Regional support through the expanded Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative to boost AI adoption and bring Canadian-made AI solutions to market
Canada, with Alberta playing a leading role, helped pioneer modern artificial intelligence. The next step is to ensure Canadian businesses can put that technology to work and that Canadian AI companies can build, sell and scale their solutions. On the Prairies, expanded support will help businesses and organizations use AI to become more productive, competitive and resilient while building on the region's strengths.
Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) announced the expansion of the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Part of AI for All, Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the expansion adds $500 million over five years, bringing total federal funding for the initiative to $700 million. Delivered by Canada's regional development agencies (RDAs), the expanded initiative will help businesses and organizations responsibly adopt and integrate AI technologies to improve productivity, competitiveness and resilience. Adoption support will place emphasis on projects in five priority sectors identified in Canada's AI Strategy: health and life sciences, energy and natural resources, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing and robotics, while also reflecting regional strengths and priorities.
The initiative will also help Canadian AI businesses gain customers, attract investment, and commercialize and scale Canadian-made products and services, while supporting organizations that provide small- and medium-sized enterprises with the specialized support they need to adopt or commercialize AI technologies.
In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, PrairiesCan will support the adoption of AI to help Canadian business across priority sectors enhance productivity, growth, and competitiveness, increase AI productization and commercialization, and strengthen ecosystem enablement by supporting incubators, accelerators and other not-for-profits. Applications are open and will be accepted on a continuous basis until December 31, 2029, or until funding has been fully committed. Applicants are encouraged to submit expressions of interest as soon as possible for consideration under this initiative.
