An additional $500 million is available through the expanded Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative to boost AI adoption and bring Canadian-made AI solutions to market
Canada 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.
Today, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, announced that an additional $500 million over five years to expand and enhance the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative is now available. This investment brings total federal funding for the initiative to $700 million. The initiative is part of AI for All, Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, announced in June 2026, which aims to build trust, strengthen Canadian AI capabilities and sovereignty, and ensure all Canadians can use AI responsibly to build and benefit from it.
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. The support will focus primarily on sectors where Canada has strong expertise and economic potential, such as health and life sciences, energy and natural resources, transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and robotics, as well as other 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 regional organizations that connect businesses with the specialized support they need to adopt or commercialize AI technologies.
To start applying now, businesses and organizations should visit the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative
