposal process.
Successful projects may require members to comply with the Code of Member Conduct and the Project Selection Committee-Applicant Interaction Policy.
Consortia need to attend a Proposal Orientation meeting upon EOI approval.
A standard project administration fee of 4% of total eligible costs applies to Project Stream and System Stream projects but not to Community and Capacity Building Stream projects.
Data governance and intellectual property management strategies must be clearly defined and documented.
Evaluation involves the Eligible Projects Selection Committee and potentially additional technical experts.
Approved projects will require signing a Master Project Agreement before starting to claim eligible cost reimbursements.

grant_single_labels|contact

projects@proteinsupercluster.ca

Apply to this program

Artificial Intelligence Program for Agrifood Sector Advancement

Protein Industries Canada is offering a transformative opportunity through the Artificial Intelligence Program, designed to revolutionize Canada's plant-based and agrifood sector by investing $30 million in AI science for commercialization. This initiative targets accelerating innovation, optimizing processes, and understanding consumer demands, aiming to boost Canada's market share in novel protein and co-product fractions, ingredients, food, and feed products.

Comprehensive Guide to the Artificial Intelligence Program for Agrifood Sector

Protein Industries Canada, an industry-led, not-for-profit organization, focuses on positioning Canada as a global leader in high-quality plant protein and plant-based co-products. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program forms a crucial part of this mission, aiming to mobilize and enhance Canada's agrifood innovation capacity to meet industry-driven market priorities and needs.

Objectives of the Artificial Intelligence Program

The AI Program is primarily driven by the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS) – Commercialization Stream, which has dedicated funding to leverage Global Innovation Clusters' existing program frameworks. This approach aims to advance the commercialization of AI applications within Canada, particularly in the plant-based and agrifood sector. The objectives include: 1. Building a shared competitive advantage for the Cluster, positioning it as a world-leading innovation ecosystem. 2. Advancing business-led innovation, technology, and capacity-building activities to boost performance and Canada's competitiveness. 3. Generating new products, processes, and services, and enhancing firms' ability to scale and integrate into global value chains. 4. Fostering a critical mass of growth-oriented firms and strengthening connections between private, public, and academic leaders.

Key Investment Streams

Protein Industries Canada will deliver AI commercialization support through three distinct streams: Projects, Systems, and Community/Capacity Building. These streams cater to the unique needs and goals of individual companies, broader sector-wide challenges, and societal benefits.

Project Stream

This stream supports individual companies within the plant-based food, feed, and ingredient ecosystem to incorporate AI into core business functions. Collaboration with AI ecosystem entities is mandatory. For example, a food manufacturer might use AI for imaging technology and process automation in food safety and quality assurance, enhancing processing efficiency and reducing labor costs.

System Stream

The System Stream focuses on sector competitiveness and requires multiple partners to collaborate on a common goal that benefits the whole sector. An example project could involve a consortium of plant-based food companies using pooled data to fast-track product development and consumer acceptance via a virtual testing environment.

Community and Capacity Building Stream

This stream ensures the broad societal benefits of AI in the plant-based food sector, focusing on human and environmental health. Projects might include collaborations between health advocacy agencies and food companies to design AI-driven food products targeting specific health outcomes or using AI to improve food security in remote communities.

Eligible Activities and Principles

The AI Commercialization Stream covers various eligible activities such as technology leadership, partnerships for scale, talent pool development, access to innovation, and global advantage activities. Projects must adhere to guiding principles on the responsible use of AI, including transparency, ethical decision-making, openness, and significant training.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, projects must: 1. Be submitted by a consortium of at least two Protein Industries Canada members, with at least one SME. 2. Include contributions from both financial and non-financial partners. 3. Engage diverse, inclusive teams with meaningful participation of under-represented groups. 4. Align with the objectives of Protein Industries Canada and the Global Innovation Cluster initiative. 5. Be incremental to the regular business activities of the participating organizations.

Application Process

The application process consists of two steps: an Expression of Interest (EOI) and a Full Project Proposal.

Step 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Prospective applicants should contact Protein Industries Canada to discuss the project idea and receive EOI forms. After completing and submitting the EOI along with a compliance declaration, the Protein Industries Canada team evaluates the application for alignment with program goals.

Step 2: Full Project Proposal

If the EOI is approved, the consortium is invited to submit a full Project Proposal. This detailed proposal includes comprehensive plans, budgets, intellectual property strategies, and impact assessments. Protein Industries Canada staff provides support throughout this process.

Intellectual Property and Data Governance

Projects under the AI Program must include a clear intellectual property (IP) rationale, ensuring the strategic protection of IP to maintain competitive advantages. Additionally, a detailed data governance strategy is required, outlining how data will be sourced, managed, and shared.

Scoring and Approval

Project Proposals are reviewed within six weeks of submission, evaluated by the Eligible Projects Selection Committee, and scored based on ecosystem development, technical merit, and commercial application. Upon approval, a Master Project Agreement is signed, marking the official start of the project.

Conclusion

The Artificial Intelligence Program by Protein Industries Canada offers a substantial opportunity for entities within the plant-based and agrifood sector to harness the power of AI for enhanced innovation, efficiency, and market alignment. By following the detailed guidelines and aligning projects with the program's objectives, participants can significantly contribute to transforming Canada's position in the global plant-based protein market. For more information and to initiate the application process, interested parties should contact Protein Industries Canada directly.